American Gouging

[chuck]

The price of getting anything fixed now days is Criminal, Im handicaped and every time I have to call some one out to repair something and they see me their price jumps almost100%
My wife took me to the ford dealer so I could check on price of a small repair got a price of $576 Had my younger neighbor take it to the same dealer 3 weeks later and the price was $289 Aint America great.

 

[Mobuck]

Not that it's going to help but I feel bad that anyone wants to take advantage during times like this.
My 85 year old Mother-in-law had what I considered a fraudulent repair bill at the local Chevrolet dealership. I walked into the dealership, talked to the service manager, talked to the business manager, and the bill was 'adjusted'. I wasn't rude or threatening and I'm not a very imposing character or anything of that sort but with as few words as possible, I ripped the management a brand new exhaust port. It's unfortunate that businesses think they can scam older folks and I still smile when I recollect the look on the faces of those scoundrels as I calmly pointed out their 'mistakes'.

 

[Dave P.]

We're in the middle of some major inflation for a variety of reasons.
Ignoring what I believe are the causes because you may think about different ones,
and what caused it really doesn't change anything. I'm not defending outright price
gouging on an individual basis either.
Our retail store sells lawn equipment...tractors, mowers, snow equipment, generators...etc.
For the last several years we saw price increases ( for the most part ) around 1.5 to 2% per year.
In the last 12 months and looking ahead to spring 2022 product costs is closer to 25% on average increase,
That's just retail products!
Everything we need to stay in business has went up over the last year...guess what, it gets "passed on"
to customers.
All materials for the fab and machining side of the business have taken far larger increases, also getting passed on.
Cost of finding low skill workers is up almost 50% if you can even find one willing to work.
I don't think many realize just how wrecked the manufacturing chain really is right now.
My crystal ball is a POS, but I'm thinking maybe another year to 18 months to sorta stabilize.
On the other hand life is good, roll with the punches and just keep digging.
Dave

 

[nvbirdman]

A tire chainstore near me refused twice in a month to charge me to repair a flat tire, even after I told them the tire was not purchased from them.
I brought them two dozen doughnuts the morning after the second free repair.

 

[RSIno1]

Companies are trying to recover money they lost while shut down.
Car dealers rip off anyone they think they can. Women, old folks, etc.
New minimum wage demands will drive the price of everything up as will fuel costs.
A slower supply chain will also force prices higher since people pay more today rather than wait 3 months.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

My wife took our Ford into the dealer for an oil change. They gave gouging a new name. The car is 8 years old, but only has 26,000 miles on it. Without asking her, they steam cleaned the engine and charged $100., then tried to tell her she needed a transmission fluid change (which we had done last year 2000 miles ago because of the poor record on the auto transmission in this model) and further told her it needed a water pump. I checked the radiator fluid level and it was full. I asked if they refilled the fluid, she said no because they wanted to change the pump, then I checked the pump no leak. The transmission fluid was full and looked like it just came out of the bottle.
I called the service manager and started to get a run around. So, I called Fred Toney's office (VP Global Customer Service) and had a talk with them about this dealership.
I got a call from the dealership owner the next day with a refund on the services performed without authorization and a promise that he would personally look into the deception in the service department. Needless to say, we won't be returning to that dealership.
I hope that both the service tech and the service manager lost their jobs. I hate dishonesty in any form.

 

[Dave P.]

My wife took our Ford into the dealer for an oil change. They gave gouging a new name. The car is 8 years old, but only has 26,000 miles on it. Without asking her, they steam cleaned the engine and charged $100., then tried to tell her she needed a transmission fluid change (which we had done last year 2000 miles ago because of the poor record on the auto transmission in this model) and further told her it needed a water pump. I checked the radiator fluid level and it was full. I asked if they refilled the fluid, she said no because they wanted to change the pump, then I checked the pump no leak. The transmission fluid was full and looked like it just came out of the bottle.
I called the service manager and started to get a run around. So, I called Fred Toney's office (VP Global Customer Service) and had a talk with them about this dealership.
I got a call from the dealership owner the next day with a refund on the services performed without authorization and a promise that he would personally look into the deception in the service department. Needless to say, we won't be returning to that dealership.
I hope that both the service tech and the service manager lost their jobs. I hate dishonesty in any form.

