Dear Dodge Dealer, *rant*

[Finn]

I hope someone shoves a pineapple up your bunghole.

Regards,
Finn

Alright here's the story;
-The truck has an audible exhaust leak
-I open the hood
-promptly notice a cracked passenger manifold
-I take truck to dealer
-wait for service for probably 20 minutes, though there was some old bat going onnnn and onnn so this might not be entirely their fault.
-Show the service rep the huge effin crack in the manifold that even Ray Charles would see
-Service guy:"Yup, definitely cracked"
-My thoughts: Way to go Sherlock...
-I tell them to call me with an estimate
-2 days later: Ring ring
-I am informed that their estimate is 1000 something dollars, including other things(front brakes, trans flush, oil change, and tire rotation)
-me:
-I tell them not to do anything because I needed to check my funds and Id give them a call tomorrow when Im back in town.
-I check online and find that a new OE manifold is 80 bucks, brakes(cross drilled/slotted nonetheless) are 350, and pads are 35.
Tire rotation and changing fluids is bs work costs nothing practically.
-Next day: I call, say I'll be picking up the car since Id rather do this stuff myself seeing as its not covered under extended warranty (which is looking more and more to be a waste of 3000) anyway.
-Dealer: "Well the tire rotation and oil change have already been done..."
-my thoughts: well that cant be that much
-me: "well how much was that"
Dealer: "163.00"
-me: But I didnt tell you to do that...
-Dealer: silence
-me: alright Im coming to look this over
-Dealer: "oh well its not ready yet"
-me: "...what do you mean its not ready?"
-Dealer: "It'll be ready this afternoon"
-me: "fine" *click*
-I go to dealer, talk to douchbag1 behind counter.
-Douchebag1 is eager to show me how this charge breaks down.
-Apparently the oil change and tire rotation was only 50 some bucks, but the "diagnostic fee", which I supposedly agree to just be dropping the truck off, was 110 dollars.
-
-me: "so you're saying you charged me $110 to open the hood?"
-Douchebag1: "Oh no sir! We had our mechanic access your exhaust system!"
-me: "but I pointed it out to you when I dropped it off, see on the paper work here it says "customers says passenger side manifold is cracked".

In short I ended up paying after talking to every douchebag in the place and calling about 3 higher ups including my credit card company.

Honestly how can they expect to stay in business with bullshit customer care like this?
My brother's bmw, costly as it was, is a dream to take to the dealer. Everything is covered and they give him another "loaner" BMW of his choice FREE.
Sorry for the pointless thread I just had to vent.
://endrant

[68coronetGLwannabe]

At least when you called them you didn't get somebody from overseas.  Good customer service is hard to find almost non existant.

[greenpigs]

When they are doing oil changes at Jiffy Lube(after MOPAR folds)you will get the last laugh.

[Troy]

Hmmm, nice to get charged before you approve any work whatsoever.

I'm certainly NOT a fan of Dodge. The latest in my long saga is that I finally gave in and purchased the fuel line for my leaky diesel. When I had previously checked the price it was $71 for a 2' tube with a couple of bends and fittings on each end. When I went into the dealer to order it (not in stock obviously and pre-pay only) I was informed the price had "just gone up at the beginning of the month" to $94 and the two washers that I needed were $5.10 each. Altogether with tax I spent just over $115. Luckily, I was smart enough to install it myself. I can understand periodic price increases but that's ridiculous. This is the 3rd piece of fuel line that has leaked on me. The first was on the sending unit which you have to buy as an assembly for $450. The lines are cheap steel and routinely get pinholes.

Troy

[Back N Black]

I was in a similar situation a couple of years ago, charging way more than we agreed on. Long story short, i walked out of the dealership with my spare set of keys in my pocket and drove off. Not a word from the dealer, total cost $4.35 to get another key cut.

[Mike DC]

       

It amazes me how factories & dealers can make mass-produced parts cost more than it would cost to hand-fabricate a single copy of the item by hand. 

   

[Ghoste]

It amazes me how a dealership can treat someone like crap when the whole industry is crying for business.

[Manfred318]

It amazes me how a dealership can treat someone like crap when the whole industry is crying for business.

