Dealer abuses this guy's Camaro.

[Brass]

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/camaro-owner-records-mechanics-abusing-car-scheming-damages-152707580.html

Link to the recording:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE4Dh_82kMM&feature=plcp

[JB400]

Read that too before I logged on.  They should have to buy it back.   That's total bs for the dealer to allow their help to hotrod customers's cars.  All pre-service rides need to be done with the owner present in the car.  I hope this guy gets a new car from them,and/ or the dealer goes belly up.  At least fire the damn mechanics.
I'm very leery of letting other people drive my cars.  I've had to fix mine too many times after getting them back.  Personally, I don't let mine get driven unless I'm present.

[Fred]

.  Personally, I don't let mine get driven unless I'm present.

Same here and if they don't like it, they don't get my business.

[Ghoste]

Wow, really gives you faith in people huh?

[TUFCAT]

This will go VIRAL!

It nearly made me sick to my stomach watching and listening to those idiots. Sadly, this probably happens a lot.  

[Ghoste]

I hate to think but you are probably right.  I know at any of the dealerships where I had worked if you pulled something like you would have been gone and (joys of living in a small town) probably finding it hard to get work elsewhere around town.

[Cooter]

Customer brought in his brand new 505 HP Corvette 427 the other day with 300 miles on it. Of course, the boss goes out to look at it as he has to be king sh*t like that.

Well, come to find out the A/C quit working after only 300 miles, so here he is.

The next thing I hear, the boss is gone up the road wide open, chunkin' gears. Did it three times. Comes back and reports to me how Badass it is.

Whaddya gonna do? If you own a HP car, it's gonna get abused at some point if you leave it at a shop. Plain and simple. This is nothing new, just these idiots got caught. I personally drive EVERY single car like they ALL have camera's in 'em that way I never have to worry, but the boss? Different story.

[resq302]

Kinda makes me wonder about some work that I have done with my truck lately and why they replaced the ring and pinion twice.  (under warranty of course)

[TUFCAT]

423,383 views as of 8:34 AM EST.  

Nearly have a million people have seen this already.

[Ghoste]

Any idea if there have been any consequences for them yet?

[F8-4life]

I went to school for automotive and I can see this kinda thing happening pretty easily nowadays. Some of the new crop of techs are really something else.

[Charger_Dart]

Sorry to say this does happen and not just at car dealerships. I had something very similar happen to me at the Thrifty Car Rental place just outside of Logan Airport in Boston. They offer valet parking and shuttle to Logan at a fairly reasonable price so i thought I would use it for a vacation trip the wife and I planned. I drove my supercharged Durango R/T 2 hours to Thrifty and handed over the keys - huge mistake. When we returned from vacation at night we found my Durango with a dead battery, shredded supercharger belt, disc brakes seized to the rotors, warped rotors, and exhaust pipes crunched (probably when they towed it back)  
Here we are after dealing with 12 hours of flying across lots of time zones at night talking to some kid night manager who could care very little about this and kept saying it must of come in that way. Deny, deny, deny is what they must teach these managers in training.  
Like the guy with the Camero, I contacted everyone I could about the expense and I had to pay to not only tow it home, but repair it. Nobody would accept any responsibility or would help with any of the costs. It never ran right after that and I ended up trading it in on a RAM pickup that I drive today.
Lesson learned - watch your vehicles and don't trust anyone with the keys.      

[Ghoste]

Yes, the Ferris Beuller scene was sadly based on reality.

[bakerhillpins]

I gotta say it. As much as folks now a days bitch about computers in cars, this kinda stuff isn't going to be hidden for long. I suspect that in the not to distant future you will be able to record all sorts of data to secure on or off board devices, including GPS movement and dynamic data. It will only be a matter of time before tech catches up to these twits.

[Ghoste]

True story.  Good friend of mine has a new Mercedes C class and when he took it in for a recent service he jokingly asked the service manager about altering the computer for a little more power.  The service manager told him that it seemed like he had all the power he needed already and when my firend gave him a puzzled look the manager explained that when you come in for service they download a bunch of info from the computer including things like peak speeds.  Apparently my buddy had been  often exploring the cars limitations.

