Im sure some of you have had bad experiences with dealerships, but you are in the minority. I read post after post about how dealerships suck and are there to steal money out of your pockets, and are quick to decline repairs due to abuse and or modifications. Well as a technician at a Chevy dealership, Im getting tired of hearing so many negative and untrue things about them.

We, the "dealership", welcome you to bring your cars in for service. We are not trying to steal from you, and we take great pride in our work. Times are very tight right now for dealerships, no ones buying cars and no ones bringing there cars in for repair. This is true across the nation as our economy sucks, so does our business. Because of the lack of work, if we find that any damages or failures were cause by the owners abuse, USUALLY we will still cover it. To an extent, obviously if you have a 2.5" pulley and your supercharger bearings overheat and grenade, we cant cover it, because GM is probably going to call for the supercharger to be examined. However if you were street racing or at the drag strip and break an axel or fry your clutch, were not going to care, its money in the shop and money in our pockets!

Please calm down on the dealership flamming. Im sure there are dealerships out there that are ran poorly or do poor work, but there are far more of us that actually are there to help you, keep you happy, and keep you coming back, hopefully to buy another car from us when you are through with yours.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

Preach on Preacha...

 

Stealerships
So you guys make money off warrantying a car? Someone said that you make some of the money back, not all.

 

Of course they make money on warranty repairs - just not as much. Unless they are overrun with business, a dealership would rather fix your car under warranty than deny you. However, the manufacturer (GM) audits warranty repairs and can easily deny a claim - then the dealership doesn't get paid. So if the service manager won't fix your blown engine under warranty, it's more likely a case of him covering his own ass in case GM decides to deny the claim - not because they *want* to screw you.

Just throwing in my $0.02

 

I dont beileive that the big part of the problem is with the technicians N8dogg, its usually with the front man calling the shots.

For sure there will always be people abusing their cars and wanting to get it covered under warranty. I experience the same thing on a monthly basis as a bodyman. People come in to get a quarter panel fixed next thing you know the car leaves and they come back raging saying that their headlight wasnt out when they came in. It seems to be a trend with people to lie to get free **** in the automotive buisness. But it seems that they also are a minority compared to the great thankful custumer base that we have.

In saying that i would defineatly look at some of the posts on this site the same way. Some people have legitimate claims and others are just trying to get free stuff claiming they have done nothing wrong.

/rant off ;-)

 

It's just like every other service industry, when things go right, no one says anything, but when things go wrong... watch out. I don't think anyone's here deliberately trying to rag on all dealerships, but when someone burns you, especially when it comes to your car, it freaking sucks. So don't take it personally.

 

yes we make money off of warrantying a car, after all its our jobs, we dont volunteer.

The way it works is, parts dept will be reimbursed for the parts and service dept gets payed x amount of labor hours for the job.

For example, resealing the lower intake manifolds on 3.1/3.4L engines is about 6 hours labor charged to the customer. Warranty is only 4.5.

Now if you are good, youd beable to reseal the intake in less than the 4.5, how ever someone thats done it only once or twice is probably going to go over the 4.5.

Like I said, I understand that people have had bad experiences at dealerships, but have some faith, there are dealerships out there that want to work for you!

 

[QUOTE=Grimsaviour;893891]I dont beileive that the big part of the problem is with the technicians N8dogg, its usually with the front man calling the shots.
QUOTE]

Its not the technicians who determine whether something is warrenty or not. I will share my own working experience at a dealership.
I was a service writer, probably not a profession i should have taken up because im an honest person, and honest people dont make money as service writers.
I was told to do anything under the sun to push work on people no matter what year car they had or how much milage.
we made base salary $550 a week. For all cash labor, parts and warrenty labor and parts that we sold we earned 15% commission + bonuses so naturally there were some money hungry writers out there looking for comission. I worked with a particular service writer who intentionally would go after the women...because he knew he could sell and tell them anything and they would buy it. (FYI after he was fired 3 times from that place he is back there again, tells u something about the dealership eh)
i personally couldnt do that...hence one of the reasons they probably got rid of me. i had excellent customer service, and my customers would tell my boss that, but thats not what he cared about...he wanted numbers. $$$$ was everything.
The dealership never cared about the customers...neither did most of the people working there. it was sickening and probably the most stressful and demeaning job ive ever held. after i left i come to find out, the money hungry bastard owner cut everyones health care, fired half the staff, and failed to pay the electric bill 2 times and the lights were shut off)

