Best way to complain about dealer service
Best way to complain about dealer service
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Discussion

neil-c

Original Poster:

489 posts

212 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
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After 7 years of having cars (both my partners and mine) serviced at my local dealer I've finally had enough. In all that time I think I've had one service completed without some issue or another. Some of the examples of standard of service are shocking especially given the price.

After another nightmare experience only the other day I want to complain but anytime I've done this in the past I've spoken to the service manager who seems pretty uninterested.

So what should I do to get noticed. Ask to speak to dealership manager, BMW HQ or someone else?

pattyg

1,385 posts

258 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
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Dealer Principal then Dealer group director and BMW Customer Service.

Zwoelf

25,878 posts

237 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
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Do you aim to achieve anything other than venting your spleen to them by complaining?

If not, then I'd choose the simpler option of voting with my wallet and using the next nearest rival dealer next time, having researched the general consensus of opinion about them first.

neil-c

Original Poster:

489 posts

212 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
quotequote all
[quote=Zwoelf]Do you aim to achieve anything other than venting your spleen to them by complaining?

Not sure what I aim to achieve to be honest. Not sure what the best result I can expect from complaining is but just feeling bloody frustrated. Looking closely at the history on my car it now appears they have carried out an inspection service in 2007 without changing the brake fluid and I'm just bloody annoyed as I've spent a lot of cash on maintaining a FSH

Have already had a similar issue on the oh's car when they carried out the wrong service and when i challenged them ended up taking the car back the next day.

I know a lot of PHers will tell me they walked away from the stealers years ago, I will be doing the same in future.

Davel

8,982 posts

289 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
quotequote all
They're simply not interested and will pass the buck between dealer / manufacturer.

After a while, you simply give up.

No more Mini or BMW for my company.

Zwoelf

25,878 posts

237 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
quotequote all
neil-c said:
It now appears they have carried out an inspection service in 2007 without changing the brake fluid and I'm just bloody annoyed as I've spent a lot of cash on maintaining a FSH
That would piss me off too if the brake fluid change is specified as part of that service. Unlike BMW not to ream a customer for as much as they can - out of interest, was the car being serviced under one of their Service Inclusive pre-paid packages? Just pondering if that might be a variable in things being skimped vs. a customer paying over the counter at each instance.

neil-c

Original Poster:

489 posts

212 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
quotequote all
Nope all servicing costs have come out my own pocket.

It was the same with the other occassion I referred too. They called me to say they had only carried out a brake fluid service as that was all that was required despite me booking it in for an oil or inspection. Turned up at the service desk, opened the service book and pointed out that perhaps it was due something else.

"oh yes, so it is!! can you bring it back tomorrow?"

Absolutely incredible!!

Zwoelf

25,878 posts

237 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
quotequote all
Definitely concerning that you should have to point that out.

Most people may not and trust their BMW dealer. So much for the inherent value of a FBMWSH eh? I can not imagine an indy overlooking that for a second.

neil-c

Original Poster:

489 posts

212 months

Wednesday 13th July 2011
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Will be indy all the way for me now with the current cars. Any new BMWs and I'll just have to take the 60 mile round trip and try another dealer. Impossible that two can be this bad!!

E30M3SE

8,493 posts

227 months

Wednesday 13th July 2011
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Zwoelf said:
That would piss me off too if the brake fluid change is specified as part of that service. Unlike BMW not to ream a customer for as much as they can - out of interest, was the car being serviced under one of their Service Inclusive pre-paid packages? Just pondering if that might be a variable in things being skimped vs. a customer paying over the counter at each instance.
I don't think that a brake fluid change is part of a schduled inspection service, it is an add on.

A little unusual for them to not pick this up and mention it though.

OP, if your not happy with the service they are giving you the easilest thing is to vote with your feet/wallet.

Edited by E30M3SE on Wednesday 13th July 10:28