[Cooter]

Yessir, vehicles nowadays will set a Check engine light for "Maximum RPM reached"....

I can see what and how you have driven your ride for the last 25 drive cycles.

No more coming into the dealer and expressing how much of a turd your new Challenger is because the clutch didn't last 500 miles when all they have to do is download how it was driven and prove your ass wrong. Swings both ways on that one.

[TUFCAT]

Any idea if there have been any consequences for them yet?

Here's my thought, but I don't THINK I have the balls to do it yet  ....( maybe after a few beers)  

Somebody should call the dealership and politely ask to speak with "the two assholes [Jacob and Josh] who beat the shit out of that customer's Camaro"   and report what happens...


Best Chevrolet
5010 Old Easley Bridge Road  Easley, SC 29642
(864) 385-7000
www.bestchevyupstate.com

[Mike DC]

No more coming into the dealer and expressing how much of a turd your new Challenger is because the clutch didn't last 500 miles when all they have to do is download how it was driven and prove your ass wrong. Swings both ways on that one.

The problem with this kind of stuff is that it usually DOESN'T swing both ways - it swings one way.  Against us.  

These systems can easily be used to deny customer claims.  But this Camaro owner isn't having any luck using it to incriminate the dealership for his burned clutch.    


It's like when DNA evidence began to be used in the legal system.  There was plenty of legal allowance and financial support for using it to convict people.  But the convicted & defendants weren't getting equal access to exonerate themselves with it.

[resq302]

As much as I would love to get involved and partake in this, somehow I know if I did something like that I would end up in part of the lawsuit.  Best to let it go and have it be between the owner of the car and the dealership and let them resolve it.  For all we know, it could end up coming back and biting the owner of the car in the ass if he is ahead in the issue.

[TUFCAT]

Ha ha....I just called!!

DLR: This is Caleb how can I help you?

ME:  Hi there...what was your name sir?

DLR: Caleb.

ME:  Hi Caleb, I hope you can help me out buddy.  I have a new Camaro and want to set up an appointment for two assholes Jacob and Josh to test drive my car....you know, to see if they can find anything wrong with it".

DLR:  Your name sir?

ME:  Tom.

DLR: What did you say was wrong....?

ME:  <Interupting>. Nothing really, I just want those two assholes Jacob and Josh take it out for a drive and beat the thing to see if my clutch is any good.

DLR:  So you want me to set up an appointment with Jacob and Josh?

ME:  Yes sir....but I have a call coming in so I have to call you right back.  

I couldn't go on.....

[Charger_Dart]

LOL - Thats Great! 

[Ghoste]

Tuffy, you gotta call back and ask for them.

[TUFCAT]

Tuffy, you gotta call back and ask for them.

The service advisor was either clueless about the youtube video -  or a really good straight man!  He was proceeding to setup my service appointment by asking for customer and vehicle information when I bailed on him.

[Ghoste]

Maybe someone should send them a link to the video.

[model maker]

With that taped evidence inside the car doing what they told the shop mngr who they were talking to saying they did not do burnouts etc. is bad enough and also proves that josh & jacob are liars and easily lied to the shop mgr, so they probably lie about everything they do. Secondly, they clearly conspired to commit fraud, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FRAUD. lying to the boss and then attempting to defraud both the customer & chevrolet for unneeded repairs to obtain financial gain sits like this, the first part about damaging the vehicle then lying about it & also trying to say the CUSTOMER brought the car in, in this damaged condition is a misdemeanor,  knowingly, & intentionally planning to commit A misdemeanor is called CONSPIRACY  and conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor is in fact A FELONY.  I would have a field day with both jacob & Josh  AND THE DEALERSHIP and would order 5 years of audits on their factorywarranty billings and also any & every thing jacob & josh got near. there are very small and discreet spy cameras that run on their own power source which can be placed inside the car and inside the hood  UP inside the hood insulation pad looking downward. these all come with very high definition picture & sound. had the camaros owner also had video to go with the sound, the dealer would be falling all over themselves to get out from under the huge amoung of public relations damage a picture would provide. I am sure the dealer attempted to say the car owner recorded and/or edited the sound somewhere else. They could never make that accusation when full hi- def video is included. those two jackasses should be fired on the spot and the dealer fined the maximum for his state and be made an example of. Any simular incidents/claims should also be assessed for damages, fines & sanctions from Chevrolet corp. You better believe I WOULD make a harsh example of this behavior had this matter come before me !

