Check out this Dealership Horror Story!
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (2)
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 0
From: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Rep Power: 0 
Check out this Dealership Horror Story!
I got this from the Vortex.....check it out!
"Those bastards. Here is what happened.
I went to the dealer today to get the monsoon fix done. So, armed with vortex printouts, I talked to the service rep. No problem. I was told the car would be done by 3:00. I go back to pick it up and......
I notice what looks like a cigarett burn in the passenger seat! And that's not all! There are french fries on the passenger floor and the car reeks of McDonalds! To top it all off...there is a golfball sized ding in the drivers door!
So, I tell the service manager about all this and he insists that I left the car in this condition! WTF!!! My car is in perfect shape. I detailed it yesterday! So I tell them that I want the burn and the dent repaired. The service manager continues to deny responsibility. I ask to see the General Manager.
The GM tells me that I must have left the car this way. At this point, I start to burn.
I politely inform him that I want these thing taken care of before I pick up the car. He tells me that if I leave the car on the lot he will have it towed or charge me for storage. I calmly inform him that this is obviously his responsibility and how the hell could I burn a hole in the seat when I don't smoke.
Now, he gets mad at this point and starts yelling about how I am just trying to get a free new seat, blah blah blah. He tells me that I should just leave before he has to "take care of business".
Not wanting to cause a very bad scene, I go out to my car and decide to just go home and call VWOA. I get in the car and notice that there is an additional 35 miles on my odometer! 35 miles to fix the goddamn monsoon? I know it's 35 miles because the car had 5,298 miles on it when I left it. Assh0l3s!!!!!
So I go back in and demand to know who the Fu** drove the car for 35 miles and why!
Now there is a crowd of people around us, service guys, customers, salespeople, etc.
The GM comes back over and threatens to "Kick my ***" in front of all these people. I looked him in the eye, and called him, of all things, a stupid goat fu**er.
It's the first thing that came to mind. I know, pretty lame. Well anyway, the whole dealership starts laughing at Him, he gets pissed and storms off.
I decide to just leave and call volkswagen. I get out to the car, and a service tech come out and tells me that the two techs took my car for a joyride because of my mods. They wanted to see the difference in performance. I am so pissed off about this.
How could they do this!!!!!!!
What should I do to get this taken care of? I know it sounds outlandish but it's true. How should I handle the call to VWofA?
Should I get a lawyer? That dealer should lose his damn distributership!!!!!"
And this is what came out of it.
"Well, I met with the owner of the offending dealership, and I am pleased with the outcome. Actually, I was very surprised.
I arrived early, and ready for a fight. I presented the owner with print copies of the Jim Ellis debacle, along with this thread. I specifically mentioned that over 4,000 people have already read my story in less than 24 hrs.
Obviously, he was not expecting this. He immediately apologized, and informed me that the General Manager of his dealership was no longer employed as of this morning. He also informed me that the technician who spoke up and told me the truth also informed him of what happened. Apparantly, a brand new technician and a lot attendant were the ones who joyrided my car. (he had only been with them for two weeks). He expressed his immense displeasure over the fact that the GM tried to deny that it happened, hence, his dismissal. The offending tech and lot attendant have been terminated as well.
As for the damage, he whole heartedly agreed to take care of any damage at his personal cost, immediatley. He went on to explain that this is not the way to do business and totaly against his values. My impression was that he was totaly remorseful and sincere.
As for the power of the vortex, he mentioned the Jim Ellis issue and how something like that would seriously hurt his business, and literally pleaded with me to not name his dealership. He promised to do everything in his power to continue to make sure that something like this NEVER happens again.
At this point, I was satisfied. The GM was fired along with the tech/lot guy.
He apologized, and offered to fix the problem. Then he mentions " compensation" and I am floored. He offered to write me a check for my trouble, and allowed me to pick an item out of the drivers gear catalog free of charge. I picked the CD Changer. So he wrote a check "for my trouble" and I had to sign a statement that I would not sue the dealership for this matter and I would not publicly announce the name of the dealership either.
I am more than satisfied with the ultimate outcome. I think the owner acted extremely well here and took full responsibility. So the car is getting fixed, I got $500 bucks, a new CD changer and an apology. Not to mention the offending employees are no long employed. I can't think of any better way for this to turn out.
