I was out having a drink the other night and a guy sitting next to me who was the service manager for a local Honda dealership was talking to a co-worker. He said that when folks bring in their autos for the scheduled service work intervals done at 30 K miles and 60K ($600-$1330 respectively for accords) that the service technicians don't even do 1/3 of the work on the check list. Thinks like lubing CVC joints, flushing transmission etc, usually get signed off, but never done. He chuckled and said there is no way for the customer to know or even prove it. He said they usuallu do the obvious like hook it up to the %26quot;scope%26quot; and change the oil and filters, top off fluids, but that is about it. If it is not broke, they just sign off on the other stuff and you get screwed!
Since they are not actually repairing anything, how do we know? my honda is due for the $1330, any way to avoid getting screwed?
Do Dealership service centers really do all the work on scheduled maintenance?
The first guy gave you the straight poop on this one. The unfortunate thing is that it is accepted practice. Look at all the excuses he makes. Business ethics died a long time ago.
People in the service industry used to take pride in the work they did. Now it's all about the bottom line.
The only way to know for sure your getting what you pay for is to do it yourself, take it to someone you know and trust, stand over the guys shoulder while it gets done. Alas, they won't let customers look on in the service area. Ever wonder why? Now you know.
These are the kind of things that give the service industry a nice big black eye. I've been in it on one form or another for almost 40 years and the only thing I care about is my reputation and my customers. The money will follow. That's what the guy above and many others seem to have forgotten. No, I'll never get rich, but I can turn out a job with pride and when someone asks a customer %26quot;who did that?%26quot; I don't have to be ashamed.
Do Dealership service centers really do all the work on scheduled maintenance?
That guy talking over a drink is an idiot, first to go blabbing about his employer's practices in public he should be fired, next to laugh about it like it's funny when it's not his money being spent on parts and labor.
But it is true, I own a business and simple math tells me there is no way they can do ALL of the maintenance required for what they charge, you are not getting ripped off if the dealer has a good reputation, they will fix and repair what is needed and the rest is left alone, only an unethical dealer will not do at least that much.
It's not illegal but it's also not funny, we all wish this were a perfect world but unfortunately between consumers wanting everything for less and the business having to make ends meet, we compromise towards a mutually best working solution.
Every business does it, bluntly speaking there exists no way a business can operate by the book, if a business doesn't cut corners it goes out of business. It's either that or declare bankruptcy every 7-10 years, both of the options cost money that all of us pay up in the end, so which is it going to be?
What is not right however, is if their brochure or what have you specifically says they will do something, then if they do not do it that is against the rules and I would call them on that! But before you get too hot, I would re-read said brochure carefully and see what exactly it is they say, I would not be half surprised if some of the stuff you think is being done is not actually mentioned but it's worded in such a way that you assume it will be... Now, assumption is not binding, but it does sell.
For this reason you will want to deal only with dealers you trust, and if per chance they skip or forget something that later craps out, you can probably take it back and so long you point this out they should fix it at no charge, assuming you were a patron of their shop at the time.
Have a nice day, sorry for the rant.
That's probably something to think about the next time you go on an airplane trip.
Check around for an independent shop. Get some feed back from on line at local websites. A lot of reputable independent shops want your business. Part of the problem with dealerships is the competitive atmosphere in which the mechanics operate in. Look at some of the answers in %26quot;answers%26quot; and you can feel the conceit of some of the techs. I prefer a group mentality in a shop, where co-workers help each other rather than out do each other. Dealership techs are trying to out do each other,do it quick. You the customer are not on their minds at all.There are a lot of good techs out here who would love to take care of you and your car. Find one. It is time well spent.
