[mavericksfan_04]

I'm sorry you had to go through this. I recently dropped my car off at a Chevy dealership to get some work done to the passenger side that got messed up. My car only had 5,400 miles on it when I dropped it off and just 2 additional miles when I got it back. Long story short, apparently while they had it someone either took my car for a joy ride and did a burnout or someone stole my back tires. I started noticing I didn't have any traction and noticed my back tires were both completely bald. I called the dealership and went up there and showed them the tires and they agreed to reimburse me for the 2 new tires I had to purchase, but then the next day called and said they weren't going to reimburse me after all. I told them I was going to write bad reviews on ever site possible and file a complaint with the BBB and the manager thought he could call my bluff and told me to go ahead.

I did one even better and filed an official complaint with Chevrolet who is now all over their case. Chevy said dealerships are independently opened so they can't force them to reimburse me, but they're trying everything they can. I believe Chevrolet dings the dealerships pretty hard for complaints like mine, so the Director at the dealership has been working with Chevrolet on a resolution. I hope Chevrolet dings them really hard and they better reimburse me for the $752 I had to pay for 2 new tires.

[Evolvedx27]

Situations like these are the main reason why I trust no one to touch my car but me. Fluid changes are something anyone can do.

[tcal780]

Originally Posted by MostlyHarmless

Will they give you a new wife with lower mileage as compensation?

[Allez]

How do you stop them from disconnecting the dashcam while they have your car, though?

[Donner]

Hello,

I recently took the Mighty HABU to Holiday Chevrolet in Williamsburg VA for a warrenty repair. They have a great big huge glass wall that allows customers to watch the mechanics perform the service work.

Rick Hendrick Chevrolet went one better and kept the garage door open so I could watch it being serviced there; they even have a bench seat just outside the door so one doesn't need to stand.

It's important to have faith in one's dealership; trust, but verify.

Kindest,

Donner

[Oil Man]

Originally Posted by mavericksfan_04

I'm sorry you had to go through this. I recently dropped my car off at a Chevy dealership to get some work done to the passenger side that got messed up. My car only had 5,400 miles on it when I dropped it off and just 2 additional miles when I got it back. Long story short, apparently while they had it someone either took my car for a joy ride and did a burnout or someone stole my back tires. I started noticing I didn't have any traction and noticed my back tires were both completely bald. I called the dealership and went up there and showed them the tires and they agreed to reimburse me for the 2 new tires I had to purchase, but then the next day called and said they weren't going to reimburse me after all. I told them I was going to write bad reviews on ever site possible and file a complaint with the BBB and the manager thought he could call my bluff and told me to go ahead.

I did one even better and filed an official complaint with Chevrolet who is now all over their case. Chevy said dealerships are independently opened so they can't force them to reimburse me, but they're trying everything they can. I believe Chevrolet dings the dealerships pretty hard for complaints like mine, so the Director at the dealership has been working with Chevrolet on a resolution. I hope Chevrolet dings them really hard and they better reimburse me for the $752 I had to pay for 2 new tires.

Yeah, stuff like this is what gives me nightmares about leaving my car for warranty work. On my last visit, several months back, I watched the techs drive my own car down the street past me at a clip somewhere more than mild. And I hadn't even secured my rental yet.

I'm thinking now that this could be the reason I have been dragging my feet on going back in for the 2 or three stupid little things they need to fix under warranty. And this is one of the best regarded regional dealerships.

Ugh.

[OleGreg]

That looks like West Lake Auto Care on Los Feliz Dr in Cali.

[Whis]

Originally Posted by Allez

How do you stop them from disconnecting the dashcam while they have your car, though?

This is a good question. I am getting a dashcam and even hardwired they can still unplug the micro USB or whatever connector there is on it.. some hardwired ones STILL have this.

They can also press a button to turn it off.

I have held off on writing what I meant about he wife post and admit it's obvious hyperbole, but here you go.

The point of the wife post is that I am incredibly sick and tired of people posting absolutely horrendous dealership stories and then don't want to name the dealer. What is it going to take people? The guy who posted this crap on reddit did the same thing yet did an interview with a local station indicating he did it that way so that the relevant population would know.

People can move there after the story's publication, some people do not "watch the news" they read it on the internet(let's hope the video clip gets uploaded, if they even cover it), and a lot of people now come to places like this to find out relevant info, good dealers... etc.

We are quick to give Becky compliments because she's awesome. It's a fact, and it's supported by many people.

Yet when it comes to naming and shaming dealers, who are largely unaccountable and get their way most of the time, the most horrendous sht ever can be done to someone's car and they make this huuuuge post about it, and don't name the dealer. I get some people can make stuff up, go to yelp instead, etc.

We own a sports car with immense power. It's a bit different than taking your F150, GM Canyon, Colorado, etc in for service. There is no "how will Johnny the Lot Kid treat my 455HP car when he's told to move it" section on yelp. You would THINK that we would have a section dedicated to dealership reviews on this forum even, it would encourage GM to look at who is doing what and maybe change practices.

