My 1st BS TSB story...[semi rant] pour a cup of coffee...or crack a beer...

I went to Quality Toyota in Ft. Walton Beach, FL today to pick up an oil filter and plug bolt gasket. Around 11 o'clock...No problem...they have a buy 3 get one free...so I did. For 15 bucks I left with four YZZD3's and 4 plug gaskets (I think the parts guy threw in the gaskets as they were not on the invoice)

Cool.

So, I figure I'd give the service writer a chat about the spring TSB. He was an ass and his ego got in the way of the conversation from the jump. He didn't even want to look at the TSB (I had a copy in hand for him )

"we don't just order parts and fix stuff, because the customer says so" God forbid the customer is the right...what a concept.

He wanted me to leave the truck "so the technician could have a look at it" How long a wait I asked. "It will be a while because you don't have an appointment, and it's almost lunch time so I gotta go"

OK...lets make an appointment, I say. "fine" he says...after he gets my vin, contact info, etc...he says "bring it back today at 1:30"...cool, I'll be there.

I get back and he does the standard "check-in"...next thing I know, they are moving the truck...opening the hood "to check the fluids" WTF I ask. The truck don't need fluids...it needs new springs.

"It's our policy" and "a tech will have to drive the truck to check it out" Bull I say. He's not gonna find anything wrong, unless you want me to go to Home Depot and load her up with bags of Sakrete.

OK, maybe I'll let the tech drive it around the block to humor y'all...how long will this take. "You may want to come back in an hour or 2". Huh? an hour or 2 for what?

Then I ask, "dude...just have the tech come see me now...we could have already been done here...parts could have been ordered...install appointment scheduled"

But NOOOOOOOOOOOO

So before I gathered my keys and left...I told the ass hole to check his ego...

He HATED the fact that I knew more about the truck than he did.

Eff him and that dealership. It's one of the reasons I bought my truck at another dealership. that's a little further away. My wife had a problem with the same dealership's service dept on a new Mazda 15 years back (a whole other story...it almost got her killed, serious)...some things never change.

What is with these service writers and their ego's? It's not their money or their their truck.

So, I'll go over to Panama City Toyota next week (after Obama has come and gone...don't want to be anywhere near Panama City Beach during all that BS). I'll speak to my salesman and the service manager and get this done.

After all the Panama City Toyota's motto is "where relationships are born"

We shall see.

Thanks for reading my story...I'm gonna go have a cold Corona or 3.

 

Wonder if they looked you up in the computer or saw a dealer sticker on your rig from the --next town over--. That may not have helped, esp. if Toyota's payment for the TSB doesn't actually cover the mechanic's time. I've heard retail service is much more profitable than TSB/warranty work.

 

That sucks man. I just returned today from the dealership and had my first service performed (free maintenance). When I checked in, I asked them to check the truck for a sagging rearend when loaded and that I had looked up the problem on the internet and found a TSB. The service people were like "I don't think that applies to the 2010 models." I grinned and pulled out my copy and said well, from what I have here, it shows that it does apply. Went back to get my truck and my springs are on order.

Everything I hear now is that to get good service you have to buy the vehicle from the dealership you want to get service from. Good luck.

 

They didn't have to look it up...he asked and I told him I bought the truck from another dealership.

Should be irrelevant...without pride and ego, of course. And why would the service writer...a 15 dollar an hour employee give a rats ass where I bought my truck anyway?

I'm quite sure Toyota pays the dealership for the mechanics time. The TSB even states times for the necessary work.

And, if the service dept is gonna get into "retail work is more profitable than TSB/warranty work" they are not serving Toyota's best interest or Toyota's customers correctly.

Sadly, this has been GM's problem for years. Where Toyota has always had a good rep for service/warranty work. Take your 60 thousand dollar Corvette in to a Chebby dealership for service...OMG what fail.

 

Its possible. I took my truck to a dealership in town when I had them "check" the rear suspension. Took them all day to do this of course but at least they did it for me. Next time just ask to speak the the actual Service Manager if a Service Adviser is being an asshole.

 

well i hva e had problems with my dealership too like the op said the writers do have egos and quite annoying.

but thank god i made friends with one of the writers he is a great guy every time i come in he tell me about a tsb or a recall and anything like that. never had a problem with him....so far haha knock on wood