Dodge Dealerships --- are they nuts???!!!

[catoiler]

When I had my shop customers would bring me parts, but they were told and put it writing that their was no warranty with customers supplied parts. I had no problem with them wanting to save a few bucks. the ones i did not like were the ones that would take up my time asking question after question about how to fix something but never spending any money with me. Don't get me wrong i did not mind awnsering a few questions but when it cut into my repairing paying customer cars--got to draw the line someware!

 

[TCDiesel]

When I had my shop customers would bring me parts, but they were told and put it writing that their was no warranty with customers supplied parts. I had no problem with them wanting to save a few bucks. the ones i did not like were the ones that would take up my time asking question after question about how to fix something but never spending any money with me. Don't get me wrong i did not mind awnsering a few questions but when it cut into my repairing paying customer cars--got to draw the line someware!

I agree,Would you take a steak form your favorite meat market to a restaurant and ask them to Fry it for you.

 

[midlife crisis]

BGParks- Its unfortunate you think you are being overcharged. I also have sympathy for you regarding your disability. Please take no offense, but I also see quite a list of fine auto's in your sig. Frankly, I think you can afford it. There is a flip side to the coin you are preaching from. I did do the math you suggest. I did it for 15 successful years in (2) business's. I took the different path and took 10$ from 10 customers. I did not want to grow to some big business that kept me away from what I wanted to do. My best compliment was we were expensive. I never had a comeback, a lawsuit, or a customer upset about the finished job-other than the price. The word on the street was we were high priced. After people had been ripped off by all the other low bidders and guys working from the back of their trucks doing crappy work-they came to me (Happy to pay more)

Truer words have never been spoken-You can get your things 2 of 3 ways-good, fast, cheap. You cannot have all 3, but any combo of 2. Blame Sam Walton.

Now, semi retired working for a large corp, when my co truck needs work- I throw the man the keys and give them carte blanche. I dont even look at the bill. I tell them to charge me extra -for whatever, so I dont even have to open the hood. Ever. I made it very clear- keep it running right-or your best customer is GWTW.

There is alot of people out there that will pay whatever, and dealers know this.

Yes, my own vehicle's pm are under my own hand. I buy filters & oil in bulk, and do the work myself because I enjoy it more than saving a few bucks. That said- when the time comes when I can no longer do it for whatever reason- I will chuck up the expense of farming it out to all the money I saved over the years, or get a vehicle that requires less costly maintenance if it bothers me to the point of your disdain.

I wish you luck with your quest of good, fast, cheap service, and more importantly, I sincerely wish you luck with your ailment.

 

[SSage]

The job is just not worth the prices these dealers charge if you can do the labor. Mine wants $85 for just oil. I can do the work quicker than any dealer for less than $30 using name brand parts. I use the FleetGuards and Delvac 1300. It takes me less then 15 min total. The oil just falls out when the engine is warm, it comes out very fast. The filter is no problem since I started using the metal cap wrench. The fuel filter is very easy to change for another $12.



There is no way I would pay the prices you guys posted. Ouch!



Plus my dealer would probably scratch, strip, stain, crash, destroy something. Every time I go to a dealer they seem to cause some problem. Last time, they bashed the passenger side mirror. They charge good money for it too.

 

[MFalkinham]

I had my oil/filter changed yesterday by a local Dodge dealer. The total bill was $59. 48 ($28. 41 for oil, $10. 70 filter, $16. 45 labor, $3. 10 tax), plus they washed the truck for me. I didn't think that price was too outrageous. The only reason I took it there rather than doing it myself was the dealership that I bought the truck from will reimburse me for this first oil change (long story).



In the future I'll do oil changes myself to save some time and money, but it's good to know that for $60 I can have a qualified tech do it if necessary.



- Mike

 

[bighammer]

Wow, now I'm beginning to understand why a rear axle ABS sensor was almost twice the price being posted here. (I told them to keep it )

 

[Donn]

I think that if you owned your own business and had a idea of what the overhead costs a business you might not be so suprised by what they charge. You may be quite suprised what your employer has to charge per hour of your work in order to make a profit.

 

[DPKetchum]

16. 45 labor and quality parts. What more could anyone want. I'd sooner pull the head if it then I would to change oil myself. What a mess. Plus afterwards you have to take the used oil somewhere else to discard it. Naw, I think I'll stick with someone else pulling the plug.

 

[SSage]

We have two companies plus I like to work full time also. One business is retail sales. I don't inflate product prices, services or have added fees. I choose to discount 27% off retail across the board, sales went up.



Most dealers charge three to four times or more than retail for a part, thats a rip off. Now, there are dealers who just charge retail, but thats rare. Then when you consider the shop price is no where close to retail, it makes me advoid the dealers for any service. Just warranty work.



