WTF? How much is a detail worth, cuz...

[Joker69]

I went for my first oil change today (first of 4 free oil changes) and check this out, my appointment was at 4, so i had the car there and the guy tells me its gonna be about an hour, maybe a little more. So i go to the mini-mall across the street and chill with my wife. Okay, so im not the most patient guy in the world, i get back to the shop at the dealership about 2 hours later, and the guy tells me, "sorry man, they are barely gonna get it done, its gonna be like another 20 to 30 minutes", like im gonna wait that long, so basically, i told the guy to just give me my F***ING CAR NOW! , so i left and called about 30 minutes later and ask for the manager of the service department, and the guy tells me he isn't there till tomorrow from 7 to 5, then asks if he can help me, and i just went off on him about how ****ty their customer service is and why have and apointment set up if it dont mean a damn thing!!! so the guy says he remembers me from a while before and that hes sorry and they are behind but to take it tomorrow and ask for him and itll get done in an hour, even if it means him going out and doing it, then he apologizes and says he cant fill up my tank, but he can give me a free detail which consists of shampooing my seats and carpets, putting like Armor All, all over, pressure washing my engine and tires, then putting Armor All on them too, wash, wax, and more, like 6 hours worth of work he says, so my question is, how much is a detail like this worth? sorry, I had to vent^

[Jiggyfry]

A good detailing like that wouold probably be around 200$ If they do all that was mentioned.

[Joker69]

Sweet, i thought the guy was full of cr@p when he said about a $190 value

[Jiggyfry]

Wow, I was close. Yeah that is about what my dealership charges for an almost complete detail. Pretty good deal you got!!

[Joker69]

Huh, thats crazy, i wonder why he would give me a $190, 6 hour detail, instead of a $27, 2 minute fill up?

[Jiggyfry]

Because of Customer Satisfaction. Any good dealer that wants to keep a loyal clientel will do this. The guy saw you were unhappy and took measures to make sure you left with a smile. Id give the guy a thumbs up and let him know you appreciate it, I like to reward business' that take care of their customers.

[monkeybear]

Huh, thats crazy, i wonder why he would give me a $190, 6 hour detail, instead of a $27, 2 minute fill up?

Likely he is not allowed to give out gas or any other consumable. Any dealership is going to have a pretty tight control of their gas. Gas giving is just the kind of thing that can get out of hand, especially once employees start giving it to themselves. On the other hand he can get his guys to clean you car pretty easily.

[KimberKenobi]

my dealership will occasionally wash the Camel for free... and yesterday they vacuumed the Camel for free (after the glass people finished with it) and washed it, and tried to get as much of the undercarriage washed as possible...

[msb0b]

Huh, thats crazy, i wonder why he would give me a $190, 6 hour detail, instead of a $27, 2 minute fill up?

Dealers usually have a detailing staff or contracted detailing shop they work with. They exist mainly to get new cars in perfect shape for customer deliveries. The $190 is the MSRP quoted to customers, but their cost to provide this service is much lower. My dealer even tried to sell me a detailing package where they will do it every 6 month for 3 years. Of course I passed on that. I still get an occasional complimentary wash, probably when the detailing staff is idle. Dealers do this to improve customer goodwill.

Gasoline, on the other hand, can not be dispensed by the dealer unless they have a license to do business as gas station. Rarely any dealer decide to enter this business. They just get gas from a nearby station instead. If they do give you a tank of gas, it becomes a out of pocket cost.

[Joker69]

... If they do give you a tank of gas, it becomes a out of pocket cost.

yeah,i get it now, thanks

[faction]

I still get an occasional complimentary wash, probably when the detailing staff is idle. Dealers do this to improve customer goodwill.

I get free washes every time I take it in. Just another perk of living in the country. No way in hell are they going to let someone be seen driving off their lot with a half inch thick layer of dust on the back of one of their cars. The new customers might freak.