Did you read my OP?
Dealer Recommended this CAF changed...
- Thread starter JWC86
- Start date
Whenever I install a cabin air filter on any of my cars, I write the month and date on the side with a sharpie.
I had the Toyota dealer show me a “picture” of my dirty cabin air filter when it was in for a state inspection two years ago.
Since I started writing the date on there, I have seen no more pictures of my dirty cabin air filter. They don’t try the upsell.
It’s entirely possible that the tech actually showed me a picture of my air filter.
But a clean filter with sharpie on the side is probably probably gonna tell him that I already know when it was changed.
I had the Toyota dealer show me a “picture” of my dirty cabin air filter when it was in for a state inspection two years ago.
Since I started writing the date on there, I have seen no more pictures of my dirty cabin air filter. They don’t try the upsell.
It’s entirely possible that the tech actually showed me a picture of my air filter.
But a clean filter with sharpie on the side is probably probably gonna tell him that I already know when it was changed.
I sign, date, and write miles on my caf and engine air filter with a black sharpie when I change them. No way any dealer could pull a fast one on me.
Go ask the tech if he said it. He'll either be really upset about it because he didn't or he'll hemhaw around it and you'll know he did.
Did you look at the picture ? If a tech pulled that out, first thing they're thinking is "they replaced this very recently". It would take a giant pair to call it "very dirty" and say it needs replaced. The service writer has zero idea of the condition though 'cause they don't see it. They literally have a list of upsells that they probably throw at every vehicle that comes in, whether it's needed or not. How often do we hear stories of service writers recommending brakes be replaced when the owner has had it done very recently and even worse, the same dealership replaced them recently ?
Start writing it on the backside (non-visible side) and see if anything changes
Yes, I did. The picture is of a nearly new cabin air filter.
Did you read my post? I only disagreed with your statement that there's "no way" a tech would recommend replacing a good filter. This is simply not true. It could have been the tech, the service advisor, or a combination of both that recommended the filter change, but I believe they are all incentivized to make sales and/or bill for work. That's what the dealership does.
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And this is a good example of why you should read something before you comment.
Wise idea and will start doing that.
I read the opening post and stand by what I said. The
Sorry, I did read 99% of the OP's post but missed that line. My apologies. I thought he had them do it. Thanks for clarifying me. I will say this: the dealer "tried" to hose him.
The thing that bothers me about this - I take the truck in for a state safety inspection.
But they start rummaging around inside it, looking at non-safety items, looking for the upsell.
They have to empty my glovebox to get that filter. So, my Gerber, Streamlight, and other items are removed.
I don’t recall giving them permission to go rooting around.
But they start rummaging around inside it, looking at non-safety items, looking for the upsell.
They have to empty my glovebox to get that filter. So, my Gerber, Streamlight, and other items are removed.
I don’t recall giving them permission to go rooting around.
^^Be blatant about it.
Run a strip of paper tape across the glovebox and write "DO NOT OPEN. ALL FILTERS OWNER SERVICED", or some such.
Run a strip of paper tape across the glovebox and write "DO NOT OPEN. ALL FILTERS OWNER SERVICED", or some such.
You leave that stuff in it when taking it in? I remove everything of any value at all. Except with my local independent shop. But always with a dealer. No telling who will get in it there.
Yeah. Good point. I should probably sanitize it.
But why should they stop there?
Why not let their mechanic open up the bed, go into the sealed storage container, and inventory my tools?
You know, for safety!
I think that’s what bothers me about the whole thing. The mechanic just feels like he’s free to rummage around inside my truck.
There should be limits on that, or I should have to give them Express permission to open things up.
Nothing more.
As a former dealer tech and doing time as an advisor I’ve never understood the “false upsell”. There’s plenty of legitimate things to sell. These vehicles are always breaking, the engineers have made sure of that for us
Also you need a level of trust in order to retain customers. If they can’t trust you more than their neighbor’s nephew’s friend who dropped out of Universal Technical Institute then why would they pay the dealership to do it when he can do it under a shady tree for 10x less while you both mumble about getting ripped of by “the stealerships”?
Also you need a level of trust in order to retain customers. If they can’t trust you more than their neighbor’s nephew’s friend who dropped out of Universal Technical Institute then why would they pay the dealership to do it when he can do it under a shady tree for 10x less while you both mumble about getting ripped of by “the stealerships”?
You probably gave permission when you signed the paperwork during check in. At least you did if their paperwork or digital check in system is formatted correctly.
I was never a fan of checking the cabin filter every time. For one as a tech it was a waste of my time to pull it and two I don’t want to know what’s in someone’s glove box. You keep a gun, a ski mask and an ounce of crack in there??? Sounds like a whole lot of none of my business. I don’t wanna see it! I’d rather the advisor present it by miles. One dealer I was at did it that way. They’d just say “we see you’re at 40k miles. We recommend replacing the cabin filter for the hvac system every 20k and it’s X amount of dollars. Can we do that for you today?”
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While at my dealer for the annual state inspection, the service writer approached me and said the tech sent me video. Opened the video to see him pointing to a small piece of a flower on my otherwise clean 6 month old CAF. Inspections are free at this dealer as long as you bought the car from them so I can't blame him for trying.
This may sound like an overly sweeping statement, but....The last thing in the whole world they (most auto-industry people) do not want to do is engage some air-headed customer in conversation. Customers know nothing and the service person doesn't want to watch any customer make faces in response to a question.
Plus, I think they're happier just stealing your money calmly and quietly....and automatically.
I'd have said, "Really! I just replaced it myself 2 months ago. I'm curious how it could've gotten so dirty in so short a time. Can you show me?"
if i was the OP , i would have removed the filter and taken it back in and questioned the service manager , nothing will ever change if you dont call these crooks out on stuff , the bigger the audienc ethe better
