Stealership

[telcoman]

Check the fuse box! Pray that is just a blown fuse!!!

Even if its a blown fuse I'd still take it to the stealership. Something had to cause it to blow.

Jeff

Since I've seen this term used quite frequently in an a number of posts I thought would would add my $.02 and make some of the younger members on this site aware of how things work. Keep in mind that there are many employees working at a dealer that cannot afford the vehicles that the dealer sells.An automobile dealer is in business to make money. For those that take the time to do their homework on purchasing a vehicle it is entirely possible for an agressive consumer to obtain a good deal in the purchase of a vehicle in the neighborhood of $500 over dealer cost. Not doing your homework may result in the dealer making a few thousand over cost. But for every consumer that obtains a vehicle for $500 over cost the dealer expects to make up dollars in the service of that vehicle.

This is what my father taught me many years ago. After you purchase a new vehicle particularly in the $35k to $40k range, it is a good idea the first time you bring in the vehicle for service to take care of the service advisor. They will remember you forever.This was confirmed to me many years ago by a service advisor at Volkswagen who explained how things work in a dealers service department.In order for a service person to add to their income they would have to increase a bill to a customer by $500 to $1000 just to make an extra $20 or so.

Be nice, be pleasant and by taking care of the service person up front you will end up saving yourself $$$$ in the long run. We all know that $&it happens and it is not the fault of the person writing up the service request.

Telcoman

[SVTCOBRA]

Good advice!Recently, we got the Nissan dealer to match Discount tires price on some yoko's also got an alignment for $50. So, I thought this was a good deal. I got my prices from the guy in the parts dept. that gives me discounts on parts. So, when it was time to pick up my wife's G, she had baked peanut butter cookies and gave them to the service advisor that we were working with. She asked him to save some for our parts dept. friend since he was out that day. When ever we buy cars from them or send family/friends there to buy a car, she always bakes cookies for the sales dept after the deal.

[joe603]

Some dealers are better than others. I've had really good experiences with Infiniti of south Atlanta...even though I bought the car from a different dealer. I'm a firm believer that you catch more flies with honey...so being polite and thanking people will get you farther than you think.

However, the dealer does have a responsibility to keep the Infiniti name up to snuff. Shoddy maintenance went out in the 80's. Now, consumers expect a certain level of service, especially with a premium mark. These cars cost much more than their "normal" counterparts, and part of that cost is for higher level of service.

So while I agree that being pleasant to the service department is good, I don't believe that you need to shower them with gifts or food for simply doing their job. If they take good care of customers, they will earn repeat business and additional business from family/friends.

[J-Owner]

The dealership is the only place I ever have my car serviced. I do get some breaks on prices and they do match sometimes. Overall I get what I want.

Anyone who gives me what I want and doesn't inconvenience me at all deserves a little more. I handle a $50 Million dollar financial portfolio and I am not ashamed to say that people who waste my time cost me money and I simply don't stand for it.

I have spent close to a decade forming a relationship with the same service advisor. He knows me and it is the little things he does when I bring the car in that keep me loyal. He knows that time is something I do not have alot of. He takes care of me and I take care of him.

I don't view it as showering him with gifts. He goes beyond his job and he should be rewarded. That is why I give him Cowboys tickets, certificates to III forks for dinner, etc. on occasion.

Complaining about the price at a dealership is dumb. On some items yes it is appropriate to call BS but most of the time you have a choice where you buy a car and where you service it. If you want cheaper buy a Kia, if you want cheaper service take your chances at Jiffy Lube.

Just my $0.02

[telcoman]

Good advice!Recently, we got the Nissan dealer to match Discount tires price on some yoko's also got an alignment for $50. So, I thought this was a good deal. I got my prices from the guy in the parts dept. that gives me discounts on parts. So, when it was time to pick up my wife's G, she had baked peanut butter cookies and gave them to the service advisor that we were working with. She asked him to save some for our parts dept. friend since he was out that day. When ever we buy cars from them or send family/friends there to buy a car, she always bakes cookies for the sales dept after the deal.

I inquired awhile ago about tires at the Infiniti dealer. Their price was the same as Tire Rack. Guess where I'm going to get my new tires.

[gwoods]

Thanks pops (younger member LOL)

It is good advise.

I posted my D ealership rant on the other post you quoted from. I had great dealership experiences when I had a Nissan Altima. I bought a Dodge and found out how bad a dealership can be. So I'm a little jaded.

I'll be having the D ealership do a transmission fluid and diff fluid change in about 5000 miles when the car has 25,000 miles on it. I guess I'll see how the Infiniti service department treats customers. I change my own oil always have always will.

Tires I have discount tire match the cheapest price I can find online. I go through a set of tires every year, always have always will.

Jeff

[Q45tech]

Just remember the best service writers are not technicans and have never turned a wrench, they may not know very much about vehicles just that they are good salespersons.

They do know the importance of fluid and filter changes and preventative maintenance.

Same with the Service Manager, they just manage technicans and customers.....................good techs make bad managers mostly as it is always a difficult balance.

[telcoman]

Just remember the best service writers are not technicans and have never turned a wrench, they may not know very much about vehicles just that they are good salespersons.

They do know the importance of fluid and filter changes and preventative maintenance.

Same with the Service Manager, they just manage technicans and customers.....................good techs make bad managers mostly as it is always a difficult balance.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11....html

This article in todays New York Times points out why dealer service today costs so much with some master technicians with computer training earning over $100k a year. Doing some basic maintenance items yourself such as fluid, oil & air filter, changes and tire rotation can save an owner a considerable sum of money.

Telcoman

[gwoods]

resurecting this thread sorry,

Okay well I just had my first Infiniti Service experience and I am IMPRESSED.

I called to make a appointment to have the transmission fluid replaced. They quoted me $190.

Pulled in today at 8:20am and their were about 12 cars ahead of mine. I still had someone at my door bringing me into customer service within 2 min. From their I was in a service advisors office in about a min more.

The service advisor actually tried to talk me out of the fluid change. He said to wait until I had 30k miles on it (at 21k now). But I insisted on the change. I also asked them to check the brakes and replace the upper door jam seal on the driverside. He told me about the key recall on 07's and I told him I did have both keys with me.

We both went outsided and walked around my car. Then he took me out to my loaner walked around it with me. He started it for me and opened the door.

12:30 he called back to let me know the car will be ready at 3 pm. The transmission was flushed, keys replaced and the brakes looked great 90% front 80% rear pad left no warped rotor. My total did change..... it went down $50 to $145 after tax.

I went to Infiniti of Scottsdale and my service advisor was Mike.

I'm IMPRESSED! I bet when I get there the car is clean

Jeff

[joe603]

Infiniti of Scottsdale is one of the best in the country! I'm glad mine is good as well

[gwoods]

Okay,

Not only was the car washed and vacumed, they wiped down the interior and I think they may have treated the leather cause it was ever so slightly oily.

They noted I had removed the plastic air dam from the underside of the car. They also noted "wrong wheel locks". I have Gorilla locks on my car.

Awesome awesome service. I can't wait to rub it in on the Hemi forum!

Jeff

[k@osx71]

maybe i should take a vacation trip and drive to Arizona and swing by that dealer. ahah

[gwoods]

It was unreal...

Tempe Dodge voided my warranty on my 2004 Hemi Ram because I lowered it 2 inches in the front and almost 4 in the back when it was 2 months old.

I will write a letter to Infiniti Corporate as soon as I get home!

[C-Kwik]

maybe i should take a vacation trip and drive to Arizona and swing by that dealer. ahah

I bought mine in Mission Viejo. But was serviced in Tustin as MV was too far to drive for service. Tustin never gave me any hassles. In fact, when they couldn't figuree out what I was talking about in regards to a minor brake noise, instead of saying that they couldn't find it, they asked me to come down to show it to them so they can resolve it. From my experience, most will try to get the car out quickly if the problem isn't major or obvious. From my friend's experience, avoid Cerritos. Haven't tried Costa Mesa.

[joe603]

It was unreal...

Tempe Dodge voided my warranty on my 2004 Hemi Ram because I lowered it 2 inches in the front and almost 4 in the back when it was 2 months old.

I will write a letter to Infiniti Corporate as soon as I get home!

They cant "void" the entire warranty; just the parts that pertain to the suspension you modified. If they said that the warranty was voided they are full of crap. I think I hate dodge more than ford...

[k@osx71]

I bought mine in Mission Viejo. But was serviced in Tustin as MV was too far to drive for service. Tustin never gave me any hassles. In fact, when they couldn't figuree out what I was talking about in regards to a minor brake noise, instead of saying that they couldn't find it, they asked me to come down to show it to them so they can resolve it. From my experience, most will try to get the car out quickly if the problem isn't major or obvious. From my friend's experience, avoid Cerritos. Haven't tried Costa Mesa.

Well, I've been to Costa Mesa once, to fix the clunking and squeeking noise from the rear and front. They change my struts and compression rods under warranty, and very fast. The service team was uber nice and they did follow ups whenever something came up (called me a few hours after I left to let me know it's being serviced, and called me a few hours later to let me know what was wrong and what they did under warranty). I'll def. go back there, and maybe I'll check out Tustin as well (Costa Mesa couldn't find the squeeking noise from my rear windows).

[BigWill]

I bought mine in Mission Viejo.

Me too... and I drive from Long Beach for warranty service. My experience there has been nothing but positive. (Even when I took it in for a non-operational passenger side window, only to find that I had unknowingly pushed the power window cancel button on the driver's side. I wasn't TOO embarrassed about that. Thank goodness that wasn't the only reason I was there!) I have never used the Cerritos dealer, but I guess that I should at least look into them, since they are so much closer.

I always get a nice, current model G Sedan to drive, my car is always cleaned, the leather and tires dressed... and get very courteous, rapid service. However, I utilize an indie in Anaheim for all of my regular service/maintenance issues. My family has been going to him for a few years now.

[gwoods]

They cant "void" the entire warranty; just the parts that pertain to the suspension you modified. If they said that the warranty was voided they are full of crap. I think I hate dodge more than ford...

There is a reason Dodge Chrysler is bankrupt and under new ownership. A couple of my buddies also had their warranties voided by Tempe Dodge. I think one of them in in the process of suing Tempe Dodge.

I loved having a HEMI but it wasn't worth turning a wrench every other weekend to keep it running.

Jeff

[Q45tech]

Dealerships can't void any warranty since they are not a party to a warranty. They are just a repair shop with a reimbursement agreement with a manufacturer.

They as an independent business can tell you to go away and find someoneelse to work on your car or they can tell you that they won't get reimbursed so go away. They can tell you anything they want and it doesn't change your warranty one iotta.

If they sell you a car new or used the relationship between you and them expands.

[gwoods]

Go ask the boys on hemitruckclub.com if Tempe Dodge can void warranties. Sorry for posting another forum but I don't think its competition LOL