TDR needs a Dealer Locater for members

[Matt400]

I think its time for TDR to have a Dealer locater that members can type in a zip code and get a list of Dealers within so many miles who have actively signed up, are Diesel qualified and are wanting our business, not just sales but the dreaded warranty work that doesn't pay so well. Dealers that are in the know on the CTD that are keeping pace right along side TDR and not scratching their heads saying never heard of that TSB



I personally would rather do CTD business with a Dealer that has signed up here for it and would even consider paying a little more on the next truck knowing they employ at least one CTD expert in the shop.



TDR could even have a rating system where members could vote 1-5 on experience with that dealer so we could have our own 5-star system patrolled by users same as e-bay.



Any thoughts?

 

[mklucas]

Absolutely a great idea!!! Being in L. A. (not many diesels around), I have been thinking of a post to ask if anyone in the area has had any luck with a Dodge dealership around here. I haven't had much luck with my '97 gasser and the two dealers I used. I was just planning to post it when I get closer to taking delivery.

 

[Ken F]

Great idea! Our own 5-Star rating!



It seems like a lot of dealers jump through hoops to try and impress the factory, but put less effort into satisfying the customer. This rating and directory would make the dealers that are truely customer driven stand out.



Again, great idea!

 

[Dean Upson]

Great idea, maybe a "black list" would be a good idea. Nice to know who to trust and who to keep away from.



Dean

 

[TPCDrafting]

I hate to throw a wrench in the system, but if I were TDR staff, (and I'm not ) I'd want to stay as far from this idea as possible. The dealers involved with this site already cried and complained and put the "St" word onto the auto censor list. Imagine them reading on this site that they get a "one-star" rating because one member had a less than exceptional experience. It doesn't take more than bad coffee in the waiting room for some people to go off the deep end.

Seems like there are plenty of threads already on the subject and one could do a search, read them and make their own decisions based on the info provided. I just think that staying disassociated with D/C and the dealers is good business. JM . 02

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by mklucas

Being in L. A. (not many diesels around), I have been thinking of a post to ask if anyone in the area has had any luck with a Dodge dealership around here.

Southern California has more TDR members per population density than anywhere else. To say there aren't many "diesels" around here... ... ... . As for the dealership idea? I tend to agree somewhat with TPC- Dealers have taken a good bit of abuse here, while warranted or not, I think this might open a can of worms quickly.



Best advice would be to check with other members in the area you're in or needing service. And there are dealers who appreciate and want the business.



Kev

 

[HOCummins04]

TPCDrafting:



Tracking satisfaction is different to me than being disassociated with dealers. A simple database available to TDR MEMBERS ONLY could track a particular dealership, list all TDR members who have used them, and list for each TDR member the number of visits where service was 1 for terrible and 5 for outstanding and all inbetween. A comments section could be included where a brief synopsis of each visit could be included and whether the issue was ultimately resolved or not.



The thing I like about this idea is that it would allow feedback at the time of the service. I am more likely to remember 1 bad incident than 3 good ones because problems loom larger in my mind than successful resolutions that are fairly painless. This rating system would be far more objective than just having a forum for gripes - that would be truly biased against the dealerships. I have had great service on my 1500 RAM and had far less that satisfactory service on my 2500 RAM at the same dealership. Having said that, there were a couple occasions where the dealership did good work on solving a problem in just one visit on my 2500. These kinds of situations are probably common.



Sorry for the long post. Just my . 02

 

[TPCDrafting]

Originally posted by HOCummins04

I am more likely to remember 1 bad incident than 3 good ones because problems loom larger in my mind than successful resolutions that are fairly painless.

Exactly the point. Read the threads. There are FAR more threads of dealership complaints than there are of good experiences. It is human nature to let people know of complaints than it is to of good experiences. I too am guilty of this. If I go to a place of service and have a good experience I'm much less likely to let people know about it than if I have a poor one.

Trust me, I do think a privatized rating system is a good idea. There are already organizations formed that do this. IE Consumer Reports, local TV trouble shooter, etc. , etc.

 

[MGordon]

Have you looked at this site?



http://dodgeram.info/survey_dealer/Dealers.htm



If every TDR member put their sales / service input on this site, it would be pretty useful.

 

[Dkevdog]

Without some type of moderation to insure that the posters actually have had expernience with or service performed, then the rating system would be no good. Case and point: BANKS. Many of the people who put down their product have NEVER EVEN OWNED it. I do NOT want to turn this into another :-{} (Banks) thread, but that is just a simple example. People (the sheep) tend to follow the poster (shepherd).



Kev

 

[Prairie Dog]

I too think this is a great idea. It's just going to be a factor of how big the TDR's kahoona's are. Remember, nobody can hurt us for telling the truth.

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

It's just going to be a factor of how big the TDR's kahoona's are.

I bet it will boil down to that. I think it could work well if the focus is on being a locater Of course the rating system could be a little touchy but I am sure there are ways it could work.



Right now I am faced with scheduling a couple TSB's plus I would like them to take a look at a couple other items such as a possible loose injector that is giving more of a rattle sound than when I bought it.



Many dealers discourage warranty work. I also have an intermittent dash fault that a known TSB is suppose to fix with a re-flash yet one dealer won't even look at it unless the fault happens on their lot. It's intermittent and were talking a re-flash for crying out loud!. I have logged the symptoms and the re-flash fixes it yet they won't do it.



