Fed up of micro-damage by garages
Discussion
Car isn't in the same league as some of you guys but have a 987 cayman that I had airbag deactivation/isofix retrofitted to by the main dealer (local specialists wouldn't do it). Asked them not to wash the car while its there as I keep the black paintwork as tip top as possible and would rather be the only cause of any swirls. Got the car back with a large, phillips screwdiver shaped gouge out the centre console, presumably some ham fisted tech had cut the shape of the deactivation light and used a screw driver to dig it out.
Stuff happens but they didnt point it out, I had to go back in. They had a 3rd party refurb it (it's a 10 year old car) and it came back looking like new to be fair. But I was disappointed at the time that it wasn't pointed out with an offer to fix.
Stuff happens but they didnt point it out, I had to go back in. They had a 3rd party refurb it (it's a 10 year old car) and it came back looking like new to be fair. But I was disappointed at the time that it wasn't pointed out with an offer to fix.
rat rod said:
last time i had my 430 serviced at Maranello's they did clean it before my collection, but i think they used a Brillo pad,
The car was spotless when i left it there, also there was large scuff marks on the door panel looked like heavy boots
and scratches on the kick panels on the door shuts.
Being black didn't help, spent two days getting the scratches out using a machine and by hand.,
When i complained to be far they did offer to clean the car again but using the workshop cleaners not the professional
ones at the showroom so i declined the offer as it meant time taking it there again and collecting it.
Car valeting is a professional profession especially on high end cars, think sometimes the suits in these
main dealers just choose anyone who may reply to a situation vacant advert with no previous experience
dismissing it as a menial job which it's not.
Next time i will ask them to leave it dusty with a few oily finger prints ,if their is a next time and wash it myself, will be quicker in the long term.
These large dealerships are only as good as the people working for them where as most specialist
have a more personal relationship with their customers and not just a number at the reception desk.
I last used Maranellos 30 years ago, nice to hear they havent changed.The car was spotless when i left it there, also there was large scuff marks on the door panel looked like heavy boots
and scratches on the kick panels on the door shuts.
Being black didn't help, spent two days getting the scratches out using a machine and by hand.,
When i complained to be far they did offer to clean the car again but using the workshop cleaners not the professional
ones at the showroom so i declined the offer as it meant time taking it there again and collecting it.
Car valeting is a professional profession especially on high end cars, think sometimes the suits in these
main dealers just choose anyone who may reply to a situation vacant advert with no previous experience
dismissing it as a menial job which it's not.
Next time i will ask them to leave it dusty with a few oily finger prints ,if their is a next time and wash it myself, will be quicker in the long term.
These large dealerships are only as good as the people working for them where as most specialist
have a more personal relationship with their customers and not just a number at the reception desk.
Edited by rat rod on Monday 22 March 19:09
Sm1987 said:
Hey there,
It seems that almost every time I get some work done to my car, that the car comes back to me in a worse (cosmetic) state than I left it.
Recently, I got my Aventador wrapped. Stupidly I didn’t take a walk around or take pictures when I dropped it off. However, I’ve noticed:
1) A slight chip on one of the removable roof panels
2) Some damage to the leather on the seat (this definitely looks ‘fresh’)
3) A tiny dent on the passenger side door
All of these, I hadn’t ever noticed before (I would have definitely noticed the leather) and just annoyed. This has happened to many cars over the years. Frustrating as one can take care of a car so well but others when paid to do so - don’t treat it as well. I’m not skimping on quality to save cost here either... I think.
What do you guys do when you drop the car off to get some work done to it? Take pictures? A walk-around and agree the things which are damaged?
Sad that there is some damage, but you do know that they pretty much dismantle the car when it's been wrapped and often they cut the wrap on the car, with scalpels, tight against the paint.... ? I would guess that there is a really high probability that something will get damaged no mater how careful they are whilst panels and lights are removed and stored, and if you're worried about the damage you can see try not to think of what is hidden under the wrap!It seems that almost every time I get some work done to my car, that the car comes back to me in a worse (cosmetic) state than I left it.
Recently, I got my Aventador wrapped. Stupidly I didn’t take a walk around or take pictures when I dropped it off. However, I’ve noticed:
1) A slight chip on one of the removable roof panels
2) Some damage to the leather on the seat (this definitely looks ‘fresh’)
3) A tiny dent on the passenger side door
All of these, I hadn’t ever noticed before (I would have definitely noticed the leather) and just annoyed. This has happened to many cars over the years. Frustrating as one can take care of a car so well but others when paid to do so - don’t treat it as well. I’m not skimping on quality to save cost here either... I think.
What do you guys do when you drop the car off to get some work done to it? Take pictures? A walk-around and agree the things which are damaged?
My Range Rover was recently in at the main dealer for work, they videoed the car upon arrival and when I collected it I never checked it but just drove home, the next day I noticed a scuff on the front bumper corner which I know wasn't there before.
I asked the service guy to check their video which came back as inconclusive, the quality was too poor to see any detail so they agreed to repair it.
I do agree that a video is the only way to prove one way or another but they have to get the quality right or it costs them as they can't deny anything. I will always insist one in future.
I asked the service guy to check their video which came back as inconclusive, the quality was too poor to see any detail so they agreed to repair it.
I do agree that a video is the only way to prove one way or another but they have to get the quality right or it costs them as they can't deny anything. I will always insist one in future.
