• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Negative Feedback About My Dealer

snake-eater

Charter Member
Full Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2002
Messages
81
Location
Western Mass
Went and had my 18K oil change with Mobil1 at the same dealer in western Mass I purchased my Av from. Following that, I drove 150 yards to another dealer to get my 1 year inspection sticker. The inspection guy pops the hood and my passanger side turn signal above the headlamp falls out and is dangling. The inspection guy superglues the broken headlight bracket back together so I can get a sticker. To no one's surprise, the glue did not hold. I go back to the Chevy guy and he says "yup, its broke. Must be due to the cold weather (sub-zero). The part in $392 + labor. By the way, it is not covered." I told him I thought he was wrong and he stated, "Hey, it is just plastic, it might have broken when the tech was changing the oil, he leaned on it and it broke. Since it is not a manufacturers defect however and since he is not sure it was broken before, he will not do anything for me." He then tried to close the hood 3 times but could not because the light kept stopping the hood from closing.

Is this right or is there something I can do. Anybody else have this problem. :8:

Topic modified by admin
 
snake-eater said:
Went and had my 18K oil change with Mobil1 at the same dealer in western Mass I purchased my Av from.
......
he stated, "Hey, it is just plastic, it might have broken when the tech was changing the oil, he leaned on it and it broke.

If I read this correctly, he's admitting that the service tech might have broken it and they won't help you? ?Your're right - that's wrong. ?Start working your way up the ladder as far as you need to in order to get results. If there's another dealer with a better reputation for service, try there - in the name of customer good will, they might do it as warrenty work even though it certainly wasn't their fault. Good luck.
 
In addition that light assembly is NO WHERE near $392. :8: :8: :8: :8: :8: Then PLUS labor? What freakin labor? You've got to be kidding me!

You're getting it from every orrifice. Time to escalate - if you have OnStar go ahead and push the button and ask for customer service.

That's BS...anyone got the P/N for the light assembly. $392 - ya right - I've got some ocean front property in Arizona for sale too.
 
Holy moly snake-eater...I'd be all over that dealership like white on rice. The service guy practically admits it's the dealerships fault and then tells you what it is going to cost you. What's up with that? Push all of the a@@holes that say "no" at the bottom of the food chain aside until you find someone at the top of this dealership who'll pay for this and apologize to boot for breaking it in the first place. The selling dealership must have broken it if the inspection dealership was the very next one to open the hood. And put your saleman to work for you too. If he wants to even dream of you ever buying another vehicle from their dealership in the future, he'll make it right. And you can bet, the broken part probably won't cost the dealership $75.00 There is such a mark up on those type of parts.

Good luck.

Truckman :B:
 
Lens And Housing R 253.30 GM LIST PRICE PN 15077441
Lens And Housing L 253.30 GM LIST PRICE PN 15077440

GM Parts Direct Lists it at 151.98

jw
 
Typical of most dealerships.

Even the Chevy salesman that I bought my AV from, told me that if I wanted to add mods or get work done on it (Other than warrenty.), that it would be cheaper to order the parts and take them to an aftermarket shop.
Due to the fact, (Besides "Dealer mark-up".) that they were a union shop. (And I don't mean to use the word "union" in a bad way, I'm union, CWA.)

He had more than one referral, although I don't know what kind of cut he gets.

It seems like EVERYONE is out to rip owners off.

Is there any good signs to look for in a dealership/aftermarket shop?

(Sorry about the RANT, being taken advantage is one of the few things that piss me off. :8: )

:B:

 
I am a service manager for Acura and can tell you that is b_llsh!t

First off read the warranty booklet in your owners's manual, it says "bumper to bumper" that includes the light. If you were only at 18,000 miles you are only half way though the warranty period.
You need to talk to the service manager, then the general manager, then the zone rep.

Super glue?
What kinda monkey crap is that??????
 
HeavyD said:
I really don't think this is what we are talking about but here is an example of what we can find out there
It's in great condition... what does that mean? Just by looking at the picture, I can see that it doesn't meet my definition of "great" based on the bent aiming adjuster screw. :rolleyes:

Yeah, I'm probably being too paranoid/pessimistic, but it makes me wonder what else is up with it. It looks to me like an old damaged/defective part that was taken off and replaced for some unknown reason.

-- SS
 
I paid like $50 for the top RH blinker lense from Van Devere I think....check back in some threads....

Many have broken the little tab thingy and no one shows that price......

THis housing holds the blinker bulbs......

PS make the dealer get ya one for nothing......they broke it....

PSS it takes all of 5 mins to change it out with the hardest thing being twisting bulbs out of existing.....
 
Chief said:
That's BS...anyone got the P/N for the light assembly. ?$392 - ya right - I've got some ocean front property in Arizona for sale too.


Hey Chief, I live in Arizona. I guess we own the same oceanfront property. Is this what you're talking about? ?;)

azoceanfront.jpg


That Pacific Ocean is breathtaking isn't it?

If a light assembly costs $392 plus labor--then my property is for sale too!