Our Dodge dealers service dept. here is full of abunch of brain-dead ignoramuses. I remember I called them once looking for some part for the Charger. I don't even remember what it was now. Anyways I asked the guy if he would order a part for me. He said "sure whats it for"? and I said "'68 Charger". Hes tells me Ill have to call the dealer in High Point (which is about 40 mins from here) because "his books didn't go back that far". I say "hey man I have the part # and you don't need to go looking it up in your books". He then tells me again that he cant look it up because "his book don't go back that far". This back and fourth went on for several mins, so after I end up calling him a brain dead numb skull. I talk to his boss and damn it if he didn't tell me the same load of crap the other guy told me. I called him a moron and hung up on him. I ended up ordering the part from Year One and paying more for it but at least I got some decent service from them.   

[b5blue]

Suncoast Chrysler told me I was going to have to wait 4 months for one headbolt for a 440!!!

[Daytona R/T SE]

The service department at my local Dodge dealer has been great to me. I've known two of the mechanics and the parts guy for about 25 years. When my vehicles need service they will come and pick it up at my work and make sure it's done and back in my parking space before I get off at 4.

I had a major A/C issue with my '94 Ram after it was out of warranty. The service writer called Chrysler and got them to pay for half of the repairs.

When I needed parts for my 72 Imperial the parts guy sat down and dusted off the old books and found them for me, He also looked up some stuff for me on partsvoice at the same time.

Dealership service departments ain't all bad. There are still some good ones out there.



Now the local Ford dealer on the other hand...Let's just say they've had a few mysterious fires over the last 30 years or so. I never got to witness any of them. Next time it happens I hope I'm there to watch it burn to the ground.

[b5blue]

Now that's how it's done!

[Ghoste]

No question it is going to be unique to each dealer but it still amazes me that any of them would take a chance with upsetting a customer right now.  My local Dodge dealer used to be not so good with the service but we had an "incident" this past summer and they treat me pretty damned good now.    I guess how you react to your treatment can have some influence in some cases as well.  Their parts department is a nut I still haven't cracked, they will usually look up what I ask but they want full pop on their pricing.  There is a dealership in a hick town 15 minutes away that never questions what I am looking for and will take the time to help me track the harder to find parts and always gives me a break on pricing when they can.

[A383Wing]

Hey Finn...did you sign a work order approving all the repairs that they did?

[hemi-hampton]

I took my Intrepid into dealer to have a fuel injection rubber o ring leak fixed covered by the Chrysler recall. To do this they have to remove Intake manifold. All covered for free by recall. Dealer tells me I need new plug wires. I say ok, put on new plug wires. When I pick up they give me a $350 bill. I say $350 for new plug wires. They show me estimate where it was like $100 for the plugs but $250 in labor because they had to remove intake to install plugs. I say but wasn't the intake allready removed to fix fuel injection leak? You mean you put it on just to take it off again? I'm holding estimate in my hand & reading when he rips it out of my hand real fast & say's OH Yeah, Your right, My mistake. I'll take that off of there. Looks like they treated me like a stupid old lady they could try to pull a fast one on, See if they could get me to pay to have a intake done twice which was only done once & under recall. NOT. I'll never take my car back their after that.   LEON.

[pettyfan43]

I worked in Parts at the Local Dodge Dealer. I had been there a little while and a guy came in that was rebuilding one of those Mid-late 70s Power Wagons (Think Simon & Simon)

He needed Weatherstrips.

Long story short, the other parts guy, and the parts MANAGER were BOTH too lazy to look in  the books and see what was available! I just cross referenced the numbers and found out the ALMOST everything was the SAME as the truck up to 93! The ONLY different part was the window "Fuzzies" and they were still available.

The end result, one HAPPY Dodge truck guy! I've seen the truck a few times since, and it is NICE Yellow w/black trim.

Had the same experience with a guy that came in with a 78 Magnum, became a pretty good customer, He's got a NICE 383 66 Charger also!

When we moved, the Manager and the other parts guy were going to toss out all the old parts books, I brought them home (about 10 of them!)