I don't fking get it and I'm tired of this soft ban on naming and shaming dealerships that absolutely NEED to be called out. Isolated incident with new guy? NO ONE CARES. It's called accountability

[RicSimonis]

Just curious if putting the car in valet mode would help at all. Obviously if there's issues being addressed that require those aspects being evaluated that would be counter productive.

Would that get reset if the battery were disconnected?

[Whis]

Originally Posted by RicSimonis

Just curious if putting the car in valet mode would help at all. Obviously if there's issues being addressed that require those aspects being evaluated that would be counter productive.

Would that get reset if the battery were disconnected?

Valet mode is essentially useless and just locks certain things from being changed. Doesn't jail them at certain RPMs, speeds, etc... which is what it should do. Plus they are the dealer and I'm sure if they wanted to they could disable it anyway

[Allez]

Originally Posted by Whis

This is a good question. I am getting a dashcam and even hardwired they can still unplug the micro USB or whatever connector there is on it.. some hardwired ones STILL have this.

They can also press a button to turn it off.

I have held off on writing what I meant about he wife post and admit it's obvious hyperbole, but here you go.

The point of the wife post is that I am incredibly sick and tired of people posting absolutely horrendous dealership stories and then don't want to name the dealer. What is it going to take people? The guy who posted this crap on reddit did the same thing yet did an interview with a local station indicating he did it that way so that the relevant population would know.

People can move there after the story's publication, some people do not "watch the news" they read it on the internet(let's hope the video clip gets uploaded, if they even cover it), and a lot of people now come to places like this to find out relevant info, good dealers... etc.

We are quick to give Becky compliments because she's awesome. It's a fact, and it's supported by many people.

Yet when it comes to naming and shaming dealers, who are largely unaccountable and get their way most of the time, the most horrendous sht ever can be done to someone's car and they make this huuuuge post about it, and don't name the dealer. I get some people can make stuff up, go to yelp instead, etc.

We own a sports car with immense power. It's a bit different than taking your F150, GM Canyon, Colorado, etc in for service. There is no "how will Johnny the Lot Kid treat my 455HP car when he's told to move it" section on yelp. You would THINK that we would have a section dedicated to dealership reviews on this forum even, it would encourage GM to look at who is doing what and maybe change practices.

I don't fking get it and I'm tired of this soft ban on naming and shaming dealerships that absolutely NEED to be called out. Isolated incident with new guy? NO ONE CARES. It's called accountability

I completely agree. I've started doing my own oil changes to try to avoid bringing it in, but now there's a recall where I have to. I've tried researching to see who to trust with my car, but I just don't know.

As far as trying to prevent them from just turning off my dashcam or unplugging, I've considered (1) taping the USB connector with unique tape (eg from my badminton grips) so if they try to remove it I can tell, (2) covering the power button and the indicator light with tape so they can't tell whether the camera is on and off, and (3) telling them about 'both' of my dashcams (I only have one).

I know it all sounds silly, but it's a reflection of how concerned I am about something that in a perfect world I wouldn't have to worry about.

[gippy87]

Originally Posted by Whis

Valet mode is essentially useless and just locks certain things from being changed. Doesn't jail them at certain RPMs, speeds, etc... which is what it should do. Plus they are the dealer and I'm sure if they wanted to they could disable it anyway

you positive on that? ive had many other vehicles with valet mode and they do limit speed/rpm

[Whis]

Originally Posted by gippy87

you positive on that? ive had many other vehicles with valet mode and they do limit speed/rpm

I'm positive

[BMWM.D.]

I know I'm a little late to the game here, but I don't think the Technician did anything horrible here. It's pretty standard practice by many shops to drive a car both before and after work is done. I personally would want my differential warmed up before changing the fluid. Did he drive it harder than he needed to? Yeah, but I wouldn't say he was being abusive in any way. Was he a little bit irresponsible with the way he was driving? Sure, but no worse than the way I drive my own cars. Maybe I'm a little biased based on what I do for a living, but that's my take.

I'll also add that any time I diagnose and/or fix a driveability or performance problem or do any work that involves spark plugs, ignition system, etc., I run the car hard through a few gears afterward to make sure it's not going to misfire or have any kind of boost-pressure issues. Yeah, something like an M3 or M6 is going to generate some speed and sound doing so (much like a Camaro SS). Technicians are usually very limited in the location and time they have to test a car.

Again... I don't think he did anything awful. Certainly nothing to get fired over. This is my own personal opinion again -- but if you're really that protective and paranoid about your car, work on it yourself. I paid for several things out-of-pocket and fixed them myself on my Corvette GS when it was under factory warranty. I did this so I wouldn't need to be paranoid and anxious about someone else doing a poor job, scratching it, or otherwise damaging it. If you're really OCD, that's the solution. Another would be letting the service advisor know up front you don't want anyone road-testing your car.

My 2 cents...maybe more