[TUFCAT]

I'm I shit-stirrer.....so I'm calling tomorrow to see if I can request Josh to test my clutch like he did for the guy on YouTube!  

[c00nhunterjoe]

Video is gone. I didn't get to see it

[Brass]

It looks like they pulled the video but there are a couple updates added at the bottom of the original article:

UPDATE: General Motors says in a statement that if the recording is valid it does not condone the behavior described, and that it is "actively working closely with the dealer to resolve this situation to the customer's satisfaction."

UPDATE 2: According to Clark, the dealership has bought back the Camaro at a price somewhat above its value, and any proceeds from the transaction will be donated to charitable causes.

I'd like to hear that those douchebags Jacob and Josh were fired.  

[TUFCAT]

I make jokes,....but to be honest, I was so pissed about this video this morning that I sent the link to my friends wife a corporate lawyer for General Motors Risk Assessment (under my generic mail address).

She has no idea I sent it, so I'm not going to mention anything unless its brought up.  My guess is that General Motors (or the dealership) was forced to take some corrective actions to get the video removed from YouTube and prevent any further public relations damage.  

Who knows.....maybe my bestfriend's wife actually did helped this guy?  

[Brass]

Right on. 

[Ghoste]

And Josh and Jake can give up their dream of being the inspiration for Harold and Kumar Drive a Camaro.

[TUFCAT]

Hopefully they were fired today.  These two assholes disgraced their dealership and General Motors Corporation.  This could be a training video of "how to get fired at a dealership".  Hopefully these assholes can feel good about their "20 minutes of fame" from beating the shit out of a customers car.  They're done. 

LOSERS!  

[rt green]

hopefully. those two idiots give all us mechanics a bad name.

Hopefully they were fired today.  These two assholes disgraced their dealership and General Motors Corporation.  This could be a training video of "how to get fired at a dealership".  Hopefully these assholes can feel good about their "20 minutes of fame" from beating the shit out of a customers car.  They're done. 

LOSERS!   

[Chryco Psycho]

Good for you 
You had some contacts in the right places & made use of them I hope your friends wife did help the customer , Awesome !!

[rt green]

those two idiots give all us mechanics a bad name. the service writer was involved too right?  

[Chryco Psycho]

Actually I hope they were not fired but instead get to clean the dealership toilets until their paychecks cover the cost of the car .

[Old Moparz]

The same story just surfaced on the yahoo news feed.

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/dealership-camaro-thrashing-story-buys-back-car-satisfied-221510197.html

It said that the guy who recorded the thrashing took the audio down but no mention of what happened to tweedle dum & tweedle dee who went for the ride.

------------------------------------

South Carolina resident William Clark's standoff with a dealership he accused of abusing his 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS while in for service has ended in a settlement, with Clark and the dealership saying the Camaro was bought back and that the profits will be donated to charity. But judging by the feedback he received -- and we as well -- Clark's story hit a nerve.

Best Chevrolet of Easley, S.C., says in a statement to Motoramic that the Camaro will be auctioned for the March of Dimes. For his part, Clark says the dealership bought the Camaro back at more than Blue Book value -- with Clark saying his proceeds will also be donated to charity.

But Best Chevrolet also offers a defense of sorts to Clark's secret recording, which an attorney for the dealership had called "misleadlingly edited" and pushed to have taken down. While Clark captured tire-squealing driving by the technicians at Best Chevrolet and their discussion of making him pay for a new clutch, the dealership contends Clark drove the Camaro just as hard once it was in his possession.