[b5blue]

It took me years to figure out the same thing.Some times as soon as you "dig your heels in and stick to your guns"people back down and see it your way!I think most of it is "path of least resistance".Those service bays are trained to be profit centers not service bays.They lay it on thick and fast for every one and very few pipe up!I worked in sales at a Ford dealership years ago,most people never get that any type of warranty is subject to MEDIATION IF THERE IS A DISPUTE.That means a board of the same guys you are fighting get to pick that they are right and you are wrong every time and you are stuck with there decision cuz you signed the contract!Look for that term in any thing you sign because your giving up your right to sue!I've never sued anyone but I've seen people who didn't know they signed there rights away wish they could.Speaking up at the moment you think something isn't going right is the best defense because most dealerships don't want any commotion on the property,you may set off some other customers.You don't have to yell, just be firm and read all the fine print before you sign.          

[Tilar]

I hope someone shoves a pineapple up your bunghole.

Regards,
Finn

-I tell them not to do anything because I needed to check my funds and Id give them a call tomorrow when Im back in town.

That is where you should have asked for your keys, Pay them their "Diagnosis fee" and go home. You did not authorize any work so they cant charge you anything short of the estimate.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

 I never have been one to trust Dealership Service Departments, I've seen too much. I'll share one personal experience that didn't cost me awhole lot of cash but was the final nail in the coffin.
  In 1990 I had just purchased a 6 yr. old car that was in just like new condition and very low mileage, but the engine pinged. I couldn't seem to correct it so I took it to the dealership that sold it originally.  I figured they should be familiar with that particuliar make and problem.  Well, they couldn't figure it out!  And to boot they had hit something like a grease rack with the front tires and bruised the sidewalls.  I went back in and talked with the service writer, then the shop foreman about the tires.  (The tires were put on new the day before at a Tire Shop and the whitewalls were spotless as was the car when I turned it over to the service writer).  The Shop Foreman sided with his mechanic and said "Well I'm taking the word of my employee over you, and thats that".   Things got very heated, I told them where they could go, and that I'd never patronize their business again, and that I would tell everyone I knew what a shoddy outfit they were.  I also wrote the General Manager a letter about the incident.
In the 18 years since, I have NEVER taken any of my vehicles to a Dealership for repair or servicing!   Generally speaking I've found that if I want the job done right I do it myself!  If I don't have the necessary equipment to do the job right I'll take it to an Independent Shop, but NEVER to a Dealership!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

About 9 yrs later, I received a call from this same dealership. They wanted my business, I told them that I had written a letter several years earlier stating that I'd never set foot in their business again.  The caller said yes we have your letter on file, but we're under new management now. I said its too late.  Never means never!
A couple years later they went out of business! 

I suppose there are some good Dealer Service Departments out there, but I've seen and heard too many negative things related to them.

You'd think that they would want to give their customers and their vehicles the very best service and treatment possible to keep them coming back time and time again. 

It saddens me to see American auto makers and dealerships go under, but in all honesty its quite understandable.

[b5blue]

Any idea what broke the manifold Finn?Did ya check all the hangers and such?

[Finn]

Lol thanks guys, its nice to know one is not alone in a boat.

Hey Finn...did you sign a work order approving all the repairs that they did?

When I finally ended up paying them yes.
boo.

That is where you should have asked for your keys, Pay them their "Diagnosis fee" and go home. You did not authorize any work so they cant charge you anything short of the estimate.

I was in Arizona at the time but Im with you completely. Unfortunately I needed the truck that day and I had already spent probably over an hour over there arguing with everyone. It got to a point where I just said fuck it, if I spent anymore time arguing I was costing myself money to just raise the stress level.
Even if I could have done that though Id still be pissed I had paid $110 bucks for some guy to open the hood.
My friend who works in an Landrover parts store (not owned by landrover) brought up a valid point though. When the big businesses go under they'll drag almost everything tied to them with, yet their products will still be on the road and will need to be worked on/parts. His plan, as he is slated to take over the business shortly when his boss retires, is to hire the mechanics from the dealers and start brand specific maintenance shops as there will most certainly be a need for it. A need for annoying car salesmen and useless "managers" though...not so much. This makes me happy

Any idea what broke the manifold Finn?Did ya check all the hangers and such?