So now I have to dealer hop till I get it fixed.



A locater would be nice because Dealers listed there- listed themselves which means they want our business.

Next to the Name could be a check box for



*Warranty work accepted

*TSB's performed

*Cummins Certified

*New Truck sales

*New Car sales

*Parts and accessories or some sort of list letting TDR members know what they can or can't do.



Maybe a link to their web site or whatever. TDR members shouldn't be on their own to search out.

Many members already have a favorite local dealer and thats great but what about first time DC buyers or even first time CTD buyers?



So how about it TDR- Should members be informed where to find services for their CTD?

I for one want to patron a Dealer that sells lots of CTD's and services them on a regular basis vs a Dealer that is not well equipped for service on the CTD.

 

[Tomeygun]

i know I will be MORE THAN HAPPY to come clean on what me and my service manager decided about BOMBed diesels (concerning warranty of course)- if such an opportunity arose



not to mention, we usually know the TSB's , and have 3 or more techs the went to cummins little school, any who, i like the idea

 

[SOLER]

Originally posted by Matt400

I think its time for TDR to have a Dealer

NO DOUBT!!

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by tomeygun

i know I will be MORE THAN HAPPY to come clean on what me and my service manager decided about BOMBed diesels

And you should, customers using your facility need to know how you feel about that and what effect it will have when service is needed.

not to mention, we usually know the TSB's , and have 3 or more techs the went to cummins little school

Great on the TSB's and absolutely awesome that you are a part of TDR but whats this about the Cummins Little School?

Sounds like a 1/2 day thing with 2 hr lunch.

If I knew more about the Little School maybe I would or wouldn't be so interested in finding a Dealer who has techs that have been there.



Heck on another note maybe the Locater should include Independent Diesel Shops that know the Rams also.

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

What is the worry all about, If I get a good job somewhere, I need to say it !!! I don't get accused of trashing vendors in public and won't for that matter. I'm in the service bis to. In private is another matter and I aint bashfull. I FULLY SUPPORT SHARING OUR' REAL END USER'" LIST OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE WRITERS AND MECHANICS,THEY DESERVE IT AND WE NEED IT. As far as the bashers go ,the moderaters can boot their @#$%$ off the sight for a while for all I care. I don't want to read the negative, just show me the good guy's list and I'll be taking my buisness there.....

Sincerely Mark T.

 

[HOCummins04]

Originally posted by tomeygun

not to mention, we usually know the TSB's , and have 3 or more techs the went to cummins little school, any who, i like the idea

I have been to a dealership while traveling where their one diesel tech "had been to all the schools at great expense to the dealership" - and the problem was a dead lift pump. Took them 2 days to determine that the lift pump they had in stock was not the right lift pump for the truck, but they only figured that out after installing it and it not working. I don't say this to bash that dealership, but to point out that just because a mechanic has gone to school does not make them good mechanics (I assume the service manager was being truthful about the schools - which was a response to my repeated frustrated phone calls asking about my truck). There is book learning and there is real world know-how-to-fix-it-right. I was on a trip and had to get another vehicle to get home, and so had to leave my truck at this dealership. Took a week to get the truck back.



I don't live close enough to tomeygun to use their guys, and I am sure tomeygun has some good guys who know what they are doing.



That is the crux of the problem and why a TDR Rating would be so handy - How do I as a consumer know whether a particular dealership has provided competant service in the past. One variable that you will never be able to capture is when a particular good mechanic leaves that dealership to go to work somewhere else. Time will tell if they find a competant replacement.

 

[MLee]

Originally posted by MGordon

Have you looked at this site?



http://dodgeram.info/survey_dealer/Dealers.htm



If every TDR member put their sales / service input on this site, it would be pretty useful.

This would probably be the one place to go to list your likes and dislikes on the dealers. How ever, this is not really a well known place, (except on this site) just to let you know about the one i posted a while back, it still is not posted for ever one to read, So how long should it take ???You should take in consideration that the GOOD RATED dealer will have so much business that he might cop an attitude because of the attention. So__ whats one to do_

just my penny's worth.

Marv.

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by MGordon

Have you looked at this site?



http://dodgeram.info/survey_dealer/Dealers.htm



If every TDR member put their sales / service input on this site, it would be pretty useful.

Great... thats a start and TDR should have a clear link to it on the home page, maybe even on the forum headers to remind members its there for them.



That could become the place to post the good & bad while TDR could focus on a zip code based locater that Dealers can submit "documented" information on their techs along with what they can do for CTD owners.

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

I think we need one on this site ! Maybe just a spreadsheet without and negatives. Thats where things get touchy and IMO don't get us anywhere. Here's a sample to start;

Price Dodge// NewCastle Del. // Serv. Writer D20//Mech. D85//Vehicle purchased from site,NO//Resteraunt,motel,shopping,rental vehicles in area=3(all within walking distance)// 6 warranty issues,6 accepted and complete. //Trips to site to have work completed= 8//Parts ordering required=yes//regular service visits=5//rework required=no//GENARAL COMMENTS= I work about 3 miles from this site. //Major roads in area. I-95,13,40. //Will service continue at this site = Yes

Mark T.