Dealer - giving with one hand, trying to take with the other
Discussion
You got to love dealers. My local Mazda outfit aren't a bad bunch at all. Had the car in for it's 30K service and they wanted to change the front discs. Fair enough, it gets a lot of high speed use on country roads and it's a fairly heavy beast (CX7 Petrol). that's going to cost me I thought. No - under warranty.
Nice one. Apparently they're not happy with them (Id not noticed a problem) so I'm getting a new set for nowt.
Result!
But dealers always try it on. I get a 'phone call "Your front tyres need replacing." OK. So I ask for the tread depth. 3mm and 2mm at the front. They insist that they need replacing.
I bet my rubber from a local garage that looks after my other cars. Top blokes who will do their best to beat any internet price for the tyre you find on line.
Its going to cost me abot £330 for a det of Bridgestone Dueler 18s and tracking.
But my dealer could only do one brand of tyre. Continentals. Despite Bridgestone duellers being OEM. Oh and it's fifty notes for tracking, whereas my man will do it for 20.
Politely told the dealer NO. And there's a lovely entry on the cars service history "New tyres needed, customer declined opportunity to replace" or something like that. Oh there's also a note on the body condition in the service history "Car dirty."
I'll still go back to them as the service was only £190 and they do give me an RX8 as a loan car/let me drop off the night before/deliver/give me free discs etc.
Nice one. Apparently they're not happy with them (Id not noticed a problem) so I'm getting a new set for nowt.
Result!
But dealers always try it on. I get a 'phone call "Your front tyres need replacing." OK. So I ask for the tread depth. 3mm and 2mm at the front. They insist that they need replacing.
I bet my rubber from a local garage that looks after my other cars. Top blokes who will do their best to beat any internet price for the tyre you find on line.
Its going to cost me abot £330 for a det of Bridgestone Dueler 18s and tracking.
But my dealer could only do one brand of tyre. Continentals. Despite Bridgestone duellers being OEM. Oh and it's fifty notes for tracking, whereas my man will do it for 20.
Politely told the dealer NO. And there's a lovely entry on the cars service history "New tyres needed, customer declined opportunity to replace" or something like that. Oh there's also a note on the body condition in the service history "Car dirty."
I'll still go back to them as the service was only £190 and they do give me an RX8 as a loan car/let me drop off the night before/deliver/give me free discs etc.
Fartgalen said:
Car dirty ?!
You really ought to be getting a new one !!
I thought the purpose of that was to demonstrate that they were not able to get a good view of the paintwork, so couldn't be held responsible when the owner next washed the car and claimed the garage had damaged the paint?You really ought to be getting a new one !!
wildcat45 said:
You got to love dealers. My local Mazda outfit aren't a bad bunch at all. Had the car in for it's 30K service and they wanted to change the front discs. Fair enough, it gets a lot of high speed use on country roads and it's a fairly heavy beast (CX7 Petrol). that's going to cost me I thought. No - under warranty.
Nice one. Apparently they're not happy with them (Id not noticed a problem) so I'm getting a new set for nowt.
Result!
But dealers always try it on. I get a 'phone call "Your front tyres need replacing." OK. So I ask for the tread depth. 3mm and 2mm at the front. They insist that they need replacing.
I bet my rubber from a local garage that looks after my other cars. Top blokes who will do their best to beat any internet price for the tyre you find on line.
Its going to cost me abot £330 for a det of Bridgestone Dueler 18s and tracking.
But my dealer could only do one brand of tyre. Continentals. Despite Bridgestone duellers being OEM. Oh and it's fifty notes for tracking, whereas my man will do it for 20.
Politely told the dealer NO. And there's a lovely entry on the cars service history "New tyres needed, customer declined opportunity to replace" or something like that. Oh there's also a note on the body condition in the service history "Car dirty."
I'll still go back to them as the service was only £190 and they do give me an RX8 as a loan car/let me drop off the night before/deliver/give me free discs etc.
So, you got a spot on job with a top loan car and you're complaining?Nice one. Apparently they're not happy with them (Id not noticed a problem) so I'm getting a new set for nowt.
Result!
But dealers always try it on. I get a 'phone call "Your front tyres need replacing." OK. So I ask for the tread depth. 3mm and 2mm at the front. They insist that they need replacing.
I bet my rubber from a local garage that looks after my other cars. Top blokes who will do their best to beat any internet price for the tyre you find on line.
