Service coupons suck

Got some service coupons in the mail yesterday. Was thinking about getting a new clutch for $350 off. And then noticed the oil change and tire rotation for $15 and was getting pretty tempted until I noticed that the coupons expired last year.

 

Simple fix, go back in time.

 

It’s not that easy. You gotta know what you’re doing.
2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO Access Cab

 

Coupons lol

Do you really want the cheapest tech in the shop wrenching on your truck?

Service writer yelling at him to go faster and get done quicker..

I pulled a intake manifold off a 2015 VW GTI last week that had recently been replaced at the dealer under warranty. 2 out of 6 intake bolts were completely loose, broken connectors at each coil pack, the TB gasket was pinched and causing a vacuum leak

 

Even when they are valid, it's an upsell. I wanted someone to look at my front suspension before I rebuilt it, asked for recommendations, got a couple. While I'm sitting for 2 hours for a 20 minute job, an old lady comes in with an oil change coupon. They did the change, then hit her up, "we like to do a 20 point inspection when we change oil, it looks like your transmission fluid is getting a little brown and we'll need to flush it. It will be around $260, should we schedule you in for that?" She said yes.

This car looked to be al least a 2020, maybe even later. It's robbery.

 

Yeah, that why I was merely tempted. Wouldn't want them to work on my truck.

They were a good dealer until a few years ago until something slid down hill.

 

that's called sales.

more people need to learn 'no'. but just as many people have absolutely zero clue about the functionality of that big hunk of metal on wheels. they're entrusting the marketing that says the dealership is the most certified and best capable to handle proper maintenance and servicing of that big hunk of metal. because they simply don't know.

i know it's easy to make fun of these people, but there's got to be some level of respect that they're willing to admit that they don't know a thing about vehicles and are taking it somewhere to provide that service.

just out of high school, my brother went through UTI's diesel program, and there was a 50 year old woman in his class. her purpose for the program? he family owned a trucking company, and she was going through the program specifically so she could better understand the bills they got from repair shops for their fleet. up 'til then, they just got a bill, trusted that it was accurate, and paid it.

but in all reality, that IS the fundamental aspect of the service industry. we're entrusting someone else to do something for us because we lack either the knowledge or time to perform the task our selves. whether it's making a steak, servicing an a/c system, or patching a hole in a roof. we've all got our own set of skills that are deficient in some way.

the mistake the person in this example made is a lack of other skills, in this case, reading paperwork. her next question ought to have been "my car's a 2020, the owners manual states that transmission fluid doesn't need to be changed for the next 60,000 miles, why does it need changing now?"

 

That's actually the point, it's **predatory.** No one expects a little old lady to know anything about cars, and she entrusts that they will be fair and honest. Fail.

 

that would be where you could've stepped in, as someone that knows more, and offered to help her.

as a society, the failure is identifying each other as individuals.

 

With my truck in the bay and them wrenching on it? Would you?

 

i have. and i would. because most techs don't want to be doing the extra un-needed work either. in the end, the only person i'm irritating is a member of the sales staff.

and i don't get along with sales people.

 

My sisters father-in-law died a couple years ago. He had a Honda Accord that was maybe 3yrs old, very low miles as they were in 70's/never travelled. Paid off. However, they had filed bankruptcy just months before he died.

First time his widow took Accord to dealership for oil change alone, they convinced her to trade it in on a new Fit. She told my brother-in-law (her son) that sales rep told her that the monthly payment would be less than what she'd be spending on repairs for the Accord.

 

Everyone tries to upsell these days. It's definitely not limited to car dealers. I had an oil change on my '19 Tacoma at a well regarded independent shop that specializes in Japanese vehicles. I wanted to try them out and see if I'd use them on a regular basis.

Oil change was about $110.00, which was probably a bit less than the nearest dealer. They suggested I have the brake fluid flushed and refilled. Since I had 82K on the truck that didn't seem unreasonable. When that was done the counter guy said that my rear shocks were leaking. Not unlikely considering the miles and that I often carry near the max weight limit. $500.00 for two OEM shocks and labor.

No thanks. While I don't feel like doing that kind of work myself any longer, I've replaced shocks with the same exact set up several times. An hour labor, max. Even if the shocks are $100.00 each, which they aren't, that shouldn't come even close to that number.

 

I'm not going to defend dealerships, they are notorious for overcharging and using the manufacturer reputation to take advantage of people.

But..

It's funny how people on here always seem to know how long repairs should take, how much parts should cost, what is needed and what isn't needed.. but for some reason their car is sitting somebody else's work bay

If you're so smart, and everybody at the shop or dealer is so stupid and untrustworthy, why are you there?

 

I have a boss that trusts everything the dealer says. She even takes it in twice a year to get a paint and fabric protector treatment.

I tried gently approaching that subject once and got waved off, she truly didn't want to know how much of it is a ripoff (all of it), just as long as the car is properly maintained, that's all that matters.
Now I just listen, smile and nod while screaming internally.

The kicker is that she thinks I'm equally crazy for wanting to change my own fluids. "Really, how much money does that save? What, 30 bucks every few months? Is 30 bucks really worth crawling under your car?" Lol no. Again, her face says she's not buying the BS when I say it adds up to a couple grand a year.

People really be like that. I just wish I lacked the scruples to look someone in the eyes and say "yes ma'am, this voodoo is on sale for 399.95, and you really need it to keep your car happy and healthy."

 

They came "highly recommended" by several people and I was there for a diagnosis of steering issues. I never said anyone was stupid, or that I was "so smart," in fact before that day I knew **nothing** about suspension. Their quote of $5000 for LCA bushings, ball joints, and shocks was enough to motivate me to learn and do the job myself. I later added a new rack, ES bushings, coilovers, new TRE's, sway bar bushings and shocks, the cost of the two projects together was under $1400.

 

related/unrelated:

recently my 92 year old grandmother decided to stop driving. she had a 2014-ish chevy impala. bought new, paid off, and maintained annually by the local dealer. considering the lack of amount she drives and how it's maintained, it's basically showroom fresh. in discussions with what to do with the vehicle, it was decided that my uncle 5 states away would get it.

my grandma proceeded to almost flip out that "it's such an old car, it's really only good for around town, it'll never make it all the way to his place!"

my dad and i did not succeed in holding back our laughter. i just told her the leather seats in her "old" car are in better shape than the fabric seats in my "new" truck...

 

Well, in her defense it is a Chevy

 

stealerships rope you in to see how big of a noose to use