"A car of that style needs to be driven hard to test for the problem he stated. It is a high performance car and is not likely to be damaged in such a way," the dealership said in a statement. "In his own words, his vehicle already had been damaged at another location."

Indeed, Clark did say another dealership had damaged the Camaro at some point -- which is why he hid an audio recorder in the door pocket. After getting into a standoff with the dealership that nearly escalated to a lawsuit, Clark says the dealer's buyback offer was generous, and he has taken the audio off YouTube.

Judging by the nearly 4,000 comments on our story and emails to Motoramic, Clark isn't alone. Untangling mechanical problems with a car can be a fraught process for both sides; one look at the Reddit thread of "Just rolled into the shop" provides a glimpse of how some owners abuse and neglect their vehicles for years. The tough economy has made people more likely to hold onto their old clunkers, leading to more fights at the service desk over what's urgent versus what's affordable.

Instead of secretly recording every person who touches your car, we'd suggest doing some extensive vetting before taking your ride into a shop; many sites offer reviews of dealerships and independent mechanics, not to mention the Better Business Bureau. It's better than spinning your wheels after the fact.

[Bob T]

That sort of stuff is not on  .
This was in a similar vein.
A local towie joyrode an impounded car and got busted for it because the owners snitch gps was logging details. He was convicted and fined and lost his police impound authourity. And he's been doing it for years . Nice one, that'll learn him.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10801744

[skip68]

I disagree with the dealers statement about how the owner drives his car.    I might drift the hell out of my car but I'm not about to let some idiot do it in my car.  I don't know how good a driver he is and don't want him practicing/learning in my car....  HELL NO!  These "mechanics" ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS AND HAVE NO BUSINESS "BOY BEATING" A CUSTOMERS CAR.       This was'nt a diagnostic test drive, it was a joy ride.   

[carsnguitars]

I am thinking the guy missed a good chance to get a new ZR-1!!!

On serious note, I used to work on car phone installs (for you younger guys yep they were not portable!) back in the day when they cost $$$, so we only saw nice cars. I must admit they did make it outta the garage after the install. Heck we had to make sure the phone worked at 100mph!!! 

This stuff does go on with cars. Sad but true.

[Ghoste]

I'm with Skip, it doesn't matter how I drive it, I'm paying for it.  Some of the customers of that place may have been parking with their ole lady in their car, what rights would that give them if they ask the dealership to give her a ride someplace?

[Cooter]

Just remember this the next time your taking in your like new SRT8 for some warranty work fellers.

[TheGhost]

Just tell them you've hidden cameras and voice recorders in the car.  Doesn't have to be true.

[Mike DC]

Mechanics are gonna be much better at finding the hidden camera stuff than most.  Not sure I'd wanna bluff that particular group.

[JB400]

Scrap the video stuff.  Go with them yourself on the inspection.  If in doubt, take a picture of the mileage before and after the service work.

[model maker]

I made 2 phone calls yesterday afternoon concerning this and with caller I.D. they listened. Their dealership reviews have had people claiming to be prior customers claiming simular incidents with their vehicles at that dealership and a couple of dealerships in the area. good word of mouth travels slowly, BAD word of mouth ( or reviews) travel very fast. Another thing I never allow is valet parking, NEVER, NEVER ! just sit back and observe for about an hour some valet parking attendants, EVEN in high class joints. if it is a busy night/day, they tend to be rough with car owners vehicles, they will always say, " YOU BROUGHT IT IN THAT WAY  and you will have 3 or 4 other attendants backing up the guy who trashed you car. take video of the vehicle inside & out with close ups of areas prone to damage, doors, taillights front fenders, and inside the car as well, let them see you do it  oh & tires and wheels also. i watched some kid race park a customers car at a nice hilton hotel when it was BUSY, the faster they parked ? a car, the faster they could hop in another over & over, more cars = more money for them. anyway, this kid roars off 10 minutes after the owner dropped it in a long line and was inside the hotel & out of sight, the kid screeches the tires in a hard left, hard right, hits  one of those cement parking stops on its corner the wire wheel cover flies off and the tire has a deep gash from the rebar poking out of that cement parking block.  he gets out, rubs the gash in the tire with spit on his rag, goes over to where the wire wheel cover lies bent to hell looks around and THROWS IT INTO THE DITCH. sure enough they said the owner brought them a car with a flat tire with a deep gash in the sidewall. hotel security cameras provided all the evidence needed to settle this case. The guy who damaged it PLUS the 4 other attendants who repeatedly lied were all fired and the  :cheers:information entered into their employee files in order to follow them at other attempts to find work with new potential employers. The cars owner was the attorney general of that state.