You have to wonder if they were trying to take advantage of a woman? ( Those that I know would say "good luck with that ")
or if they just attempt to screw everybody.
With all the multi-store dealerships I wonder sometimes if the owner's know what half their employees even do.
Dave

 

[Johnnu2]

That's why they are called STEALERSHIPS.....

My cars NEVER go back once they leave as new purchases.....(OK, OK I did bring in my Toyota for the free 2 yr oil changes because they can't possible sell you anything in that time frame....although they might try to sell you a new cabin air filter for $100+ .

p.s. I always take the time to reiterate my total disbelief in one of the stealerships biggest money makers: 'you MUST change your brake fluid every two years at a minimum'. YES, we ALL know brake fluid absorbs and retains moisture. NO, you don't need to change it even if you keep your car for years. THE ONLY evidence I have to affirm my belief is two cars:
1) my wife's 2009 Subaru which I finally had the fluid changed when we put on new pads and rotors THIS YEAR (2021).
2) my 1962 Corvette that I kept for about 45 years (obviously did not have stainless steel brake lines); I changed the brake fluid after about +/- 25 years when I finally replaced the brake shoes.
Now, I may be wrong, but the proof (for me) is in the pudding as they say.
Happy Motoring,
J.

 

[Kevin]

I also think a lot of the problems with car dealers is regional. My parents who live in AZ have had just nightmare experiences with car dealers, different brands, but all in AZ. My wife and I are in TX and it's almost a pleasure to go buy a new car. We've gone to 5 or 6 different dealers in the time we have been here. No troubles at any of them.... In fact my wife has a new car on order right now. They didn't have it in the color she wanted.

So I do think it's where you live, and also the attitude you have when you first enter the building. If someone is grumpy and ill tempered, I don't think the dealer will be as accommodating. If you know what you want, and have financing in place before hand, which is very easy. It creates a different atmosphere and the car dealer can be a lot nicer.

 

[Mobuck]

About 3 weeks back, Son took his company pickup into the Chevy dealership for an oil change simply because that was the only place in town that wasn't 'booked up' during a time that he had available. The service manager informed him that they were going to do all sorts of 'preventative maintenance' oil changes and adjustments that would run about $500-550. Son said "NO you're not". He'd already received confirmation that his new leased vehicle would be delivered within 7-10 days and refused to spend that much on the 'old' (3 years old) pickup.
This is the same dealership that gouged MIL over a similar issue. Her 3 year old Impala gets driven 5K per year yet they did a bunch of 'preventative maintenance' that should not be required for another 10 years at her rate of use.

 

[Rick Courtright]

A tire chainstore near me refused twice in a month to charge me to repair a flat tire, even after I told them the tire was not purchased from them.
I brought them two dozen doughnuts the morning after the second free repair.

Hi,

Looks like I should take my tire shop some donuts, too! We argue over and over whenever they tell me "no charge." Of course it's a pretty good bet where my next set of tires will come from! There are still some folks out there who understand the value of repeat business!

Rick C

 

[protoolman]

Due to the tire shortage I was quoted 155 dollars minimum on my little ford focus. I usually put on 65 dollar tires on. I also pay 6 dollars apiece to throw away the old tires.

 

[Mobuck]

"Looks like I should take my tire shop some donuts, too! "
The local tire shop I deal with has different 'tastes'. Rather than donuts, they're more of the weed and meth at break time types. Maybe they're good boys who took the wrong path but at least 2 are wearing ankle bracelets and all have 'jailhouse' tattoos. The only one I feel safe turning my back on is a 50(ish) guy who worked in the business when my old friend owned it.
One day when I went in for a tire repair, this older guy commented "You scared Freddy, he thinks you're here to cuff him and take him back to prison. He saw you coming and is hiding in the bathroom". I replied "Well, Freddy shouldn't be doing things that would make someone send him back to prison." Apparently, 'Freddy' had me confused with my Cousin the Dept of Corrections Probation Officer.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

