Well I took Bonnie's HHR to the dealer today for some warranty work. Now this is a dealer I usually trust.

The car has 33k on it. The service rep is writing up the service ticket, looks at the mileage, and gives a me stern look while saying, "I see you still haven't had your transmission fluid changed for the winter. We should do that for you." I look at him and smile and say, "I think I'll wait until 50k miles like GM recomends."

So then he tells me we're passed time for the fuel injectors to be cleaned. At this point I just laughed and told him that we take car of those things when they are due by the GM schedule. So he gives me that stern look again and says, " Oh, so you're a trained mechanic and have your own garage?" At that point I told him with a stern look, "Just stop it!"

I signed the service order and went my way. Just goes to show you that even a "good" dealer may try to take ya to the cleaners if you're not careful!

 

Like a service writer is a "trained mechanic".

 

...and what St. Louis area dealership does this "salesman" work for?

 

I deal with one of the good dealerships around here, but they do some things that annoy me.

They try and get you on the things you can do yourself, or try to sell maintenance items earlier than scheduled.

I had my HHR in yesterday for the front end noise issue and a brake problem. They tried to get me to go for a tire rotation and oil change. I rotate my own tires and will be changing my own oil now due to a filter pricing issue I have with them (and I can do it cheaper while using better oil). Ended up getting brake maintenance done.

Funny thing is, even though they had all four wheels off to work on the brakes, if I had asked for a rotation, it would have cost an additional fee.

 

Should have sneaked in the moved the tires around....

 

And thats why I have never bought an Extended Warranty which ties me to the Dealer.

My neighbor was a dealer mechanic for 30 years. He says they hated doing "Warranty" work as they were paid half rate. They left those tickets for the new guys. Thats why as long as I am under Warranty I will have them do a "maintenance" item if and when I take it in. Chances are better an experienced mechanic will work on it.

I am unusual in that I am one of those people who looks forward to the end of the Factory Warranty when I can take the car to my mechanic for issues. Things don't cost nearly as much as in those "scare" brochures for Warranty's.

Rule of thumb....If they have to use "fear" to sell it..I'm not buying it.

EWs (breakdown "insurance") are a waste of money. Insure against major financial catastrophe, not minor inconvenience.

 

Man, dealers aren't exactly a different breed, just a more advanced version of "crooks."

 

Heck, dealers are a BUSINESS who's goal is to make money. What's so unusual about that?

Those small items or services not needed are big profit generators. The big problem is that they realize that the "average" customer does not have the knowledge to know better and they take advantage of that.

 

I agree.

The problem I have is that it is predatory when the customer doesn't know better. And saddly, most don't. Most people are not given a chance to make an informed decision. Which of course, the blame for that actually rests on the customer. Even here where we all are supposed to be more knowledgable, I'd be willing to bet that most have not read their manual. So the dealers just take advantage of laziness and, saddly, trust.

 

I would say thats a great bet.