Not yet, Im going to do transmission flush today and see if I can figure it out. It may just be poor design since this is the second one to crack on me, opposite side I believe. What usually cause these things to crack that I can look out for??

[b5blue]

Hangers, old broke/mushy motor mounts,I had a Blazer that spent too much time in the Rockys and frame flex got that one(went to headers there)Check the tranny mount too.Kinda rare for a stock exhaust to act up like that,is it a road truck?

[Brock Samson]

 Checking the internet for similar failures is another way to go,.. most of the LH problems are very well documented and entertaining if not scary.. 
Dealers pretty much suck unless in some way your well hooked up like Daytona is.. I suspect a great majority of the domestics loseing market share could be traced straight to crappy dealerships practices...

[A383Wing]

In my opinion here, if you did not sign the work order authorizing the work to be done, then dealer is wrong in doing the tire rotation & fluid change

[Mike DC]

 
I've heard it said that the Big Three is struggling against the dealerships in a lot of areas.  The companies would love to abolish dealerships as we know it, and just let you place the car orders with them. 


I think the dealership service departments are definitely hurting customer return rates for Mopar.  But it would help if the factory wasn't building vehicles that sent customers back to the dealerships for work at least once a year. 


   

[b5blue]

I gave up on GM years ago for that reason, new-old didn't matter broken!One thing after another.Lots full of cars and truck so loaded with bells and whistles the price was through the roof!Add 6 grand in options and take 1500 off and end up with more to break.At Ford I learned how any SALE is a lie and just a gimmick!Allot of the problem is the dealership not the factory, some do care and some don't.Best thing you can do is go to better business bureau first and see how good they are! 

[RallyeMike]

I've heard it said that the Big Three is struggling against the dealerships in a lot of areas.  The companies would love to abolish dealerships as we know it, and just let you place the car orders with them. 

I think the dealership service departments are definitely hurting customer return rates for Mopar.  But it would help if the factory wasn't building vehicles that sent customers back to the dealerships for work at least once a year.

Youve hit on an interesting part of this relationship. The dealers know that some of the stuff they sell is not good quality, yet they have to lie lie lie to move the only products they have. On the other hand, the dealer gets reimbursed for all the repeated warranty work they do for the factory, so selling vehicle that requires a lot of maintenance brings in business to the dealership (I assume there is profit in the dealer for all this work?). The dealer wants to have your vehicle in the shop as often as possible so they can sell you a tranny flush, inspection, spark plug rotation or whatever. Given the environment that the dealer is constantly immersed in, you can see how questionable practices might start to become a way of doing business for them. Now add in tough times where they are all just trying to survive, and it's not an ideal scenario.

[b5blue]

Yup and dealers have to get cars in "lots",Ford could make you "take" stick shift trucks if you wanted Mustang GTs and such plus there is a messed up system for anyone wanting to "order a car" we had to find one at another dealership and try to swap.The old system of sit down and have your car made for you was resisted strongly by the dealership.

[Mike DC]

       
Two of the most popular subjects on any Detroit musclecar message board: 


1.  Ranting that the brand in question has become (and/or always was) a piece of crap that falls apart, and has ripoff dealership service.

2.  Ranting that American cars are every bit as good as foreign cars these days.
       

[Ghoste]

Well, at least the beginning of this rant was just about the American serice department.

[RallyeMike]

Two of the most popular subjects on any Detroit musclecar message board: 

1.  Ranting that the brand in question has become (and/or always was) a piece of crap that falls apart, and has ripoff dealership service.

2.  Ranting that American cars are every bit as good as foreign cars these days.

And for good reason. I was still driving a 71 Dodge truck until 2002, and I now regret the day I ever had a good enough job to afford a new vehicle for myself      The stories I can recount of incompetence and flat lying over the last 6 years would singe ear hair. While some folks get by ok, I hear the same bad-experience stories from too many people.

When my 2007 pile either gives out or (inevitably) reaches eligibility for a lemon law trade away, I'm going to buy a nice restored or original 70's - 80's truck, and never set foot in a dealership for my own personal vehicle again.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

  What make is your 2007?