My wife took our Ford into the dealer for an oil change. They gave gouging a new name. The car is 8 years old, but only has 26,000 miles on it. Without asking her, they steam cleaned the engine and charged $100., then tried to tell her she needed a transmission fluid change (which we had done last year 2000 miles ago because of the poor record on the auto transmission in this model) and further told her it needed a water pump. I checked the radiator fluid level and it was full. I asked if they refilled the fluid, she said no because they wanted to change the pump, then I checked the pump no leak. The transmission fluid was full and looked like it just came out of the bottle.
I called the service manager and started to get a run around. So, I called Fred Toney's office (VP Global Customer Service) and had a talk with them about this dealership.
I got a call from the dealership owner the next day with a refund on the services performed without authorization and a promise that he would personally look into the deception in the service department. Needless to say, we won't be returning to that dealership.
I hope that both the service tech and the service manager lost their jobs. I hate dishonesty in any form.

You have to wonder if they were trying to take advantage of a woman? ( Those that I know would say "good luck with that ")
or if they just attempt to screw everybody.
With all the multi-store dealerships I wonder sometimes if the owner's know what half their employees even do.
Dave

We have taken the car to a different dealer in the past, but the service department is always booked a month or so ahead. This was a 'new' dealer we tried and the first visit there. She liked it was closer to her work and an easy stop on the way home. She has no experience with autos and this is the first one she has ever driven. My guess is they try to screw everyone. Unfortunately for them, I was raised on a farm where working on equipment was a necessity and I worked in a gas station that did repairs from age 17 to 20 when I was in college. I was also one of the kids who enjoyed his 'hot rod' and was always working on it and racing it.
I let my wife take the car in but I tell her what needs done and anything else, she calls me to check if it is needed. In this case, they just did stuff and tried to get her to pay. I got the call from her and the fireworks started.

 

[chuck]

Companies are trying to recover money they lost while shut down.
Car dealers rip off anyone they think they can. Women, old folks, etc.
New minimum wage demands will drive the price of everything up as will fuel costs.
A slower supply chain will also force prices higher since people pay more today rather than wait 3 months.

I live in eastern Oregon and NEVER buy a used auto here I drive about 150 miles to Idaho and buy them, save about $500.oo Plus.

 

[chuck]

A tire chainstore near me refused twice in a month to charge me to repair a flat tire, even after I told them the tire was not purchased from them.
I brought them two dozen doughnuts the morning after the second free repair.

Hi,

Looks like I should take my tire shop some donuts, too! We argue over and over whenever they tell me "no charge." Of course it's a pretty good bet where my next set of tires will come from! There are still some folks out there who understand the value of repeat business!

I took our Honda to a tire shop here in town to have the winter tires put on last year and AGAIN they twister a lug stud off cost $51.00 Have not been back and have bought 2 sets of new tires from their competitor and will continue to shun them till me or them DIE'S

Rick C

 

[ProfessorWes]

Bad dealership behavior pretty much killed my brand-loyalty to Dodge; back in the Daimler/Chrysler era a particular KC area Dodge dealership sold me a lemon of a Dodge Intrepid; shafted me on the trade-in (I found that out later) and nickeled-and-dimed me on repairs until I caught them red-handed "repairing" something that wasn't broken in the first place on what was supposed to be a routine service.

To add insult to injury, on that final visit to L******K Dodge in Independence, MO, when they brought my car around after the argument with the service manager, I found the front license plate and its bracket lying on the passenger-side floorboard because the "service tech" had snagged it on something and torn it off the front bumper. Which led to another argument with the service manager. I then started taking the Intrepid to a local Firestone franchise, and what do you know: Suddenly I started having a lot fewer problems with it!

And another KC-area Dodge dealership botched some minor collision and vandalism repairs on my previous Dodge ('97 Avenger coupe), which had to be redone. So when it finally came time to part ways with the Intrepid, I ended up with a Hyundai Elantra. (Hey, the aforementioned service manager at the Dodge dealer told me that it was normal that things would start going wrong on their cars around the 40K - 50K mark during one of our final conversations. I told him that if modern Mopars were only good for that mileage, it was time to switch to an import brand. And I did. :wink: )

 

[chuck]

People that run car dealerships are to dishonest to be POLITISIONS.