Crazy4557 said:
My Range Rover was recently in at the main dealer for work, they videoed the car upon arrival and when I collected it I never checked it but just drove home, the next day I noticed a scuff on the front bumper corner which I know wasn't there before.
I asked the service guy to check their video which came back as inconclusive, the quality was too poor to see any detail so they agreed to repair it.
I do agree that a video is the only way to prove one way or another but they have to get the quality right or it costs them as they can't deny anything. I will always insist one in future.
Also, the video/photo also needs to be taken as soon as the car arrives with them and not after the damage is done.. "look at this video.. it was like that before sir"I asked the service guy to check their video which came back as inconclusive, the quality was too poor to see any detail so they agreed to repair it.
I do agree that a video is the only way to prove one way or another but they have to get the quality right or it costs them as they can't deny anything. I will always insist one in future.
I did a video walkaround of my car, but it didn't help me when I got my car back with a new scuff that the service centre had kindly touched up for me. The video wouldn't have shown it. Only noticed it a couple of weeks later when washing it when the water beaded off of it differently.
When I spoke to them they suggested that "as a courtesy to our customers we aim to touch up any damage we notice", which pretty much nullified my complaint as I had no concrete proof.
Bearing in mind the scuff was touched up, it could not have occured anywhere except at the service centre, since it seems unlikely that Mrs Miggles opening her door on my car will dip into her handbag and pull out the specific touch up paint needed for my car. I mean it's possible, but doesn't seem likely.
Unfortunately - no one is going to care as much about your car as you do, and it doesn't matter how glitzy and glamorous the front of house people are at a dealership, as far as the people working on your car goes - it's just another hunk of metal. Some people will take pride in their work, and take care with someone elses property, but most - I suspect - won't.
When I spoke to them they suggested that "as a courtesy to our customers we aim to touch up any damage we notice", which pretty much nullified my complaint as I had no concrete proof.
Bearing in mind the scuff was touched up, it could not have occured anywhere except at the service centre, since it seems unlikely that Mrs Miggles opening her door on my car will dip into her handbag and pull out the specific touch up paint needed for my car. I mean it's possible, but doesn't seem likely.
Unfortunately - no one is going to care as much about your car as you do, and it doesn't matter how glitzy and glamorous the front of house people are at a dealership, as far as the people working on your car goes - it's just another hunk of metal. Some people will take pride in their work, and take care with someone elses property, but most - I suspect - won't.
Just use your phone, take pics and videos with time stamp before dropping the car off. I had my m6 "damaged" at the dealers, who said it was there when I left the car with them, they showed me a sheet with the damage which could have been done after I kicked up a stink....never went back to them. I'm a p/t detailer and know every inch of the car which is now fully ppf'd!
Anonymous-poster said:
Why can’t mechanics lift their bloody legs high enough not to drag their filthy boots over the scuff plates Or open the doors wide enough not to scuff the door pockets!!!
P.S. Dealers and Indies!
I don't know about dealers and Indies, I just wish I could train myself to do that P.S. Dealers and Indies!
Sandy59 said:
And why can't they put the drivers seat back to same position they found it in 
From a service point of view, can you imagine how many different sized people would be getting in and out of your vehicle? It would usually be at least three ( service advisor, tech, valeter ) so can you really expect the person handing over the vehicle to you to know or remember the exact position of your seat possibly some days later? I’d also suspect you’d not be very happy if your car got damaged due to someone trying to drive it with a seating position which didn’t suit them rat rod said:
last time i had my 430 serviced at Maranello's they did clean it before my collection, but i think they used a Brillo pad,
The car was spotless when i left it there, also there was large scuff marks on the door panel looked like heavy boots
and scratches on the kick panels on the door shuts.
Being black didn't help, spent two days getting the scratches out using a machine and by hand.,
When i complained to be far they did offer to clean the car again but using the workshop cleaners not the professional
ones at the showroom so i declined the offer as it meant time taking it there again and collecting it.
Car valeting is a professional profession especially on high end cars, think sometimes the suits in these
main dealers just choose anyone who may reply to a situation vacant advert with no previous experience
dismissing it as a menial job which it's not.
Next time i will ask them to leave it dusty with a few oily finger prints ,if their is a next time and wash it myself, will be quicker in the long term.
These large dealerships are only as good as the people working for them where as most specialist
have a more personal relationship with their customers and not just a number at the reception desk.
they were racist as well?The car was spotless when i left it there, also there was large scuff marks on the door panel looked like heavy boots
and scratches on the kick panels on the door shuts.
Being black didn't help, spent two days getting the scratches out using a machine and by hand.,
When i complained to be far they did offer to clean the car again but using the workshop cleaners not the professional
ones at the showroom so i declined the offer as it meant time taking it there again and collecting it.
Car valeting is a professional profession especially on high end cars, think sometimes the suits in these
main dealers just choose anyone who may reply to a situation vacant advert with no previous experience
dismissing it as a menial job which it's not.
Next time i will ask them to leave it dusty with a few oily finger prints ,if their is a next time and wash it myself, will be quicker in the long term.
These large dealerships are only as good as the people working for them where as most specialist
have a more personal relationship with their customers and not just a number at the reception desk.
Edited by rat rod on Monday 22 March 19:09
,
Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff