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Rant about incompetence at the dealer

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Lack of training, and in some cases lack of interest to learn, is common across much of the working world. I get folks in IT that come to me with the "I don't know what to do" all the time. I give detailed instruction of what to look for and how to correct an issue, and a week later they're back with the same thing crying they don't know how to fix it.
 
mikephillips said:
Lack of training, and in some cases lack of interest to learn, is common across much of the working world. I get folks in IT that come to me with the "I don't know what to do" all the time. I give detailed instruction of what to look for and how to correct an issue, and a week later they're back with the same thing crying they don't know how to fix it.
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One of my concerns WRT the clients I've spent years at maintaining and upgrading is; after (since, actually) retiring, the next IT bunch will default to NOT understanding how a Class-C LAN operates, or how to maintain Linux servers. They'll instead be throwing Microsoft "remedies" at it all, ignoring the firewalls and security protocols. Most of the MCSE's I've dealt with were Microserfs.
 
I'm still a big box MF guy, fewer and fewer of us out there. I don't mind teaching things, no extra prize for taking what I learned over the years with me, but no one wants to learn and retain and show curiosity about why it did what it did. There are times I'm glad retirement is no longer far away...

Sorry bout going off in another direction from dealers...
 
NutmegCT said:
Going off in another direction from the original topic?

That's our T R A D I T I O N!

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Not too far off.... If the technician who worked on my car is the "Fiddler" Then I can say The Fiddler made a Goof :ROFLMAO:
 
While we're off the subject...at our bicycle shop we keep an "8 ball" next to the phone. Customers in the shop will curiously ask why...we tell them it helps us diagnose those impossible over-the-phone described bicycle problems. We call them "JRA's"...I was "just riding along" when all of a sudden...

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At one non-automotive job, we'd get calls ALL THE TIME from customers who just couldn't be bothered to identify (or even describe) the item they had, but desperately needed parts or accessories for. My boss was fond of saying "Well, hold it up to the phone, maybe *I* can read the model number for you!"
 
We used to have a ford focus. It was a PZEV version that did not have a "regular" air filter. I always enjoyed watching them at our local oil change place spend 15-20 minutes looking for it before giving up.
 
3798j said:
While we're off the subject...at our bicycle shop we keep an "8 ball" next to the phone. Customers in the shop will curiously ask why...we tell them it helps us diagnose those impossible over-the-phone described bicycle problems. We call them "JRA's"...I was "just riding along" when all of a sudden...

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I think I'd use a Ouija Board.
 
NutmegCT said:
Actually working with people who know what they're doing seems relegated to the distant past.
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In the military it still is that way (thankfully). When I was a maintenance man on the NORAD SAGE system, I was assigned a trainer and said trainer had to sign me off in addition to having to pass tests in order to upgrade. There was also a good deal of classroom instruction even after the 32 week Tech School.
 
On a submarine, one has to have their qual-card signed off by the expert in each system. No movies until that's done, and if not done in a reasonable time, off they go.
 
At the Nissan dealership for an oil change (bought the extended warrantee) and was told the cabin filter needed to be changes at $60.00 plus the battery was at %40 power and should be replaced.
I bought a cabin filter my self and when I pulled the old filter out it was all scrunched up. So nevt oil change I get Your cabin filter needs to be changed routine. I said I only changed it last week so what gives and was told "We go on miles we do not check them"
After 4 oil changes with a bad battery this last oil change the battery has healed itself but the brake fluid needs to be flushed.

David
 
In Canada, we have a very involved apprenticeship program. The dealers rely on trained personal to find faults and keep them afloat. As techs are paid by piecework, there is incentive to upsell. All this leads to customers paying a price for excessive work. After 56 years in the trade, I have seen it all. I tried my best to be honest and knowledgeable. The only person, and talent I could control was me. My advice is, try to find the guy who cares about the job, NOT the money. We are out there, but hard to find.
 