[ACUDANUT]

You-tube video has been taken down.

[model maker]

I think it should stay up for another week. the dealerships attitude towards the customer is unacceptable, they started saying the customer damaged his own car, What PROOF could they possibly have to back up that statement ? they are just trying to throw the heat off themselves. they should be giving this customer the "red carpet" treatment & I THINK they may have finally come around to common sense, hopefully.
Bert

[Brass]

Another thing I never allow is valet parking, NEVER, NEVER !

I was just thinking about that.  So many hotels, restaurants, etc. insist upon valet any more.  It's hard to skirt around but I suppose you could tip something extra to park the car yourself.  Unwise of me, but not wanting to be "that guy" I let the Charger be valet parked very recently.  It was harrowing.  We were outside and I could hear it idling out of sight for what seemed like ages while they shuffled cars around.  I wasn't able to relax and stop sweating bullets until the keys were back in my hand.  When we went to leave, I retrieved it myself.  If anything had happened, I would've expected them to own up as professionals.  If not, it would be a pain in the ass to go after someone hard but I would do it.

[jb666]

This reminds me of an experience I had.. Funny, but it was with a BEST CHEVROLET in my area.. I bought a 1996 Impala SS in 1997. Brought it to the dealer for the "30 day service" . During a "test drive" the tech wrapped it around a tree.....  That wasn't a good day... These guys don't give a crap about your car...

[JB400]

This reminds me of an experience I had.. Funny, but it was with a BEST CHEVROLET in my area.. I bought a 1996 Impala SS in 1997. Brought it to the dealer for the "30 day service" . During a "test drive" the tech wrapped it around a tree.....  That wasn't a good day... These guys don't give a crap about your car...

They have no reason to care, at least to them.  The world has that problem, they don't care about anything anymore; except themselves.  That's why quality of things has gone down. The only thing that matters anymore is money.

How did you come out on your deal, new car?

[MoparMotel]

Happens very often. Girlfriends mom's ex works at our local Dodge dealership, was talking with him for a while when he came to pick up his daughter. He even said he goes " What do you think we do when the boss gives us a brand new SRT-8 392 challenger to do the initial inspection and check in- We take it out and run it through the gears to see what it's got"

[JB400]

I know, they actually do that to all the cars really.  Especially if it's a new model.

[Ghoste]

And while both are absolutely wrong, it's much worse to abuse a service customers car and then blame the abuse on the customer than it is to abuse a new one on a pre delivery inspection. imo

[Cooter]

Just suppose all here who disagreed with the techs(And I'm NOT condoning what they did), if dealerships allowed you to "Test Drive" BRAND new Shelby GT500 Mustangs, SRT Challenger/Chargers, 427 Vettes, WITHOUT a Salesman in the car with you?


I can just bet all would Drive them "Normally" and really "Care" about a car most can't afford anyway. Worked at a dealer about 15 years ago and saw this all the time. Kids come in and want to "Test Drive a brand new high perf. Car. Can't shake two dimes out of all four of 'em, but they are test driving a $30K car.

[Ghoste]

Spot on Cooter.  You are absolutely right.