Its going to cost me abot £330 for a det of Bridgestone Dueler 18s and tracking.
But my dealer could only do one brand of tyre. Continentals. Despite Bridgestone duellers being OEM. Oh and it's fifty notes for tracking, whereas my man will do it for 20.
Politely told the dealer NO. And there's a lovely entry on the cars service history "New tyres needed, customer declined opportunity to replace" or something like that. Oh there's also a note on the body condition in the service history "Car dirty."
I'll still go back to them as the service was only £190 and they do give me an RX8 as a loan car/let me drop off the night before/deliver/give me free discs etc.
The Riddler said:
Do car dealers not do a service wash these days?
Mine does, even on a lease car with maintenance.To the OP, you have to remember that the service advisors are on large upsell targets every month and are just doing their bit to achieve this. For every person that refuses their upsell, there's another 4 that take them up on it. Some dealerships also give £5-£10 a tyre commission to the advisor. Imagine doing 20 tyres a week, that's a tidy addition to their take home pay. Wouldn't you do the same?
I think the additions to the service history are shocking though.
Edited by courtster on Thursday 6th May 08:46
The Crack Fox said:
wildcat45 said:
there's a lovely entry on the cars service history "New tyres needed, customer declined opportunity to replace" or something like that. Oh there's also a note on the body condition in the service history "Car dirty."
WTF ?! A service history should be a record if what was done, not what wasn't done, they sound like petty-minded a
holes to me. It is there to protect dealer incase of dispute.
If it is in the book, ask them to pay for replacement book and the cost of getting it re stamped.
paoloh said:
The Crack Fox said:
wildcat45 said:
there's a lovely entry on the cars service history "New tyres needed, customer declined opportunity to replace" or something like that. Oh there's also a note on the body condition in the service history "Car dirty."
WTF ?! A service history should be a record if what was done, not what wasn't done, they sound like petty-minded aholes to me. It is there to protect dealer incase of dispute.
If it is in the book, ask them to pay for replacement book and the cost of getting it re stamped.
If I was buying a secondhand car and the owner showed me invoices for work done listing potentially thousands of pounds of work 'needed', I wouldn't touch the car with a bargepole, so it goes a reasonable way toward making my car unsaleable.
The dealer is probably covering their arse by making a note that the tyres were low and recommend but declined - because if they hadn't and you were later fined/had a prang on illegal tyres(yes I know the limit is 1.6mm) a good lawyer could claim they failed on their 'duty of care' and let the car go out on low tread tyres.
Most car manufacturers recommend tyres are replaced at 3mm, as lower treads affect handling.
As for 'car dirty' again that is arse covering. Maybe they should have stated 'car dirty unable to carry out body condition check' or something like that.
Most car manufacturers recommend tyres are replaced at 3mm, as lower treads affect handling.
As for 'car dirty' again that is arse covering. Maybe they should have stated 'car dirty unable to carry out body condition check' or something like that.
No they washed and polished it. So why not check the paint condition when its been cleaned?
I'm not complaining that they are ste. Just arsey. All their service cars get a wash and vac so common sense dictates you check when its is clean.
They should have put "car clean" on the service record too.
Minor niggles - and I get the bit about arse covering from the tyre point of view.
But why sell tyres at high prices? Years ago I used a Volvo dealer who would get you the replacement tyres you needed at the same price as the little indy down the road.
If the guy had said "Tyres will need replacing soon. We have the OEM brand available and we want your business so will beat your local tyre man." Then they'd have copped for a few hundred quid happily.
I understand higher labour costs at main dealers - and accept it on a new car. But supplying a tyre is supplying a tyre...its not a new turbo, or gearbox.
As for the service book - the car doesn't have one. Mazda's have electronic service records. I prefer a book but there you are. A stamped book isn't proof of a job done - bills are.
The comments are on the check sheet.
I'm not complaining that they are s
te. Just arsey. All their service cars get a wash and vac so common sense dictates you check when its is clean.They should have put "car clean" on the service record too.
Minor niggles - and I get the bit about arse covering from the tyre point of view.
But why sell tyres at high prices? Years ago I used a Volvo dealer who would get you the replacement tyres you needed at the same price as the little indy down the road.
If the guy had said "Tyres will need replacing soon. We have the OEM brand available and we want your business so will beat your local tyre man." Then they'd have copped for a few hundred quid happily.