I use shops that charge retail for parts, most of the time when I use my local shop they will cost 1/3 of the dealer. Plus the work is much better and they use quality parts or budget parts, your choice. As long as the dealers charge so much, the small shops will stay very busy.

 

[BGParks]

Just setting the record straight.

BGParks- Its unfortunate you think you are being overcharged. I also have sympathy for you regarding your disability. Please take no offense, but I also see quite a list of fine auto's in your sig. Frankly, I think you can afford it.



Well, I'm glad to see that you know my financial situation better than I do. Let's run down that list of fine vehicles shall we? 1. Dodge truck - bought with one time inheritance when my father in law passed. 2. 99 SVT Cobra - bought used (price at time of purchase 20k) when still healthy and the bank owned it not me - it has since been sold because I could no longer afford the payments (I simply forgot to update my signature) 3. PT cruiser - next to the neon the least expensive vehicle in the Chrylser inventory - current retail value 13,000 4. Kawasaki Concours - it's a 95 model with over 40k on it - current retail value 2k 5. Yamaha V-max, a 99 model bought used by me in 03 - current retail value 5k. The only "expensive" vehicle on this list is the truck and it was bought with money that was a one time gift. Care to argue further over who can afford what???

As to the first part of your statement that "it is unfortunate that I think I'm being overcharged" ($40 for a $12 filter) I say it's unfortunate that you don't!!!

By the way --- no offense taken --- but for the sake of accuracy, as opposed to assumption, I just wanted to set the record straight.

 

[RTuvell]

BGParks- Its unfortunate you think you are being overcharged. Please take no offense, but I also see quite a list of fine auto's in your sig. Frankly, I think you can afford it.

A reprehensible cheap shot attacking another member's integrity and tainting this thread by "personalizing" the discussion. You are in no position to determine what another member can or cannot afford. You should be ashamed!

 

[midlife crisis]

At no point did I attack anyone's integrity. I feel I was honest, sincere and down right polite. This gentleman seems to feel his logic is the only correct way of thinking, and if someone disagrees, it is a personal integrity attack. Not so from here. I merely made an observation based on what this screen is telling me. I see a guy, who like many, proudfully wears their possessions out on their sleeve like a badge of courage. Thats fine-frankley I dont care what kind of non-TD vehicles you own or how you ride them with a disability, or how you obtained them.

Your complianing about something that I dont necessarily agree with. Again, my feelings of sympathy regarding your financial situation are twofold. If you were around the corner from me- I would be over in a second to help you out. But, on the other hand- you admit you were basically given the truck-which I might add is great, but you still complain about what you are being charged? Sounds like the proverbial "complaining when hung with a golden rope".

I wished you luck, gave you advice and continue to. In closing, I stand by what I suggested. Perhaps a vehicle requiring less costly pm is in your future. Regards-

 

[rbattelle]

Relax, guys. None of you know each other personally and I think a lot of times meaning is lost over the typewritten word. I'm sure no one meant any offense or personal attack at anyone.



-Ryan

 

[Tim]

Yes, Fleetgaurd is owned by Cummins.



In my opinion, I find it rude to bring your own filter or any other item to a shop unless they do not sell that type or the part they are installing is hard to get (such as on a classic car). If I owned a shop and stocked a similar part but the customer insisted to provide the part, I would tack some extra money onto the labor side and give no warranty on the work at all since they did not buy the part from me. Remember, shops are a business and need to make money. You don't bring food to a restaurant do you? I totally agree with saving money, and I try all the time buying stuff on ebay and getting discounts in other ways. If you want a cheap way to maintain your vehicle, do it yourself or pay the full price to the dealer or get an indept shop to do it.

Wrong answer buddy. I have worked in auto shops and sold auto parts as well. Customers aren't accepting this price gouging on parts anymore. You're selling the SERVICE, not the parts. Make your money on the labor like any other honest businessman, and leave the profit on the parts to the guys that are selling YOU the parts.



God I hate that. I can't wait until Autozone and other such stores force the commercial market to eliminate this practice entirely.



Most shops don't stock a damn thing and make 100% or more profit on parts. Pathetic, and for it, they should be ashamed.

 

[BGParks]

Setting the record straight once again!

At no point did I attack anyone's integrity. I merely made an observation based on what this screen is telling me. I see a guy, who like many, proudfully wears their possessions out on their sleeve like a badge of courage. Thats fine-frankley I dont care what kind of non-TD vehicles you own or how you ride them with a disability, or how you obtained them.

you admit you were basically given the truck-which I might add is great, but you still complain about what you are being charged? Sounds like the proverbial "complaining when hung with a golden rope".



