โAug-08-2018 08:20 PM
โSep-13-2018 04:49 AM
bob_nestor wrote:
It's been a long, long time since mechanics actually worked for the dealerships. Now most mechanics are basically independent operators working in the dealership shops. They get paid according to the Chilton manual estimates for working on problems. So if there's a loose bolt causing an oil leak but they can sell it to the Service Manager as something more significant, they'll get paid for repairing the bigger issue even though it only takes them a minute or two to fix the real problem. Then they can move on to work another vehicle - time is money.
Best to stay away from dealerships, even for warranty work. In warranty work the factory will only pay for a clearly identified problem. So if the problem the customer reports could be caused by three different things and they don't know which one it is, the dealership won't want to work on it because if they guess wrong they won't get paid.
Learn to do your own work or find a good independent shop and build a good relationship with them for any repairs. An alternative is if you really have to take it into a dealership, take it to one other then the one you purchased the vehicle from. Chances are they'll assume you're upset with the selling dealer and they MAY work harder in the hopes of getting your future business.
โSep-12-2018 05:55 AM
โSep-12-2018 04:18 AM
Groover wrote:
My son had a reminder yesterday of how incompetent and crooked some dealers are. Keep in mind that he bought the car from an individual and has never taken it to a dealer. Anyway, his local Nissan dealer called him and told him that his Leaf needed to be brought in for an oil change. For those who don't know, the Leaf is pure electric. No engine oil.
Later in the day he received a new Tesla Model 3. He said that was the best buying experience that he has ever had with a major purchase and the people that he worked with actually know what they are talking about and care about customer satisfaction.
โSep-11-2018 05:36 AM
โAug-17-2018 03:56 PM
โAug-17-2018 05:13 AM
Ralph Cramden wrote:
Most of them suck, case in point.
I bought my 2015 GMC 2500 at a local family owned dealer that had been there for as long as I can remember. It was actually the first time I had ever purchased there. I took advantage of the free oil changes and then had them do a couple I paid for. The service department was great. The service writer was also the parts manager, and even turned a wrench if needed. No up-selling games.
Late last fall they were bought out by one of the local mega conglomerate super dooper auto groups. I took the truck there for a recall on the front suspension during the transition in ownership. When I say transition, the new sign was a banner tarp hung over the existing sign. They had to order a front end part for the steering which took a week to get.
I took the truck in a week later for the repair and not 5 minutes after handing over the keys I had this 12 yr old looking snot nose telling me I also need a cabin air filter for $57.00, and an air filter for $85.00, and I could use new tires and they would give me a deal as they had a special going on, only $1100.00 The service department is now staffed by 4 writers/advisers who look to all be between 12 and 16 years old. Welcome to Boystown LOL.
Hmmmm. The cabin air filter was $8.00 at Advance, took 30 seconds to change, but the one in there at 30K miles still looked like the new one so I didn't change it.
The air filter was a K&N I swapped from my previous truck, it did not even need cleaned.
I did need tires, but had them replaced for less than $650.00 with Bridgestone Duravis M700HDs, the same that came OEM on the truck. I don't have a clue what they were trying to hawk for $1100.00 that were on special? 14K gold ones maybe.
Well anyway they did the recall for the steering. The writer, Whitey Marsh or Pee Wee, came over while mining for gold up in his nose, and asked if I was in a hurry, because they had to do a front end alignment and needed to take it to one of their other dealerships about 40 miles away, as they do not do them there. Whatever, I already had jizzed away the entire morning. They bring the truck back, I get in and drive off, and now the steering wheel is off center and they ran about a 1/4 tank of gas out LOL. Now thats service if I have ever seen it.
When I got the new tires about a month later I had the same guy who I purchased them from do an alignment, and he said whoever aligned it at the dealership had to a total moron.
If you want the name of a dealer to definitely avoid, its any associated with C Harper Auto Group in SW PA.
โAug-16-2018 04:34 PM
Dave H M wrote:Yeah, the Toy dealers here also love to push that fuel induction service.
I been taking the DW's Toyo highlander to the stealer for peace of mind on the life time power train warranty. 10K oil changes. So last time I took it in, I had replaced the tires within 200 miles of going in. Yep they wanted to rotate the tires. Then 50 minutes into the service, the tech tried to sell me a fuel system clean up. i get so tired of watching the service techs hit up (especially the elders) for 100's of dollars of services.
Now the Ford stealer i take the F250 to has never suggested doing anything "extra" to the truck since 2012. Go figure.
โAug-16-2018 09:39 AM
Ralph Cramden wrote:Grit dog wrote:FishOnOne wrote:
My cousin has been a diesel truck mechanic since '93. He once said the turn around rate on the mechanic's that come to the shop has been getting worse. These young guys just don't want to work and then they complain they don't make any money.
^ This. And I'm still trying to gauge, in my industry, if it's a function of the (great) economy, the snowflake generation (don't think so, our turnover isn't limited to millennials in the least), or what it is.
We have a fair amount of turnover and a sub group that we "should" turnover, but don't seem to be getting any A league replacements.
Example, hired a dedicated scheduler. Big construction, constant CPM schedule creation and updates on all projects and pursuits. Guy was/is pretty good P6 scheduler as in he knows the software well. Had a gravy job. 7:30-4 ish was usually all he was good for and we allowed that. Took more than average time off for "family" things like have to pick up the kids from ____ type stuff. Salary was good for the hours he put in and our bennys are great.
He just drug up, no warning.
I'm sure it's the same in the mechanic biz.
What is the comp package offered LOL. BTW I camp a lot which requires me to leave early once in awhile, I hate setting up in the dark.
Seeing that I am the PM, Estimator, Project Eng, Super, and at times the laboror or truck driver, that sure seems like a cushy position. Not sure about WA however, I hear it rains a lot which has to play hell with the critical path. Dont it suck when they drag up like that?
โAug-16-2018 08:30 AM
โAug-16-2018 06:28 AM
โAug-15-2018 02:26 AM
Grit dog wrote:FishOnOne wrote:
My cousin has been a diesel truck mechanic since '93. He once said the turn around rate on the mechanic's that come to the shop has been getting worse. These young guys just don't want to work and then they complain they don't make any money.
^ This. And I'm still trying to gauge, in my industry, if it's a function of the (great) economy, the snowflake generation (don't think so, our turnover isn't limited to millennials in the least), or what it is.
We have a fair amount of turnover and a sub group that we "should" turnover, but don't seem to be getting any A league replacements.
Example, hired a dedicated scheduler. Big construction, constant CPM schedule creation and updates on all projects and pursuits. Guy was/is pretty good P6 scheduler as in he knows the software well. Had a gravy job. 7:30-4 ish was usually all he was good for and we allowed that. Took more than average time off for "family" things like have to pick up the kids from ____ type stuff. Salary was good for the hours he put in and our bennys are great.
He just drug up, no warning.
I'm sure it's the same in the mechanic biz.
โAug-14-2018 10:49 PM
โAug-11-2018 05:15 PM
โAug-11-2018 08:06 AM
FishOnOne wrote:
My cousin has been a diesel truck mechanic since '93. He once said the turn around rate on the mechanic's that come to the shop has been getting worse. These young guys just don't want to work and then they complain they don't make any money.