so, its that preconceived notion that you are going to get ripped off automatically that makes people hate dealerships, because a lot of the time its true. Since you only really deal with the service department, they are your repair "sales People" and yes they will try to scare you into thinking you car NEEDs things it doesnt. ive seen this happen so i know its true.
Plus labor cost is out of this world. NY is around 100 bucks an hour and everything is book time regardless of how long it takes them. The mechanics dont make more the 20-30 an hour...look at the profit they are making. most times the mechanic will finish in half the time...but guess what, you are paying that entire book time regardless.
thats why people gasp when they get a bill for an oil change for like $60 or $70 bucks. Do they do all those things they say they did like the 27 point checklist on your car....90% of the time NO. You think...i take the car to the dealership, they will check everything out etc. etc. Not where i was... car went up on the lift, drained, filter changed, and refilled... TADA done...roll it out...NEEEEXTTT....
My advice....Take your own filter to Jiffy Lube and get it done there .... they even vacuum your car out for you and clean all your windows and refill your fluids. Its the only place ive seen actually do the entire inspection of my car. I just would def. take your own filter and with the balt your own synthetic oil... ask them to deduct the cost of the materials from your bill...most places will.

but anyway, like i said, this is my experience with the one dealership i worked for. (cough, Hustedt Chevy)....(cough...Centereach, NY)......(cough stay away!)
in NJ i used to go to Lucas Chevy and i have nothing but HIGH HIGH praise for them. They knew i knew what was going on...i never got the run around from them. they even helped me out when i hit a pothole and needed to replace a hub bearing...even though it was my fault, they covered it under warrenty so i wouldnt have to pay out of pocket. So there are some honest places out there....i just think none exist in NY and Long island.

 

I 100% agree is all in the who and the where. I also work at a multi-franchise dealership, in the office not as a tech or sales person. Same experiences all the way around, people come in with stump jumped trucks, with busted axles, crushed suspension parts, covered in mud and expect them to be covered under warranty.

We had a Cobalt SS/SC with 4000 miles on it, with bald down to the cord front tires on it, and replaced the clutch under warranty.

There are unethical people on both sides of the service counter in the world and we do have to live with that percentage. Doesn’t mean you’re going to get the same treatment everywhere you go.

Speaking of treatments, MOC, BG, all those injector flush, brake flush, ect.. ect, all your doing is flushing money. If its broke get it fixed.

 

My 07 SSSC was in the shop for 2 days. It is 2 weeks old. Axle leaking and parking lights on passenger side not working. I went to pick it up yesterday, not ready. Took headlight out to change bulbs, bulbs were not burned out, I told them that, no power to the light. I could see the tech did not know what he was doing when he had the headlight dangling on the bumper. I said to the manager that he was going to scratch the bumper, he did. The headlight is not in correctly. I have to go back on Saturday.

 

well the last dealership that i went to just said your warranty is voided b/c you have a smaller pully and springs.... so i ask what part broke, they said dunno.... so i said well u have to prove to me that my aftermarket affected the broken part...

then the truth comes out...

we couldnt get the car on the lift to look under it....

 

Personally, I've never had a problem with any dealership I've dealt with. My current dealer is Crest Chevrolet in Jacksonville, Fl. No problems to speak of. They're quick and courteous when it comes to servicing the ride and they've got a helluva deal with the free tires and batteries for life (on my second set of shoes right now ). I also sprang for they're service plan that includes free oil changes, lubes, etc. I've had two warranty repairs that they gave me a loaner for and had the repair completed within 3 business days, each time. N8dogg, I think you have a valid opinion, and it is unfortunate that so much negative is posted, vice the positive. But the old saying is true, one bad apple can ruin the bushel. Just my $.02.

 

That's why they are known as stealerships.

Most of us have had negative experiences at stealerships.

It's either the guy calling the shots, the tech or the parts guy.

It's always such a negative atmosphere in those places.

 

You never mentioned anything about our interior falling apart and that has nothing to do with our error. That should be covered by warranty with no problem.
I went to 5 different dealerships in regard to my shift knob just falling off and the trim on my sunroof and they said that I had to pay for it because It was my fault for it breaking. Which is bull.... Their is an ongoing problem with those parts in our vehicles and GM knows about it. And you telling us that dealerships "don't want to take our money". Maybe where you work it's different, but the dealerships where I live are infact "Stealerships" that don't care about anybody else but themselves.
I had to send a letter and pictures of the damage to GM and they called me and contacted the dealership where I purchased the vehicle to fix the problem so all is well now. But us Cobalt Guys shouldn't have to go through all of that for a simple fix you know.