[FLG]

This is why no one drives my Charger or my BMW accept me, if i happen to go to some fancy place with valet parking ill even still give the valet a small tip, but you sure as hell aint driving my car. Heck the good part is most normal people cant drive the BMW anyways, Stage 3+ clutch grabs mighty quick   

[jb666]

This is why no one drives my Charger or my BMW accept me, if i happen to go to some fancy place with valet parking ill even still give the valet a small tip, but you sure as hell aint driving my car. Heck the good part is most normal people cant drive the BMW anyways, Stage 3+ clutch grabs mighty quick   

Which raises a VERY good point as to why you are... 

[bull]

I worked at a Les Schwab tire center for a while and one day a Mercedes rolled in needing snow tires put on. It had those nice chrome plated alloys and of course I got elected to do it. That place is a zoo during snow and ice events and they're always busting your chops if you're not RUNNING from start to finish. You get no breaks during a 13-hour day except for one 5-minute standing break to stuff as much pizza in your face as you can when it's snowing. Anyway, we're all running around like idiots to put the tires on as fast as possible and I grab the first impact gun I see to remove these Mercedes wheels. Ooops, wrong socket. It gets jammed on the lugnut and it's not coming off (at least not quickly, and everything has to be done quickly and without much forethought). So rather than do something stupid and ruin a nice wheel I grab the assistant manager to ask him what to do. He says nothing but runs off into the shop and comes back with a ball peen hammer. OMG! (I think) that guy's going to take a swing at that socket! Sure enough, his third swing bounces off the socket and puts a nice ding/scrape on the wheel. So what does he do? Not the right thing for sure. He just takes over on the car and tells me he's not going to say anything. "We'll just let him figure it out on his own," he says. Looking back now I should have snuck into the waiting room and told the owner, assuming I could have found him/her, but I didn't want to lose my job. I never did find out what happened because I quit a few months later. That happened nearly 20 years ago and it still bothers me.

[Cooter]

Bottom line it's like sending your food back at a restaraunt...Go right ahead and send that "Medium-well-done-rare" steak back that wasn't cooked "Just perfect" and see what "Special sauce" is on it when it comes back.

You have a high Perf. car and take it in ANY place for repairs/bodywork,whatever, it WILL be driven like you guys claim musclecars "Should be driven"...
These two just got caught that's all.

[Ghoste]

They should be driven that way... by the one making the payments. 

[Cooter]

Don't wish for a "Disscussion" on this or nothin', but I shouldn't have to pay higher and higher taxes, but I have had no luck when MY backs turned either, so good luck when you drop off your brand new SRT8 for "Warranty" work....

[Ghoste]

I'm guessing both, but do you mean when your back is turned as a customer or as the mechanic?

[Cooter]

I'm guessing both, but do you mean when your back is turned as a customer or as the mechanic?

As an American....

[Ghoste]

Gotcha.

[model maker]

Bull, I know what you mean about having to RUN the whole day. HOW schwab got ( gets) away with that treatment of its employees is beyond me. labor laws must be honored by employers but we all know that if you the employee tries to exercise your rights as an employee you are done for. If that customer would have caught the damage how much you wanna bet your manager would have hung YOU out to dry for the damage ?  The fact that it "still bothers you" today just shows you to be an honest, hard working man that HAS strong ethics and pride in the work you do. you are the kind of guy i would want to do the work on my car if you were a mechanic at a place i had do the work on it. You mentioned that at les schwab they MUST RUN, RUN, RUN, with no breaks all day. I have seen that especially when ICE & SNOW is all over the wet floor. You would think the companies work/comp carrier would HAVE A FIT if they saw that. I wonder how many work injury schwab has constantly running with no breaks  all day sure makes the quality of workmanship go down the toilet. I make sure when i go there it is early morning and whan it is at its slowest pace. I want GOOD people doing a GREAT job on my vehicles. I always watch the work being done and will walk outside  in the parking lot to get good clear views of who is doing what to my car/truck. A camera phone comes in handy to show NO damage on my vehicle just as they take possession of it and also after they bring it out of the service bays.
BERT