New Owner, dealer gripes

[bjgillisva]

Hi, I just purchased an 06 2500, Quad, LB, 4wd, 6speed about 3 months ago now and have been enjoying it a lot. I did a little step up from my previous ride a 1999 Saturn SL2 5spd, which got me through college and into the working world, but got tired of not being able to pick up big things and always having to borrow friends trucks to get stuff I vowed to get something I shouldnt out grow once I got a real job and ended up with my Dodge 2500. A friend of mine got me a subscription to TDR before I even bought the truck so I got a lot of my questions answered from online here before I stepped foot into the dealer. I live in Northern VA and have access to a few dodge dealers around and dealt with a few to find what I was looking for. A couple wouldnt respond (guess they didnt want my money), others were just interested in pushin what they had on hand, and then a dealer (not sure if I should put the name down pls advise in a follow up reply) who actually found what I was looking for. The truck had to be transferred from a dealer about 200 miles away so it would take a couple days, not a problem I said so it went through. Then after work a friend of mine dropped me off and went his merry way since I should have only taken an hour or so and since I was not trading my car in and I had the luxury of waiting about 4. 5 hours before I got to drive my truck off. Due to some sort of delay with the "finance staff" (also the sales person who got credit for the sale had to go away, got a fill in to help tells me the LED for the security system is the grid heater symbol among other misguidance), well wasnt to thrilled to get home at 10:30 that night in the dark with an unfamilar vehicle. I wasnt to thrilled to go back there and drop the rest of my downpayment off after that night and didnt leave on good terms, The dealer tried to help me some when I came back a couple weeks later to get a scratch I got on the side out but it still shows, will probably just leave it heck its a truck, So I get the survey we get to fill out and answer it accordingly since I was not to pleased with the overall service and sent it in. A week or so went by and I get a card in the mail from the sales rep for my birthday and this message "Your survey came in today. I went out of my way to help you. I found the truck, got you a great deal and I even help with a scratch that was not our fault. Your survey was unfair. Feel free to find a new sales person next time you need help. Signed (XXXXXXXXXX)" I thought I was doing them a favor buying a truck paying $34K, finding one isnt going out of the way is it? A great deal hell it was employee pricing come on, and the scratch, a body shop coulda buffed it out at no charge but I guess he went above and beyond throwin in the touch up paint for me to use ehh? Believe me I wish all dealers were like the old Saturn dealers nice, courteous, no pressure at all and willing to help. Should I send a reply to DC about this guy? Oh yea the service dept there aint too swift either. I had a leaky clearance lamp which they had to see it in the shop before getting the part and then tells me the part is on BO and will need to come back, turns out they call me when the part is in and its a cargo light and then they say oh we had plenty of clearance lights ARRGHHH. I am making my last trip to that dealer next week probably since I get a free 6000 mile oil change and my RR tire has a leaky valve stem (if you move it around you can let the air out). I dunno what will happen to that will it be, "oh we need to order a new differental cover from mexico it may take a week" or "we cant find anything wrong with it". After that I'm getting warranty work done elsewhere. OK I got my intro in and I do have one question at the moment. I noticed on the rear wheel wells there is only a plastic cover on the rear part and the top is just black metal and the front is open, is there a full guard or a partial guard to cover the rest of the wheel well so I dont get a hole rusted through this winter? If so whats the part number? Oh yea I didnt opt in for the $1000 (or whatever the ungodly amount was)under coating they pushed on me at the dealer and in the mail I hope that doesnt effect anything. Ok thanks in advance I'll keep the furture posts shorter

 

[crabman]

bjg,

Check to see if a dealer has these parts:

Shield-wheelhouse P/N 55346010, you will need two and they are interchangable. (app. $=$35ea) I think these will fit an 06 but am not sure.

If you want the plastic rivets also, then do a search using the part numbers above or shield-wheelhouse.

If you want a download of the manual for your truck, then goHERE.

Good Luck and enjoy your new ride.



crabman

 

[AMink]

Hey, welcome aboard! I think I would definately write a letter, maybe even enclose the nasty letter with it, to DC. Don't know what good it would do. I would even send it to the head honcho at the dealer... after I get my free oil change! Then I'd find a new dealer for warrantee service only! I think you'll find most guys like the trucks, but not so much the dealer. I'm lucky in that I have a pretty decent dealer.

 

[JApol]

Amink hit the nail on the head. Sorry you had such a horrible time even getting into your truck. I had a cute little saleswoman to look at

If you are not doing anything on Saturday there is a BIG get together in Dillsburg, PA. If you want directions, convoy or head up by yourself PM me, Testraub or take a look at the Fall Brawl Thread

P. S. Welcome to the TDR!

 

[bjgillisva]

Thanks for the invite but gotta head to NJ for the weekend. I'll wait until next week to send the letter and a scanned image of the card/envelope. The Shield-wheelhouse P/N 55346010 will cover the rest of the wheelwell just need one part for each side?

 

[CMNS PWR]

I'm in NoVa as well. PM me the name of the dealer and salesman.

