This REALLY bothers me!

[DIESELMAN]

Originally posted by Steve St. Laurent

ABC dealer in Podunk, AZ?

ABC is in Mesa, not Podunk, and they don't sell Dodge, in fact, there is no podunk. The PC term is BF Egypt Thank You very much!



What did it for me was taking my truck in for A: leaking Overflow bottle, the cap wouldn't stay on, and B: clock spring replacement.



I taped over the AirBag screws with electricians tape, just suspicious, Got the truck back, got the No Problem Found on the Overflow and the Service Performed on the Steering Wheel. Tape was intact.



They did nothing! I don't think they even popped the hood. So much for my local dealership service shop.



Went to Chapman Dodge in Tempe, fixed while I waited, 20 minutes tops



You EARN a GOOD reputation over many years but you EARN a BAD reputation in minutes, BAD must be easier, or lazier.

 

[Joe G.]

One dealer I went to for a little bit of warrantee work had a fabulous building, very fancy showroom, and a gaudy lot full of Dodge vehicles. I go in the door looking for the service department and was waylayed by several determined salesmen. I finally got it out that I was looking for the service department. I found it on my own thru a doorway toward the back of the building. The service writer was in a small room shaped like a hallway with a counter along one side. Just one guy. A few aluminum straight backed chairs against one wall for customers to sit on. The room was packed with several people standing because the few chairs were in use. It was bad enuff waiting, but to add to our pleasure one door opened to the drive way to the service shops. Every time it opened cold air blew thru with plenty of cigarette smoke. While I was waiting the service writer talked for over a half hour to some woman who was worried about the transmission in her old car. She was just trying to get advice with no intention of buying anything. The service writer in this quality outfit was wearing a dirty Dale Earnhart jacket. I haven't been in a fight since I was a kid, but I almost did that day.



This sort of thing should REALLY bother you!

 

[JConley]

The last time my ram was at the dealer, it came back with a door ding (its only one) I called the dealer, and they repaired the damage. They also gave me a rental car, and offered deliver the ram to Austin which was 120 miles away. The dealer was Lawrence Marshall in Hempstead. The service writer now works in Giddings. (I think she is still there)



I dont have a problem with someone working on my truck. The biggest problem I have is with the service department. I cant be without my truck since I dont have an extra vehicle. The attitide of " We will work on it at our leisure" just doesnt cut it with me. That is why I do everything myself. I can fix the problem before the dealer ever gets too it. I also learn a few things on the side, and I know the work will be done to my specs.

 

[jwilliams3]

A friend of mines truck was purchased used, a 2000 4x4 Cummins.

Anyhow, we look it over after he purchases it and we notice that the bolt that runs through the engine mount is missing its nut!



When the engine would torque up it would rise out of the saddle!

So we call around to different dealers.

First one (where purchased) "we cant order that part"

2nd dealer "drop it off next week!"

Anyhow we get a nut to suffice temporarily.



Get the truck back from dealer, they didnt even change it to a factory cap nut!

Finally we get ahold of a factory mount nut from a parts store and

torque it to spec ourselves.

By the way the dealer didnt even touch the truck, the tech decided it was "ok".



Wasted time, and energy!



Dealers around here are worthless.



--Justin

 

[RichR]

Ladyjaine said:"I show up in running shorts and high heels. I bat my eyelashes and tell them what smart, strong, capable men they are. I have walked out with free parts, full tanks of gas, had men drive to my house to perform repairs for me, tow my vehicles for reduced rates and I usually get some sort of a discount if they can figure out how to write it up. Would they do that for you if you wore shorts? Probably not"

She owns a Diesel,Mentions an Ex. And hangs out here. Yes there is heaven on earth!!

John posted:"High heels would be tough on hills. "

You must have some killer calves.

Another fun day @TDR

 

[Bill Lins]

Re: They Never Believe Me

Originally posted by ladyjaine

I show up in running shorts and high heels. Jean

PICTURES! We want PICTURES!!

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

I 2nd the motion for pics!!!

 

[ladyjaine]

Re: They Never Believe Me

Originally posted by Bill Lins

PICTURES! We want PICTURES!!

I was afraid of that... OK, I have created an album and put ONE pic up there. Look for Ladyjaine. My bike was a Honda Shadow, 500cc and a 1985. Battered, reliable and called Clyde.



"Is that your bike?"



"Yup, and they're my legs, too!"



Jean

 

[John Berger]

Right turn, Clyde. :-laf

 

[John Berger]

Nice legs, girlfriend. Nice bike, too. You look like a runner. Are you?

 

[tarussell]

I have witnessed several service problems like Steve described . It is a shame that so many shops take that attitude. I applaud your efforts on maintaining professional attitude in your work; to few people take pride in their performance and product knowledge !

For those rare few who have a good dealer ( I don't mean one that will warranty stuff that they shouldn't, but a compliant

and professional and HONEST one ) count your blessing's.



I worked as a parts guy at a Toyota/Lexus dealership a hindered years ago and the service dept. treated customers very different if they did not buy and maintain their vehicles at that dealership . I understand about treating a customer good that has been loyal , but that does not mean that a new or warranty cust. should be treated like a second class citizen.