I suspected the shop wasn't really changing the air filter when I took it in for service but they would bill me for it. I put a blob of white paint on the air filter next time i took it in. The same filter with the blob of paint was still there when they finished the service and tried to bill me for it.
 
karls59tr said:
I suspected the shop wasn't really changing the air filter when I took it in for service but they would bill me for it. I put a blob of white paint on the air filter next time i took it in. The same filter with the blob of paint was still there when they finished the service and tried to bill me for it.
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I would have filed a report with the state AG office.
 
14dna said:
In Canada, we have a very involved apprenticeship program. The dealers rely on trained personal to find faults and keep them afloat. As techs are paid by piecework, there is incentive to upsell. All this leads to customers paying a price for excessive work. After 56 years in the trade, I have seen it all. I tried my best to be honest and knowledgeable. The only person, and talent I could control was me. My advice is, try to find the guy who cares about the job, NOT the money. We are out there, but hard to find.
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As a "factory trained" Porsche/Audi Tech (US Porsche facility in Lanham, MD) and ASE Certified (was NIASE then), decided it was time to get out of west PA winters and move to Florida. Took a position as a service writer in a dealership to do it, that was 1981. Had a rude awakening as to how an "empire" is built. Left as soon as I could: 36 weeks would satisfy the IRS that moving expenses were a deduction. Worked in an independent shop for a bit after that, a two-man operation. Owner was an ex-pat Brit, London Guilds Certified, but didn't want a partner so I couldn't stay. Honest work and customer retention made for the success that guy enjoys to this day. And he's a friend for life in the bargain.
 
karls59tr said:
I suspected the shop wasn't really changing the air filter when I took it in for service but they would bill me for it. I put a blob of white paint on the air filter next time i took it in. The same filter with the blob of paint was still there when they finished the service and tried to bill me for it.
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Ordered a new cabin filter and engine air filter from eBay a few days ago for the Highlander.
I don't trust anyone to do the job where they could easily not do it.
 
Worst dealer incompetence I had was when a GM service technician was attempting to diagnose the non-functional power mirrors. I had identified that the fuse was blown, but not why. I had bought the car used, and it had to go back to have a different repair done on their dime, but they promised to fix the power mirrors. After not hearing anything for two days, I called for a status update. Was told the fuse was good (no, it wasn't), that it was a bad body control module, it was a $1200 repair, and they weren't going to cover it. Looked in the wiring diagrams in the factory service manual, and the tech must have been smoking something, the power mirrors did not involve the BCM at all! I took it back, and had it diagnosed in 20 minutes: Bad mirror switch. Found a new one on Amazon for $20.
 
Have a 2003 Honda Pilot. Somewhere around 200,000 miles started having intermittent stalling issue. Managed to get it to the dealer where we'd been having it serviced. Service writer - someone we knew well by then - looked at the car and miles and said we should scrap it, did we want to have it towed to a salvage yard? Managed to get it home. a couple of YouTube videos, one control module ($50) and an hour later, the Pilot now was almost 280,000 miles. We found somewhere else to get it serviced.
 
Oh fun!!! Many years ago, had a VW Beetle with cases coming apart, clown shop in NC city diagnosed and suggested "case stud inserts" for resolution. Few days later, job complete @ several hundred $$$. Within 3 months, same problem, this time used the authorized VW dealer; professional rebuild needed which was done and again hundreds $$$, but very well done, night and day results that lasted for the next several years of my ownership. When I sold it, running flawlessly. VW dealer diplomatically explained and pointed out "parts" used and major omissions by prior "shop". I filed complaint with NCAG, which resulted in letters back and forth etc. but no redress by shop. At one stage of the communication, the shop claimed that I failed to return for 6 week inspection and "torque service". I had moved to a different city by then and chalked it up to life experience which has paid off in that I learned to trust but verify and keep focused when dealing with others in business matters. To this day, I have disgust for the clowns at that outfit (long ago out of business).
 
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