Funny Dealership Servicing

[FirstNissan]

Gmorning,
I just got back from the local toyota dealership. Got the first 5K servicing done. My corolla comes with a 2 year-25K Toyotacare service program, which includes 2 oil changes at 10 and 20K. Today they just roated the tires.

I asked the service advisor if they will change my air filter at the 10K change, he looked shocked and said that they will change it once its dirty. Now this was funny, because he had just "highly advised it" to the guy infront of me who was paying to have his car fully serviced.

Had I been paying for service, im sure he would ahve "Highly advised" for me as well, regardless of mileage.

 

[Jeffy_D]

I assume with more manufacturers adopting these care free service plans, theres gonna be one of two things happen.

They gonna do what we always wanted them to do... The bare minimum services and no extras ( unless it will prevent a warranteed repair, then they are gonna be the white knight and fix it for free).

Or... They will go insane with the upsell of rust proofing, nitrogen tires, scotch gaurd, synthetic oil changes( we would pay the difference of the free OC), factory accesories and performance parts, and the ever so loathed extended warranty.

 

[wolf_06]

I would do the oil change only, for the warranty, the other stuff, myself.

 

[azjake]

I'm sure the manufacturers make the dealership justify anything beyond oil changes, tire rotations, and topping off fluids on these free maintenance plans. If they replace too many air filters there will be [censored] to pay.

 

[otis24]

Dealer service centers have no vested intrest in preventing a "warrantied repair" other than good customer service. It is the manufacturer who pays for the repair, not the dealership. Depending on the dealership, they may view it as "free" money. Technicians and dealeships get paid a lower rate per hour for warranty repairs than they do for customer paid repairs. Some welcome warranty repairs, some frown upon them. Either way, it does not come out of the deaerships pocket.

 

[daves87rs]

I've noticed dealerships around here with those care programs, even with leases.

I'm guessing they want to see the car come back in decent shape...

 

[otis24]

The programs are designed to keep the customers loyal to the dealer and the brand. To the dealership that participates in the program, the cost from the service side is a loosing proposition. In many dealerships, sales and service operate as two differnt stores. The programs are good for the sales side, but not for the service side. Sales/finance push the programs, service people shy away from them as much as they can.

 

[Carbon]

Originally Posted By: otis24
Dealer service centers have no vested intrest in preventing a "warrantied repair" other than good customer service. It is the manufacturer who pays for the repair, not the dealership. Depending on the dealership, they may view it as "free" money. Technicians and dealeships get paid a lower rate per hour for warranty repairs than they do for customer paid repairs. Some welcome warranty repairs, some frown upon them. Either way, it does not come out of the deaerships pocket.


Once your bumper to bumper warranty is over, the dealer will have more incentive to push marginal repairs/service. Besides getting more money for the operation, they don't have the manufacturer auditing the actual need for that procedure.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: FirstNissan
Gmorning,
I asked the service advisor if they will change my air filter at the 10K change,


For what possible reason would you want your air filter changed at only 10K miles? I'm not surprised that the service writer looked shocked at a request that ridiculous.

Originally Posted By: FirstNissan
Now this was funny, because he had just "highly advised it" to the guy infront of me who was paying to have his car fully serviced.


And the mileage/age on the other person's air filter was? And did you check the dealers records on the other person's car to see how many miles his/her air filter had on it? Perhaps the service writer checked the records and realized it had 3 or 4 times the mileage of yours, which would make it a candidate for replacement.

I'm guessing that you don't have all the facts, and you're bashing a dealership without knowing all the information.

 

[FirstNissan]

Pop-Rivit: 10K is what I put on the car in a year. After a year of city/highway driving, I change out my air filters. Im sure I could stretch them out till 15K, but for peace of mind, I do it a bit earlier.

As for the guy infront of me- Im not sure what his car was and how old the filter was. Ive seen my fair share of "highly advising a filter change" despite the filter being in good shape. Hence I started doing my own basic maintenance years ago. Who knows, I maybe wrong?

 

[Hootbro]

I just finished up my last Toyota Care services on both my Tundra and FJ. They will only change out service for what is actually scheduled at that time.

I also get the premature up sell for filters but I just nod and tell them to just do the tire rotation and oil change. I am not gonna buy the over priced dealer parts and high labor charge when I can do it myself most times.

One time when I was waiting for service, I watched them tell an older retired gentleman that his whole exhaust on his Camry was going to need to be changed for the tune of $1500+. When the adviser walked away, I informed the old guy that it was easily a $200 or less repair at any independent muffler shop and gave him the name of a few local. Needless to say, he was much appreciative and decline repair at the dealer and left.

My dealership does good work, just do not trust them to tell me the truth when I need them to.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Hootbro


One time when I was waiting for service, I watched them tell an older retired gentleman that his whole exhaust on his Camry was going to need to be changed for the tune of $1500+. When the adviser walked away, I informed the old guy that it was easily a $200 or less repair at any independent muffler shop and gave him the name of a few local. Needless to say, he was much appreciative and decline repair at the dealer and left.


How were you so certain that a $200 repair would have solved the problem? Did you personally inspect the car?

Let's not get too carried away with bashing dealers. I have seen more bad independent shops than bad dealers, personally. Logically, a dealership will almost always be superior to the independent in familiarity.

 

[Hootbro]

Originally Posted By: The Critic


How were you so certain that a $200 repair would have solved the problem? ...............


I am more certain than you are second guessing me because I was there and heard the whole 10 minute spiel they gave the guy. His damage was a minor road debris puncture between the cat and muffler.

Anything else I need to clarify to your satisfaction?

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Originally Posted By: FirstNissan
Pop-Rivit: 10K is what I put on the car in a year. After a year of city/highway driving, I change out my air filters. Im sure I could stretch them out till 15K, but for peace of mind, I do it a bit earlier.

As for the guy infront of me- Im not sure what his car was and how old the filter was. Ive seen my fair share of "highly advising a filter change" despite the filter being in good shape. Hence I started doing my own basic maintenance years ago. Who knows, I maybe wrong?


Why would you change out your air filter at that mileage? A dirty air filter is going to filter better than a clean one so you are not doing you engine any favors. That air filter should last 30k miles before you see any decrease in performance unless you live in a very dusty area.

 

[sciphi]

Some dealers try to upsell everything every time, others just do the work asked. It depends on the dealer. More to the point, it depends on the service writer at the time. Some are out to shake out as much money as possible, others aren't aggressive about the upsell.