I understand higher labour costs at main dealers - and accept it on a new car. But supplying a tyre is supplying a tyre...its not a new turbo, or gearbox.
As for the service book - the car doesn't have one. Mazda's have electronic service records. I prefer a book but there you are. A stamped book isn't proof of a job done - bills are.
The comments are on the check sheet.
wildcat45 said:
No they washed and polished it. So why not check the paint condition when its been cleaned?
I'm not complaining that they are ste. Just arsey. All their service cars get a wash and vac so common sense dictates you check when its is clean.
They should have put "car clean" on the service record too.
So either wash it when it comes in, chance getting oily marks on it during the service, or clean it after and break a techie off another job to inspect it?I'm not complaining that they are s
te. Just arsey. All their service cars get a wash and vac so common sense dictates you check when its is clean.They should have put "car clean" on the service record too.
Sorry but I dont feel your right in writing about this, the dealer has done nothing wrong.
They might pay a bit more for their tyres than the place down the road, and as with most dealers, will be tied into a contract with one supplier, rather than a small indy who can ring around and get the best price.
If you can get them done cheaper, then do so.
The Riddler said:
So either wash it when it comes in, chance getting oily marks on it during the service, or clean it after and break a techie off another job to inspect it?
Sorry but I dont feel your right in writing about this, the dealer has done nothing wrong.
They might pay a bit more for their tyres than the place down the road, and as with most dealers, will be tied into a contract with one supplier, rather than a small indy who can ring around and get the best price.
If you can get them done cheaper, then do so.
Was just going to type that when I had to answer the phone.Sorry but I dont feel your right in writing about this, the dealer has done nothing wrong.
They might pay a bit more for their tyres than the place down the road, and as with most dealers, will be tied into a contract with one supplier, rather than a small indy who can ring around and get the best price.
If you can get them done cheaper, then do so.
. Some numpty will pay thoYes, If I was to take the salesman on his word - he told be the Bridestones were the tyres all the protoype tuning were done on for the Euro cars.
No reason not to beleive this. Its also therefore reasonable to expect them to offer OEm tyres. If I needed and was prepared to pay for another part I'd expect OEM from the dealer.
As for the comment about the dirty car, it's on the records in pen, so I'll be asking for a replacemet sheet minus the cheeky comment when it goes back. As for the tyres, the records will show a a new set of OEM aproved Bridgestones bought and paid for by an Indy.
Anyway, they're not a bad dealer. the new brakes are there now and ready to be fitted free to me under warranty, so I can look forward to a day with an RX8 or a 3MPS or even - this being PH - an MX5.
No reason not to beleive this. Its also therefore reasonable to expect them to offer OEm tyres. If I needed and was prepared to pay for another part I'd expect OEM from the dealer.
As for the comment about the dirty car, it's on the records in pen, so I'll be asking for a replacemet sheet minus the cheeky comment when it goes back. As for the tyres, the records will show a a new set of OEM aproved Bridgestones bought and paid for by an Indy.
Anyway, they're not a bad dealer. the new brakes are there now and ready to be fitted free to me under warranty, so I can look forward to a day with an RX8 or a 3MPS or even - this being PH - an MX5.
The Riddler said:
Do car dealers not do a service wash these days?
On the very limited number of occasions that my car ever visits a main stealer, I always leave them with strict instructions NOT to wash it. I don't want their 16 year old monkey hammering it with a pressure washer and dragging his gritty sponge over it.Well at least you got free discs which I think saved you slot of money . 300 for two tires is not too bad and the tracking it's 30 more expensive which is not much money .
My lexus dealer changed all my discs and pads + tires free if charge twice ( as I wasn't getting the recommended millage out of them
My lexus dealer changed all my discs and pads + tires free if charge twice ( as I wasn't getting the recommended millage out of them
musclecarmad said:
There is an argument for living in a nice city centre flat and not having a car if you can do so. Infact, what I spend on cars in a month could get me a nice penthouse in Leeds.
Couldn't you get a penthouse in Leeds for the change that's left in your pocket each week? 
Sorry, as a southener I couldn't resist...
Big E 118 said:
musclecarmad said:
There is an argument for living in a nice city centre flat and not having a car if you can do so. Infact, what I spend on cars in a month could get me a nice penthouse in Leeds.
Couldn't you get a penthouse in Leeds for the change that's left in your pocket each week? Sorry, as a southener I couldn't resist...
(another southerner BTW)
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