I want to thank all the vortexers for supporting me, and vortex itself for giving us such a great venue to facillitate outcomes like this. Anyway, thank you all very much and I think that this case is closed. I got the sincere impression that this was an isolated incident and the owner did everything he could to make sure I was happy. "
"Those bastards. Here is what happened.
I went to the dealer today to get the monsoon fix done. So, armed with vortex printouts, I talked to the service rep. No problem. I was told the car would be done by 3:00. I go back to pick it up and......
I notice what looks like a cigarett burn in the passenger seat! And that's not all! There are french fries on the passenger floor and the car reeks of McDonalds! To top it all off...there is a golfball sized ding in the drivers door!
So, I tell the service manager about all this and he insists that I left the car in this condition! WTF!!! My car is in perfect shape. I detailed it yesterday! So I tell them that I want the burn and the dent repaired. The service manager continues to deny responsibility. I ask to see the General Manager.
The GM tells me that I must have left the car this way. At this point, I start to burn.
I politely inform him that I want these thing taken care of before I pick up the car. He tells me that if I leave the car on the lot he will have it towed or charge me for storage. I calmly inform him that this is obviously his responsibility and how the hell could I burn a hole in the seat when I don't smoke.
Now, he gets mad at this point and starts yelling about how I am just trying to get a free new seat, blah blah blah. He tells me that I should just leave before he has to "take care of business".
Not wanting to cause a very bad scene, I go out to my car and decide to just go home and call VWOA. I get in the car and notice that there is an additional 35 miles on my odometer! 35 miles to fix the goddamn monsoon? I know it's 35 miles because the car had 5,298 miles on it when I left it. Assh0l3s!!!!!
So I go back in and demand to know who the Fu** drove the car for 35 miles and why!
Now there is a crowd of people around us, service guys, customers, salespeople, etc.
The GM comes back over and threatens to "Kick my ***" in front of all these people. I looked him in the eye, and called him, of all things, a stupid goat fu**er.
It's the first thing that came to mind. I know, pretty lame. Well anyway, the whole dealership starts laughing at Him, he gets pissed and storms off.
I decide to just leave and call volkswagen. I get out to the car, and a service tech come out and tells me that the two techs took my car for a joyride because of my mods. They wanted to see the difference in performance. I am so pissed off about this.
How could they do this!!!!!!!
What should I do to get this taken care of? I know it sounds outlandish but it's true. How should I handle the call to VWofA?
Should I get a lawyer? That dealer should lose his damn distributership!!!!!"
And this is what came out of it.
"Well, I met with the owner of the offending dealership, and I am pleased with the outcome. Actually, I was very surprised.
I arrived early, and ready for a fight. I presented the owner with print copies of the Jim Ellis debacle, along with this thread. I specifically mentioned that over 4,000 people have already read my story in less than 24 hrs.
Obviously, he was not expecting this. He immediately apologized, and informed me that the General Manager of his dealership was no longer employed as of this morning. He also informed me that the technician who spoke up and told me the truth also informed him of what happened. Apparantly, a brand new technician and a lot attendant were the ones who joyrided my car. (he had only been with them for two weeks). He expressed his immense displeasure over the fact that the GM tried to deny that it happened, hence, his dismissal. The offending tech and lot attendant have been terminated as well.
As for the damage, he whole heartedly agreed to take care of any damage at his personal cost, immediatley. He went on to explain that this is not the way to do business and totaly against his values. My impression was that he was totaly remorseful and sincere.
As for the power of the vortex, he mentioned the Jim Ellis issue and how something like that would seriously hurt his business, and literally pleaded with me to not name his dealership. He promised to do everything in his power to continue to make sure that something like this NEVER happens again.
At this point, I was satisfied. The GM was fired along with the tech/lot guy.
He apologized, and offered to fix the problem. Then he mentions " compensation" and I am floored. He offered to write me a check for my trouble, and allowed me to pick an item out of the drivers gear catalog free of charge. I picked the CD Changer. So he wrote a check "for my trouble" and I had to sign a statement that I would not sue the dealership for this matter and I would not publicly announce the name of the dealership either.
I am more than satisfied with the ultimate outcome. I think the owner acted extremely well here and took full responsibility. So the car is getting fixed, I got $500 bucks, a new CD changer and an apology. Not to mention the offending employees are no long employed. I can't think of any better way for this to turn out.
I want to thank all the vortexers for supporting me, and vortex itself for giving us such a great venue to facillitate outcomes like this. Anyway, thank you all very much and I think that this case is closed. I got the sincere impression that this was an isolated incident and the owner did everything he could to make sure I was happy. "
Registered!!