Hopefully you can shed some of that niceness over my dealerships way for future warranty fixes.

 

I for one can say only great things about my dealership,they have replaced a few things for me that could be deemed "questionable"

 

It seems like it all depends on the dealerships in your area.

Some people have good experiences and some bad.

My area is pretty bad. What can you do though, there will always be good and bad.

 

warranty work ftl......Customer pay ftw dont all techs like that word cp

 

Had the same problem, warranty repair covered it. Sorry for your luck.

 

I'm an old geezer (54). I've taken the time to develop a relationship with my dealer (and the techs) over the years. It has paid off several times on warranty work. Many of you are too young to have that sort of long relationship but it is worth the trouble.

They know I will be returning for future purchases and maintenance and I know they will always give me the benefit of the doubt on warranty questions. It is win-win. Find that kind of dealer.

 

That's were I went wrong, My Dad (50) has the relationship with the dealer not me. He purchases 5 cars from them; Fulton Cadillac/Chevrolet in Middletown, NY. CARS: 83 Z28, 88 S-10 Blazer, 2003 Cadillac Deville, 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, and a 2006 Cadillac STS. I bet you with my dads track record If I had him their with me they would have treated me like GOLD.....

But like a ******* I went their by myself. The service manager only seen Me (25) in an SS/SC. You know the rest........

 

I've had mixed results with my dealer. I like my service manager, he's a good guy and is a family friend and he treats me well. The two salesmen (it's a small dealer) are great, they are friendly and speak to me when I'm out and about in town. The owner is wierd but a ncice guy. Two of the techs I have dealt with I hope die of some horrible crotch rot. The first one asked me what times I was putting down at the track, I didn't want to say because I thought "there goes my warranty" but I decided to be honest so I told him. He then laughed. I said it's a good time for this car (14.4) and he just kept laughing. I then told him that it's guys like him that give techs a bad name. The second guy threw a fit about my interceptor. First off I was just getting my oil changed and not getting warranty work done, but he's arguing that I'm chipping the car to add horsepower and blah blah blah. I show him that manual for the interceptor to explain it doesn't modify the computer and he keeps bitching saying that if I bring it in for warranty work he will call gm to void my warranty. I tell him to do that and I quote "I will ******* sue your ass until this place has nothing left and then I will sue it some more. Then I will call every connection I have in this world and make you and your families life a living hell. You won't be able to cross the street without getting a ticket." By this time the service manager and owner are standing there and the guy starts laughing at me. The service manager says to the guy "you better shut up because he means what he says and he can back it up." The service manager looks at the interceptor manual and says "there's no problem here." and I got the oil change for free, and my next one too. I found out that tech doesn't work there any more either and he got a DIU a week or so after that. I wonder who would have called that in. hmmm

So why would people not like dealerships? I don't know, maybe because atleast a small portion of the people that work there are crooks and conartist. Every dealership has atleast one.

I'm sorry man, but I'm a respectful person and I don't get upset easily, but some of the stuff that has happened to me, my friends, and members of this board are rediculous. GM isn't losing ground to Toyota and other because of their cars, they make good cars, it's because of their **** poor customer service and that starts with the dealerships.

 

I travel over 45 minutes to bring my cars to a dealership I trust (Rossi Chevy/Pontiac in Washington, NJ Rt. 31)
They are a performance minded dealership (also a dealer of pedder's suspension, a major aftermarket suspension company for the GTO's)

They have never given me any problems and I am good frineds with one of the salesmen (fellow GTO owner)

They are a great team and always treat everyone I've ever talked to, with respect and equality.

Now, the dealerships close to me.........that's another story

 

If it's like where I work, it's what mood the warranty administrator is in and WHO you are. If you are a repeat customer then most of the time you are treated great. But if you bought it from somewhere else and 2 days later you take it to us complaining about problems then that's what usually gets them fired up.

 

Im with you n8dogg, Stereotypin is just plain bad~~!

 

well done. i'm with you 100% the guys in my shop genuinely care about their work, and it's an insult to every gm employee to say otherwise, just cause 1 guy that worked on your car took the short bus to work.