What's the deal with dealership body shops?

[Mudgen]

I've found that dealership body shops in general are somewhat rude, with a "take it or leave it" attitude. Are they generally actually part of the dealership business, or some kind of concession that's separately owned? I realize that if they're part of the dealership, they are still probably operated as a separate business, like parts, service, and sales are. But for the most part, the parts, service, and sales businesses project the overall dealership image and customer manner.

Anybody have insight into this?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Dealerships are the root of all evil.
Proof:
dobbs-honda-in-memphis-tn-screwed-me-bu ... 87851.html

[Bubba1]

I've found that dealership body shops in general are somewhat rude, with a "take it or leave it" attitude. Are they generally actually part of the dealership business, or some kind of concession that's separately owned? I realize that if they're part of the dealership, they are still probably operated as a separate business, like parts, service, and sales are. But for the most part, the parts, service, and sales businesses project the overall dealership image and customer manner.

Anybody have insight into this?

Yes, the autobody biz is a lucrative and natural complement to dealerships. I have a friend who owns a couple of dealerships that not long ago added a body shop business, and it has worked out very well for him. I have not bought any cars or had him do body work for me personally (too far away), but I know a few of his customers, and they all seem happy with his work/service. I have also had a several accident repairs (people seem to like hitting my old Altima) performed by Faulkner, a bodyshop owned by a large local American car dealer. I was referred to them by the other insurance companies, and I was satisfied with the experiences.

I suspect the rudenes is more a reflection of the dealer's management than anything else.

[C-Kwik]

Like all body shops, each will build a reputation on its own merits. Some are good and some are bad. That said, I have dealt with dealer shops on a pretty regular basis when I was a claims adjuster. There wasn't any indication that more of them were worse than other shops as a percentage. In fact, many of the direct repair facilities for both insurance companies I worked for were shops located at dealerships.

Curious, what is it you were trying to do that caused them to respond in such a manner?

[Mudgen]

I suspect the rudenes is more a reflection of the dealer's management than anything else.

I suppose that could be the case, but my experiences with three (at a Caddy/Subaru/Saab store, a Chevy/GMC store, and a VW/Audi store) have been oddly similar yet very different from the behavior I see from the sales and service people at those dealerships. And those are three different owners, one a corporate group, one a multi-dealership owning individual, and one a long time single-dealership family business with three generations involved in the management.

[Mudgen]

Curious, what is it you were trying to do that caused them to respond in such a manner?

Well, of course, I think I'm a reasonable individual, so I don't think that it's me. In one case, I was getting some fairly major accident damage looked at, in the others I was getting a minor booboo looked at. The latest is with my wife's WRX (she's reverse-gear challenged), and it may be that they disdain the Subie and think of themselves as a Caddy shop.

[Jesda]

Money is money.