Once again, let me see if I can set the record straight. 1. I didn't say anything about you attacking my intergrity--someone else did. 2. If you read to the bottom of my previous reply you'll see that I said "no offense taken", I was merely trying to set the record straight about some assumptions you were making without knowing the facts. 3. Once again you are making assumptions "I see a guy, who like many, proudfully wears their possessions out on their sleeve like a badge of courage". First off the reason I listed all my vehicles was two fold #1 I saw that others were doing this in their signatures so I did not realize that we were supposed to list TDR vehicles only--if so then my mistake, I shouldn't have listed them. #2 I view this website (as well as a few others I belong to) as a website for vehicle enthusiasts in general. As an enthusiastst it is natural to share the info on what you enjoy in the automotive realm with other enthusiasts, that's part of what being an enthusiast is all about. An example would be that once on the SVT club website another member noticed that I had a V-max too and sent me a message with some questions on the bike. We corresponded this way quite a few times sharing our passion for the V-max and for vehicles in general--again, that's what enthusiasts do. In no way was I trying to say look at what I have aren't I somebody--this is another erroneous assumption on your part. How you can look at a screen and presume to know the motivations behind what someone else does is beyond me. 4. Whether I was "given the truck" or not what in the world does that have to do with not liking to pay $40 for a $12 filter??? 5. As for how someone with my disability rides a bike the answer is that unlike in the past when I could ride for extended periods of time now I only take short duration rides of 1 to 1&1/2 hours with the help of my pain meds so I can tolerate the pain. By the way I never said I couldn't change my oil or fuel filter I simply said that I didn't want to because it's too painful nowadays to work on the truck. I did say I couldn't do something heavy like the tires. 6. Lastly you assume my motivation is some kind of snobbery in listing my vehicles yet you turn right around and make a condescending remark about how I should get a cheaper truck who's PM's I can afford. Once again I say no offense taken but I do want to set the record straight and I do wish that you would quit making assumptions about me and my motivations with no first hand knowledge of either.

 

[midlife crisis]

Fine. Whatever. Me? Condescending? I am still being called names. This will be my last post. One final thought on my exit. The second word you typed challenged the integrity of TomeyGun and every other honest dealer out there. You purposely spelled Dealership with a ST. You slighted more people with this silly post than I ever have. You owe an apology-not me.

 

[BGParks]

One final thought on my exit. The second word you typed challenged the integrity of TomeyGun and every other honest dealer out there. You purposely spelled Dealership with a ST. You slighted more people with this silly post than I ever have. You owe an apology-not me.

How I challenged the intergrety of "Tommy Gun" I'm not sure. I used stealership in relationship to the dealers who quoted me $40 for the fuel filter. I've never spoken to the dealership you are referring to and have no earthly idea what they charge for a fuel filter or the labor to install it. I do know that prices vary from dealer to dealer. If I besmirched the reputation of any honest dealership with my comments then I apologize. As to whether your comment towards me was condescending, I'll let others be the judge. This will be my final post on this thread as well. Oh, and by the way, I never said you owed an apology for anything; I only said that I wanted to set the record straight about my deeds, my thoughts, and my motivations. Cheers, Brian

 

[EBottema]

I can have a qualified tech do it if necessary.



- Mike

By no means are people that work at dealers qualified. Some are good but Most are parts throwing lying cheating mooks. To work at a dealer you must sell your soul to the devil



Erik

 

[DPKetchum]

What B. S. ! Don't know were to start. Your so full of close minded crap. Had a old man many years ago tell me take the average or less then average dealership tech and he'll know more about the product line he services then the best independent tech out there. I found this to be more truth then fiction time after time. If you base your wordly knowledge on brand new products there a ***** to deal with. Every year is a big learning curve working for a auto dealer. Lots of problems that are design problems and not in a techs relm of repair. But of course I noticed your in Calfornia were every one is into prozac,yoga,cosmic dust,palm reading and finding ones inner soul. Go eat somemore seaweed and toke on that pipe somemore.

 

[MFalkinham]

By no means are people that work at dealers qualified. Some are good but Most are parts throwing lying cheating mooks. To work at a dealer you must sell your soul to the devil



Erik

Apparently you've had different experiences with dealer techs than I have. I've never had any major problems with dealerships repairing my vehicles, and I have tons of respect for their techs. Those guys are often caught in the middle between an auto maker who may have used poor engineering or quality in making a vehicle and an upset customer who paid big $$$ for said vehicle.



I feel much more comfortable having dealership techs change my oil than some of those "quickie-lube" type places. There I HAVE had some bad experiences, and I don't trust them nearly as much.



- Mike