[WingCharger]

Two of the most popular subjects on any Detroit musclecar message board: 

1.  Ranting that the brand in question has become (and/or always was) a piece of crap that falls apart, and has ripoff dealership service.

2.  Ranting that American cars are every bit as good as foreign cars these days.

And for good reason. I was still driving a 71 Dodge truck until 2002, and I now regret the day I ever had a good enough job to afford a new vehicle for myself      The stories I can recount of incompetence and flat lying over the last 6 years would singe ear hair. While some folks get by ok, I hear the same bad-experience stories from too many people.

When my 2007 pile either gives out or (inevitably) reaches eligibility for a lemon law trade away, I'm going to buy a nice restored or original 70's - 80's truck, and never set foot in a dealership for my own personal vehicle again.

That is why I want a 1991-1993 Dodge Cummins. Reliable suckers.

[Mike DC]

And for good reason. I was still driving a 71 Dodge truck until 2002, and I now regret the day I ever had a good enough job to afford a new vehicle for myself   brickwall   The stories I can recount of incompetence and flat lying over the last 6 years would singe ear hair. While some folks get by ok, I hear the same bad-experience stories from too many people.

When my 2007 pile either gives out or (inevitably) reaches eligibility for a lemon law trade away, I'm going to buy a nice restored or original 70's - 80's truck, and never set foot in a dealership for my own personal vehicle again.

I feel the same way.  Detroit (hell, any of the modern car makers) have literally made their products into a worse deal than hand-restoring a vintage vehicle to do the job.   It's incredible when you think about it. 

[darkfiire5000]

That my friend is why I do not work for that company anymore!!!

[superduperbee]

When our Intrepid had 54,000 miles and still under warranty, the timing chain fell off bending all the valves. It sat at the dealership for two weeks without being touched, while I paid for a loaner car for my wife out of my own pocket. I called the dealership every day to see how they were coming along. Their "engine specialist was taking it apart and looking for the problem" I was told.
  After 2 weeks I decided to stop by and see how things were going, only to find the car exactly where the tow-truck had left it. I popped the hood and it hadn't been touched, not even a fingerprint in the dirt. I then went home and called Chrysler Headquarters in Auburn Hills. They reimbursed me $300 for the loaner car and told the guys to fix the car. A couple days later it was done, they never gave me one of those survey cards to fill out.
As soon as the car reached the end of warranty 70,000 the engine light started coming on. They had rebuilt the top end and never touched the bottom end. We drove it for 2 more years with 20W50 to keep the oil light off. The trans had started to slip and shift erratically, the suspension bushings were gone, radio quit, dash lights went out, AC quit, wheel bearings were starting to vibrate, steering leaked, electric windows worked when they felt like it etc. Still had a year and a half of payments left when we had to trade it in because of the rod knock [refused to pay $6000 for a used 2.7] This worthless pile of crap that I had meticulously maintained from day 1, sat behind the Toyota dealership for a year then finally was sent to the junk yard, wasn't even a good parts car
  The new Toyota has been in once in 140,000 miles for a minor AC repair. The service department apologized for the problem, gave me a free loaner, kissed my butt, then the manager called the next day to make sure they had kissed my butt properly. Quite a difference from service at any of the Big 3.

[Finn]

LOL these wise asses had the nerve to call and ask how my experience was...

phone jockey-"on a scale of 1 to 10"
me cutting in-"1"
repeat.

[Ghoste]

I can't help but wonder how the perceived quality of domestics would change if the dealers started to act like they were actually grateful for the business and showed some remorse at repairs?

[Sublime/Sixpack]

It would have made a significant difference.

[RallyeMike]

What make is your 2007? 

Sorry to say, 2500 Ram CTD.

Many of them have ongoing issues with the new emissions system which cause a buildup of soot in the EGR system, low performance and premature turbo failures. Though it's a known and prevalent problem, the salesman will gladly smile and sell you one anyway without a word about it. The literature on these trucks even still touts how wonderful and green the high-tech emissions systems are. Then when you take it in for all the warranty work, the service department will scold you and tell you it's your fault for driving the truck too easy, and hand you a revised service schedule adding the repair work they have been doing under warranty to YOUR required service schedule. Really, I'm not joking.

