My Honda service dept experience today.

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
When you go to a dealership you are paying for more than the repair. The Keurig machine, the sofas in the vistor lounge, the 56" plasma TV showing Dr Phil, the sales guy you can smell a mile away. Simple economics here.

If you want value in a repair goto the place you need to wipe off the vinal chair before you sit down if you think that is prudent and the work order is covered with smudges of brake lube and the smell of transmission fluid is in the air when the actual guy in a blue dickie who worked on the car slides open the service window.


This^^ Sounds like my shop except a bit cleaner.

 

[DrDusty86]

Ranger, Your dad had issues with his Honda? Don't let hyper, doog or Jason hear that or you will get banned from this site.

 

[Stanley Rockafeller]

Originally Posted By: Doog

shame on you for not pressing the warranty further.


Isn't this the whole reason for the visit anyway?
OP seems to enjoy spending money...just my observation

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
When you go to a dealership you are paying for more than the repair. The Keurig machine, the sofas in the vistor lounge, the 56" plasma TV showing Dr Phil, the sales guy you can smell a mile away. Simple economics here.

If you want value in a repair goto the place you need to wipe off the vinal chair before you sit down if you think that is prudent and the work order is covered with smudges of brake lube and the smell of transmission fluid is in the air when the actual guy in a blue dickie who worked on the car slides open the service window.


This^^ Sounds like my shop except a bit cleaner.

Are you talking about the brand new Toyota of Nashua with its roof lounge?

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Originally Posted By: Doog
Buyer beware. Did it say " The Church of Honda" above the door? Do yourself a favor and find a good indy who has lots of Honda experience. I have one to do all of the things that I can't.

But shame on you for not pressing the warranty further.


I did press the warranty, and did NOT pay the $90 for the rotor resurfacing.. the $274.xx i paid was fully the labor and parts for the rear hub assembly.. and there is only One Honda dealer in Terre Haute Indiana.. Im still not sure I got took on what i did pay for., but i was clearly getting the upsale..

 

[VNTS]

Yes, just what I want to pay for, no thanks!

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: rjundi
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
When you go to a dealership you are paying for more than the repair. The Keurig machine, the sofas in the vistor lounge, the 56" plasma TV showing Dr Phil, the sales guy you can smell a mile away. Simple economics here.

If you want value in a repair goto the place you need to wipe off the vinal chair before you sit down if you think that is prudent and the work order is covered with smudges of brake lube and the smell of transmission fluid is in the air when the actual guy in a blue dickie who worked on the car slides open the service window.


This^^ Sounds like my shop except a bit cleaner.

Are you talking about the brand new Toyota of Nashua with its roof lounge?

 

[simple_gifts]

^ Yeah, that's it.

I forgot to mention the 60'x30' covered area double garage doored (glass btw) drive in area to the service bay so you can drive in, drop the car off and get into your courtesy vehicle without the major inconvenience of getting wet during a rainstorm or interacting (seeing) with the ruffians who might be servicing your vehicle. Most New Englanders probably own an umbrella, raincoat, or in my case "don't care" about absorbing some precip, so I'm not sure what that is other than a wasteful extravagance.

I think the lady @ the parts counter is also a help, who apparently cannot lookup "anything" about "any car" without first calling a parts guy (in the back). She will take your money however, leaving me wondering my "the money taker" is the front man at the parts counter, rather than a parts guy.

This could explain the $22 OEM PVC valve for a Tundra I could have gotten for $3.xx from FCPImport.

 

[FZ1]

My Honda dealer charges me $21 for an oil change including new filter. I bring my own oil. Wiper change $25.

 

[R2d2]

Thats a typical dealer experience, most indie mechanics are just as bad. Try to do as much as you can yourself is what I do. When I look for a new car in a few years, ease of home service is a priority.

 

[LeakySeals]

Even the Parts guys have a flat screen

Drive the car in and..

watch some TV, eat 1/2 dozen donuts, 5 cups of coffee.

Go up to the cafeteria, eat more, catch a tan

Service stalk for a while.

 

[OtisBlkR1]

wow, nice shop

 

[mercuryblues]

I live only 25 minutes from that dealership. That is incredible, but IMO... that's to the point of being ridiculous. Not even luxury car dealerships in the area have anything like that. Looks like some SERIOUS overhead that will be passed down to their customers.

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Even the Parts guys have a flat screen

Drive the car in and..

watch some TV, eat 1/2 dozen donuts, 5 cups of coffee.

Go up to the cafeteria, eat more, catch a tan

Service stalk for a while.

 

[Mr Nice]

Yep. There is a big Lexus dealership in south FL that looks like that.

They even have a beauty salon so customers can get all pretty while their car is getting that $600 scheduled maintenance.

 

[Vikas]

It is certainly nice that you can watch your vehicle being fondled from the waiting area. Most dealers set it up so that it is just not possible to overlook the actual shop floor from customer lounge. It is intentionally done that way.

 

[supton]

So... Planning to ever go back to this dealership for future work?

 

[VNTS]

Nice shop but man they better be spinning wrenches and pushing cars thru.

My local Dodge store has older service area but good techs who are not paid flat rate, get hourly, no forced upsell [censored]. 85$ an hour rate.

All the local import dealers are all building McDealerships with the latte machines, granite counter tops and all that [censored].

 

[LeakySeals]

They are definably pushing cars. Those pics are a photo shoot when they re-opened last year. Built a new 65ksf building within feet of the old one. Then they bull-dozed the old one and made it the parking lot. Most of the 65k sf is service. "45 service bays with a multilane quick service center, two-story parts room with multilevel motorized tire carousel" yeah, whatever, the donuts are good... $95 an hour, but you can negotiate, people don't realize that. They do bend. I get a few things fixed there occasionally, but mostly oil and parts, no sales tax!

My honest indie makes a small amount on parts, so he doesn't like me dragging in OE parts to use. I need to pass him a $20 or tip him to use the good stuff. Quirky guy, but man is he fast and cheap. 20 mins for the pad/rotor/caliper job in the prior reply. I enjoy watching the speed and precision, its cool. He taught me a lesson - when shotgunning is better than tinkering with old parts, how some mechanics use that trick to fleece you. Good story if anyone's interested.

 

[Ram01]

Oh you definitly paying for those flat screens

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1

Im still not sure I got took on what i did pay for., but i was clearly getting the upsale..


Otis...you ALWAYS get the upsell at any dealer. It is the nature of the beast. Do yourself a favor and find a local Honda indy.

 

[zzyzzx]

There is one born every minute...