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 0
From: Tinley Park, Illinois, US
Rep Power: 318 Sweet! Now I know what to do with dealership problems. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]
When I first read "monsoon", I immediately assumed it was a Chevy dealer. About 80% of those have the worst customer relations skillz ever.
When I first read "monsoon", I immediately assumed it was a Chevy dealer. About 80% of those have the worst customer relations skillz ever.
The Fallen Angel . . .
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,928
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, Maryland, US
Rep Power: 0 I'd have asked for the names and last known addresses of the fired employess! [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG] j/k Thank God SOMEBODY at the dealership had a BRAIN. . .
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,588
Likes: 0
From: New York, New York, US
Rep Power: 0 I'm not trying to be nasty, but in these situations please CALL THE POLICE. I handle these things all the time with people. I too, get tired of seeing people get taken advantage of, so when I respond to these calls, I'll take the person aside, take a report for them, inform them of the criminal/civil options, etc. I also would have asked you to sign a complaint for harassment against the manager for threatening to kick your ***. That would have enabled me to possibly make an arrest. I also could have taken your report for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle since it was driven 35 miles w/o your permission.
From now on, call the police in these situations.
From now on, call the police in these situations.
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (2)
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 0
From: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Rep Power: 0 QCKSILVR: This didnt happen to me, I wouldnt have handled it that way, I would have just gone straight to the cops and got a lawyer and taken care of it the right way. This is something I found on one of the other forum sites. I was just reposting it for other to read cause it was quite a little story.
robbclark1: Yeah your right, it did come out good in the end. Lucky him.
robbclark1: Yeah your right, it did come out good in the end. Lucky him.
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,588
Likes: 0
From: New York, New York, US
Rep Power: 0 << QCKSILVR: This didnt happen to me, I wouldnt have handled it that way, I would have just gone straight to the cops and got a lawyer and taken care of it the right way. This is something I found on one of the other forum sites. I was just reposting it for other to read cause it was quite a little story.
robbclark1: Yeah your right, it did come out good in the end. Lucky him. >>
Oh, Okay, I thought it was a situation that you had encountered. Handling it the way I suggested would be the best way to go.
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo, New York, US
Rep Power: 0 Yeah, My father got a car starter installed on his new chevy trailblazer. The truck started acting funny and when he took it into the dealership, the tech said that it was because of a bad module on the car starter. They claimed they had to take out the entire starter, and that it wasn't under waranty($1100.) They told him he should go to the place that istalled it and have them pay the bill. The installer said that he would be happy to pay the bill if the dealership could produce the "bad module." When my father got back to the dealership THAT DAY they said that they didn't have it anymore. My Dad asked them if he could take the car and settle the dispute later, they said NO. So when he got home that evening and told me, I call the dealership and said that I was if they didn't have my fathers car ready by the time we drove back there, i was gonna call the cops and report that they were illegally keeping the truck. (since they had no proof that it wasn't under warranty.) The man immediatle complied. Chevy deallers suck!
Aaron
Aaron
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (2)
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 0
From: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Rep Power: 0 Yeah Chevy dealers and their vehicles suck. Thats where I went to get my car fixed after the accident (Honda dealer here has no booth)and it was nothing but a big pain in the ***.
that sounds great that it all worked out, congrats for sticking up for yourself. I would have been pretty pissed but would have probably done things differently, such as get eveyones names involved and somehow gotten photos of what they did along with some serious complaints then returned w/ my dad aka the lawyer to get things straitened away. But then again this will never happen to me cause I know the owner of the auto place I get all my stuff done at (grew up with his son + he's good friends w/ my dad) so I can't really talk.
I've never owned a Chevy (yuck) or delt with their dealerships, so I can't really comment on them. I did take my silver '98 Civic to the body shop at Lake Chevrolet in Lake Elsinore, CA and I must say they are excellent in all respects. Top notch work, and the manager knows his stuff. Just thought I'd share. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
Registered!!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Rep Power: 0 wow i am glad i got a honda, and that my dealer isn't ga y like these ohters, i once had an electrical problem that i caused myself due to improper wiring of an amp , but i made up a story, took it to the dealer and they fixed the problem under warranty without fighting me over who caused the problem...
, but i made up a story, took it to the dealer and they fixed the problem under warranty without fighting me over who caused the problem... 
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