The ranting that is going on is not unfounded, and it's symptomatic of what may very well be the end of Chrysler 

I can't help but wonder how the perceived quality of domestics would change if the dealers started to act like they were actually grateful for the business and showed some remorse at repairs?

Bingo.

[Ghoste]

But is that Chryslers fault or the EPA?  I know for a fact that Ford is having the very same problem with their diesels and I'd bet GM is in the same boat.  I would assume that Toyota Tundra owners aren't experiencing this... since they don't offer a diesel engine or a truly heavy duty towing package.  The domestics have a LOT of problems but it seems unfair to mad at them for this particular issue when its the direct result of federal legislation.  Now as to whether or not the salesman should have told you, he probably should have but most of the car salesmen I've ever known were lucky if they were smart enough to tie their own shoes.

[RallyeMike]

But is that Chryslers fault or the EPA?

Hey, Jack. This here is the dealer rant. We already flamed the Environmentalists 

[Ghoste]

Fair enough.   

[Mike DC]

When you sell a messed up product, you're supposed to take care of the owners.  It doesn't negate the basic issue just because all three of the Detroit brands might be treating their customers like crap over the same thing.  Nor does it become the customer's problem when it's a govt-mandated issue causing it either. 


Catalytic converters are govt-mandated too.  But that doesn't mean we wouldn't be looking to the factories to reimburse us if the CCs were making the motor die every year. 

[Ghoste]

But is it right to BLAME Dodge for it?  Expect them to honor their warranty and treat the customer properly?  Without a question or doubt, but when it comes to blaming them because auto manufacturing technology hasn't kept pace with mandated changes, I can't do that.  If Dodge had taken the same route (in this case) as the Japanese makers and just chosen to not offer a diesel pickup, then there would all sorts of whining and moaning about how crappy Dodge is for not giving us the truck we want.  It doesn't excuse the dealers but the way everyone so readily attacks the American car makers, that I just don;t get.  I guess I must be really really really blessed because in all the years of American cars I have owned they evidently were all built to Asian car maker standards becaue I haven't hit any of these universal lemons I keep hearing about.
Sorry Mike, I went right off on a tangential rant of my own there didn't I?  I'm better now, rant off.

[Mike DC]

I don't mean to blame Mopar or Detroit for unrealistic govt mandates either.  But that's not what pisses so many people off. 


This is what's so symptomatic of the mindset that needs to change:

Many of them have ongoing issues with the new emissions system which cause a buildup of soot in the EGR system, low performance and premature turbo failures. Though it's a known and prevalent problem, the salesman will gladly smile and sell you one anyway without a word about it. The literature on these trucks even still touts how wonderful and green the high-tech emissions systems are. Then when you take it in for all the warranty work, the service department will scold you and tell you it's your fault for driving the truck too easy, and hand you a revised service schedule adding the repair work they have been doing under warranty to YOUR required service schedule. Really, I'm not joking.

There is too much of a mentality in Detroit (and the nationwide dealerships) that the buyer is the default party to blame and bill for everything.  The buyer always gets stuck unless they can force the factory into paying with paperwork/legal threats.  Of course it's an industry-wide issue but Detroit is much worse than many other brands IMHO. 

It's penny-wise and pound-foolish in the long run.  The factory/dealer can get away with another quarter of black ink this year, but the customers eventually just get sick of being screwed and start looking elsewhere for a car. 

[Silver R/T]

We have owned Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi. Every car needs maintenance and if you don't care for it sooner or later it will break and it will be costly.

[Mike DC]

Nobody is saying we shouldn't have to be doing maintinence on a car. 

But there's maintinence, and then there's unacceptable failures that aren't being reimbursed.  Too much of the latter going on. 

[500hp_440]

When they are doing oil changes at Jiffy Lube(after MOPAR folds)you will get the last laugh.

i hope that doesnt happen
i agree i wouldn't have paid i would told them to put back the oil and filter and the oil and left, you can always do it cheaper
sorry, i think thats better

[Sublime/Sixpack]

 

[nh_mopar_fan]

I need a translator.

[Ghoste]

Punctuation and basic sentence structure are so important, don't you think?