I do not expect to be treated special or get anything that I am not paying for ; I just want to get the EXPERTICE that goes along with what training that they should have ! If you take your truck to Wall-Mart service center your not going to find much more than an oil / tire change jockey, and if you take your truck to a DC Service center you should find an extremely knowledgeable technician on that product line that knows how to perform service in a professional manor ! Just my $ . 02 worth , Thomas



I don't mean to offend anyone who is working at Wall-Mart or anywhere else. I am just saying-- don't go looking for a good slice of pizza at McDonalds and when you go to Pizza Hut I expect to get a really good pizza !

 

[Bill Lins]

You should have told us!

Happy belated birthday, ladyjaine!

 

[Andy Perreault]

LOL @ Ladyjaine's posts!

I can just see the marketing people at DC scratching their heads, trying to figure out why suddenly a high percentage of male diesel (and only diesel) owners are shaving their legs and wearing shorts and high heels when they come into the dealerships. Might make for some interesting commercials as they try to appeal to their "target audience". Their new slogan might be something like:



"REAL men drive REAL trucks and are secure with their inner feminine side!"







(btw, where can a find a purse that matches the interior of my truck?)

Andy Oo.

 

[Shovelhead]

Some how I can't see asking Wifey "Do these shorts make my butt look big?"

 

[Puffin Smoke]

Did you ever call the customer service center and report your woes to them? The phone number is in your owners manual. A call to the customer service center AUTOMATICALLY generates a "c. a. r. e. " I don't remember at the moment exactly what is stands for but it's viewed as a blemish on the dealer if it remains unresolved, for that matter too many resolved c. a. r. e. s. is not good either.

Not gonna explain what my problem was cause its useless. But hell they never called me back!!! Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[Brandon]

I dont post and read everything much but finally read this one. .





HEY Parcher I hope you read this. I own a lube shop, and I too tried this a couple of years ago, "not every lube or service facility is full of hacks, so dont generalise"





IT DIDNT FLY... ... ... basically I will be catagorized a hack for the rest of my life. Ask all my happy customers, they are the ones that let me know I am a good facility, not the people on the net. so cheer up dont take the net personal. Your happy customers will have to be enough for you.

 

[pkennedy]

Parcher you certainly have fired a few up but maybe you will now understand the frustration of personal money spent and abused by to many. I think we should go back to basics as you are a professional technician perhaps you could train your buddies in training that an oil filter does not need to be torqued to Mack head bolt specs unlike the drain plug which apparently holds my truck together. OK so I am kidding but realisticaly not everyone in your shop cares about some one elses iron like you do including % of the management, things like services are basic and if there is continous problems there what happens when these gorillas go high tech. Like others have said dont take these as personal cheap shots but experiences that form precedent in forming bad taste, just like you we spent our money on these units and expect pro's to help us and when that doesn't happen tempers flare. Keep up the good work, call Cummins about learning and become a master bomber. PK

 

[tgbol]

Parcher

I am the supervisor for 2 of my company's 14 repair facilities. Total number of vehicles in our fleet is about 5800. We have the same problem as you. There are some pretty bad mechanics in our organization and some excellent ones. I am lucky I have some of the best working for me. In most cases the users don't remember when we do something extra or extraordinary for them, but let some rinky-dink problem cause their equipment to go down

and the fecal matter hits the rotating air movement device.

I have also been lucky with my dealer, but I have seen many not so good ones.

Tom

 

[willyslover]

Parcher... it appears you have a very high degree of pride in what you do, very good for you !



May I suggest that you print off this thread as well a the header page that shows the member count, and compose a letter to DC Senior VP over Customer Relations and CC the Senior VP over Advertising and ask what they can do to change the treatment their company gives it customers and how you can help them achieve some major goals to turn around the rightly deserved perseption of very poor at best service.

If they look at this as an opertunity for improvement and as a letter of critique from a concerned insider, who knows maybe just maybe someone might try to reverse a huge problem.



IMHO either your part of the problem or part of the cure [no flame intended]

 

[sdalton]

Originally posted by Morphious

The last time my truck was at the dealership, it was for the replacement of the fuel sending unit for the third time, on this trip, the emergency brake handle was broken off and a huge dent was installed into my passenger side door... .



The dealership claimed that it was already there, I knew that it wasn't as I do a walk around before and after I drop my truck off, I confronted them on it before I left there. They owed up to the handle but wouldn't fix the dent. This occured 2 years ago, and has never been back to a dealership again.



Morph.

One way to make this work in your favor is to make a police report on this incident. It is too late for Morphious to do it, but if the same thing happens to anyone else, and they deny it is their fault do this. Before you drop it off, have them list any dents or scratches on your vehicle, and have them write it down. If it comes back with a dent, tell them about it. If they refuse to fix it, immediately call for a police unit to arive and demand a police report for "Criminal Mischief". List the service manager as the person with whom you left the vehicle in care and custody of. Get a copy of that report, when available. Then give them one last opportunity to make good. If they do not, take the dealership and possibly the service manager to small claims court. Trust me, a jury will not like these jerks playing games with your truck and the dents left by the dealership. If you take the sevice manager to court, I guarantee he will find a way to get it fixed pretty fast at his dealership.