 

[MLee]

BJG;

Tell that salesman that got you the truck and started the deal you appreciate what he done for you. But he should have stuck around and finished the deal, rather than hand you off to a person who feed you some sort of crap he new nothing about. And then the finance guy, they suck big time anyway. I just love telling them I don't want there exrtra stuff, "just finish the contract so I can get out of here. "

To bad it ended up the way it did. You were honest with your survey.

Welcome to the group.

Marv.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I think you should send the sales guy a couple of tissues.

 

[JRyan]

bjgillisva: Contrats on the new truck. I'm also in N. VA (Arlington) and just purchased my 2006 3500. Please PM me with the name of the dealer and sales person so I know to avoid them.

My salesman was not there either but I arranged to pick up the truck when he happened to be out of town so I can't fault him for that. He even called later to make sure everything went smoothly. I dealt mostly with the dealership general manager anyway. Finance was backed up so they let me leave without the finance work, I just signed a promissory note.

 

[akshadow]

dealer gripes " wheel well shields

On the 03 the rear wheel well shields were not interchangeabe. Not sure about the new ones. An older post said some people had wasted a lot of time trying to install and then discovered there was a difference.

bjg,

Check to see if a dealer has these parts:

Shield-wheelhouse P/N 55346010, you will need two and they are interchangable. (app. $=$35ea) I think these will fit an 06 but am not sure.

If you want the plastic rivets also, then do a search using the part numbers above or shield-wheelhouse.

If you want a download of the manual for your truck, then goHERE.

Good Luck and enjoy your new ride.



crabman

 

[BigEasy]

Before you write any letters to DC, simply go and talk to the salesman and explain why you wrote what you wrote... DC is ANAL about those questionnaires, they're completely unreasonable.



If you weren't happy with the way you were treated, you should have told the salesman and sales manager, then the general manager if things aren't corrected... giving them a chance to make things right with you before throwing them under the DC bus. It's called the chain of command... it works, and it alleviates a lot of problems for everyone.

 

[JMoberly]

I would put a copy of the letter the salesman sent you in the letter to DC. Some salesmen act like because they pointed out a truck on their lot that they did their job. That survey is sent to you for a reason and you did your part by reporting poor quality service. Him sending you that letter just further proves he has no idea how to do his job.

 

[Suprmn]

Before you write any letters to DC, simply go and talk to the salesman and explain why you wrote what you wrote... DC is ANAL about those questionnaires, they're completely unreasonable.



If you weren't happy with the way you were treated, you should have told the salesman and sales manager, then the general manager if things aren't corrected... giving them a chance to make things right with you before throwing them under the DC bus. It's called the chain of command... it works, and it alleviates a lot of problems for everyone.

While I dont completely disagree with what has been said, it is my opinion that the dealers are to blame for poor customer service from any of their employees. There is no reason for a buyer to explain anything or spend a bunch of time on the phone to managers, etc. The buyer should expect a decent service/customer service level going in and I applaud the filling out of the survey honestly! The salesman himself should have called you multiple times after the sale to make sure you were happy with your truck and assisted with any issues. That is how he is suppose to "earn" the next sale or any referral. And ineptness by any service or parts department is the responsibility of dealer management to train and retain better people, and to follow up to make sure things are operating better. I live where there are 12 dealerships from any brand with in a short drive and there are major differences between the people and attitudes at each one. The ones with poor service are suffering and a local dealer that was the worst just closed. Vote with honest surveys, vote with your pocket book. These dealership horror stories should never happen.

 

[GAdams4570]

Sorry about your abismal experience. I purchased my 2006 in late December. The dealer was Carson Dodge in Carson City, Nevada. The salesman was Warren Phesant. I cannot say enough good about the experience. My wife and I hopped a plane to Reno. Warren picked us up at the airport and took us to the dealership where the truck was waiting. He was very helpful and didn't try to sell us what we didn't need. We drove the truck back to Pasadena, California and had a great trip. If you are in this area of the country I highly recommend them.

 

[RankRam]

On the 03 the rear wheel well shields were not interchangeabe. Not sure about the new ones. An older post said some people had wasted a lot of time trying to install and then discovered there was a difference.

My wheel well liners from my 03 went on my 05 and are now on my 06, they fit perfectly.

 

[bjgillisva]

Well I didnt bother with the sales manager since he was really no help the night I waited, he just kept saying we are just under staffed. Heck, if he offered to order a pizza or something since I came straight from work that may have helped their stance but nothing was done and they scratch removal was suppose to be a make it up to you gesture but just trying to buff it out and giving me the touch up paint doesnt show much. I just get a kick out of the whole "I found the truck for you" deal, Yea they found a truck in DC's supply but then they go and charge me a couple hundre extra on top of the already there destination fee. I will send a letter to the owner of the dealer and to DC next week and see what happens from there.

 

[testraub]

I'm almost willing to bet to was Koon's Dodge in Falls Church. I ended up buying elsewhere, but heck, they sold out to Oursiman and now I don't have a dealership