Dealers are unbelievable. I think they make as much money, if not more, from their "Disservice Dept" as their "Unscrupulous Sales Dept"...
 
spectron said:
Dealers are unbelievable. I think they make as much money, if not more, from their "Disservice Dept" as their "Unscrupulous Sales Dept"...
Actually, I always thought they make a lot more money servicing than selling. That's where the real money is. It's almost as if the sales department is there to just generate customers for the service department. >:D

-- SS
 
Parking Lens And Housing R 66.70 GM LIST PRICE PN 15077337
Parking Lens And Housing L 66.70 GM LIST PRICE PN 15077336

GM Parts Direct Lists it at 40.02

jw
 
Thanks for all the feedback. Allow me to clarify, The broken part is the tabby thing, as ygmn put it. Or rather, the braket that the turn signal snaps into, not the light itself. Is there anyone else getting told by the dealers they will not cover a part on a bumper to bumper warranty? Is this a GM problem or a dealer problem. We should start a topic group on good and bad dealers so as to inform and educate fellow readers on dealer scams. As for this part, anyone know the part number and price????
 
Hey, Bumper to Bumper is Bumper to Bumper...Since they basically admitted to breaking it there is no question they should make it right. I'd go to customer service at www.chevy.com for openers. :8:I would also file a complaint with the local consumer protection agency. :8: Then go to your local TV news department. Ask for their consumer reporter...Publicity can do wonders. :8:
 
I don't have time to research now, but, i just found a couple of interesting sites.

directparts.com and direct auto.com.

I saw the headlights for $160.

And I saw a link for USED parts.

take a look. I'll try in search them deeper.

I couldn't find either doing a search in CAFC land.

 
ShapeShifter said:
Actually, I always thought they make a lot more money servicing than selling. That's where the real money is. It's almost as if the sales department is there to just generate customers for the service department. >:D

-- SS

ShapeShifter, I agree that the service department is there as a money maker, even more now that the internet has driven down margins (IMHO). The funny/sad thing is that in many cases the service is so poor I end up going somewhere else :8: I have another vechile, also a 2000. I have had so much grief with the service dept I will NEVER enter their door again.
The good news is that this is not the case with the Dealer I bought the Av from. High Country Chev has been very good to me, and understanding that I am fussy about a vechile, and am often looking for 'different' things. They were a big help in getting the cladding painted, finding the right guy for me.
 
does the dealer know your screen name???sound's like he is trying to give you the snake..like chief said...'in all orffacis.......dont put up with it....head for the top of the chain there and give'em HELL...
 
No, the dealer does not know my screen name but does know the meaning behind my screen name as he has seen me in uniform a few times. I an a Segeant Major in Army Special Forces and are called snake-eaters by our peers due to our eating snakes raw when there is nothing else to eat.

Having said that, it is not a broken light or turn signal housing but the part that the turn signal snaps into to hold the unit in placa.
 
I found a demo at what I believe is a good price -- MSRP $43121. I found their flyer online stating that the demo was "Over $9000 off". I test drove the car and the salesman said that it was $9000 off sticker (it also had <2600 miles on it). This includes the rebates. I told him that I would take it and when we returned to the dealership they had to add $995 for the woodgrain interior that "the dealer added".

There was a big commotion at the dealer and the manager came over and told me that the ad was in error as it included a $3000 rebate that was no longer in effect. He assured me that they do not do business like that and would honor the offer, but that I would lose it if I left the dealership (they were going to pull the ad).

I agreed, making the deal $35126.

I gave them a deposit and returned the next day with my pre-arranged financing. I signed the $2000 rebate form. They had some paperwork to do to eventually get the transfer of the loan funds.

Chevy raised the rebate $500 if you buy by 1/31. My financing came through about 1/28. I called the salesman and he said that it was great and that I would get that. BTW, the saleman is bringing the AV to my home tomorrow (I was away on vacation last week).

I later received a phone call from the salesman saying that his manager told him that the dealership is going to keep the additional $500 rebate because of the deal that I got.

*** They had the option to NOT sell me the vehicle in the first place and they did. In fact, they did a pressure tactic to make me commit.

*** In order for them to receive the $2500 rebate they would have to doctor up the form that I signed for the $2000 rebate -- or have me sign a new one which I will not do.

What do I do about this? Anyone have any suggestions?

TIA,
John
 
Cancel the deal - losing a unit they sold right at end of month is going to HURT. They should cave in - but you better be ready to walk on the deal if you pull out the big guns.
 
I agree with Chief....cancel the deal! Each dealership is tied to a regional office. Find out/speak with the regional officer to see if he can help.....but in all fairness, they have lost your trust so turn and walk away from that dealership.
Also tell them that you're going to give their name to the BBB.
 
Let me clarify - if they say UNCLE when you go to pull the deal and decide to give you what you want - then take the deal. But if they tell you sit on it and spin, walk.

Check your contract, you should have a buyers remorse clause that gives you 48 to 96 hours to cancel the deal WITHOUT penalty.
 
John,

I'm in NH also. Duh, look at my name. :rolleyes:

What dealership was it. I just went through hell buying a TrailBlazer for my wife. We finally got it for the price I wanted but it took 2 months and 3 dealerships.

BTW. There are ALOT of Avs around this area. You can get a good deal someplace else. I bet you could even find an '02 if you looked hard enough, that would save you some big bucks.

Let me know if you want to talk.

-Mark
 
Back
Top