Irritated with dealer, what would you do?

tjlazer · 04-09-2010, 07:46 PM

OK I admit, I am a little anal about my brand new Z. But this just irritates me to no avail. Careless people working on your car doing small damage while removing parts,etc. Now the damage might not be serious, but still it's not right. I have had this happen numerous times in my life with all my cars. They remove a plastic panel and break off the clips, snaps or break or crack the plastic. They scratch a plastic panel, the paint, a wheel, etc. I know this can easily happen but if you are careful you can avoid a lot of it. And if they do it, should they be held accountable?

In my latest problem, it's not a huge deal but my car is 2 months old and it just irritates me. I am not sure if I should tell them about it and have them fix it or not. I mean, if I did it myself I would just live with it, but I didn't and it's under warrantee!

The dealer removed the passenger side cowel and in the process broke off a hard rubber stud on the A pillar rubber that attached to the cowel. Not a big deal but today while looking it over again, the A pillar (painted part near the bottom near cowel) is quite loose because of it. I guess that one stud kept it more secure. Now I know I can just use some double sided tape or glue or ___ but should I? I looked up the parts online to see what all would need to be replaced and it seems the whole outside painted A pillar. $333.00 online.

Worth it? I know if I went in there with this story they would probably think I am just nuts...

kenchan · 04-09-2010, 07:53 PM

just tell the dealer your part is loose and have it looked at.

azn370z · 04-09-2010, 08:17 PM

I say don't take it back to the dealer unless your car won't start. But see if you can get money for the damage.

Xan · 04-09-2010, 08:37 PM

I would have them fix it, if they broke it..

fullmonty · 04-10-2010, 03:21 AM

You break it you buy it. Thats the way I'd look at it

Trips · 04-10-2010, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xan

I would have them fix it, if they broke it..

FuszNissan · 04-10-2010, 07:33 AM

Communication always helps

j.arnaldo · 04-10-2010, 03:49 PM

If they give you a hard time, go the BBB way.

Azathoth · 04-12-2010, 12:42 PM

Ask them, "How many vehicles can I damage on your lot before you call the police?" If they respond "1", ask them if you can borrow a phone to call the police.

They have two choices.: They can either fix your car or you'll call the police to report "Willful and Malicious Destruction of Personal Property". Those words are akin to saying "Fraud" to the F&I Guy. No car dealer likes it when the cops show up to arrest an employee.

They're already playing hardball with you. It's time to take it up a notch. the BBB and Attorney General are nice and fun, but they take months to resolve issues. The police can get stuff handled Now. Don't make idle threats. Follow up your words with Action.

Good Luck.

craniac24 · 04-12-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azathoth

Ask them, "How many vehicles can I damage on your lot before you call the police?" If they respond "1", ask them if you can borrow a phone to call the police.

They have two choices.: They can either fix your car or you'll call the police to report "Willful and Malicious Destruction of Personal Property". Those words are akin to saying "Fraud" to the F&I Guy. No car dealer likes it when the cops show up to arrest an employee.

They're already playing hardball with you. It's time to take it up a notch. the BBB and Attorney General are nice and fun, but they take months to resolve issues. The police can get stuff handled Now. Don't make idle threats. Follow up your words with Action.

Good Luck.

Dude...relax. You don't need a .44 magnum to kill a fly. The dealer isn't playing hardball with him...he hasn't even told the dealership about the problem! If he went in there and politely informed the service manager what happened, I'm sure he would make every effort to make the situation right. You want to go in there with guns blazing and make threats about calling the police? Please...that's just sheer idiocy.

v8zracer260z · 04-13-2010, 10:50 PM

I agree this is best handled by talking to the service manager and if nesessary the general manager. If they don't resolve the situation then ask for the Nissan Corporate manager assigned to that dealership. If you keep going up the chain somebody will take action. You do not have to make legal theats to get action. A little preassure in the right direction will yeild the desired result of getting you car to the condition it was in before the dealership worked on it. I have personally used this method with great results. Often it does not have to leave the dealership personel to have the problem fixed. Just use their version of the chain of command. In the future carefully inspect your vehicle after repairs are performed even if it is just an oil change for any damage and immediately bring this to the attention of the service manager. This will often make resoluion much easier than after you have left the dealership. Hope this helps
Rick

tjlazer · 04-22-2010, 05:50 PM

Spoke to the manager and he was really cool about it and had me come in for them to take a look at it. Turns out the part to replace is over $300 as it is the whole painted A pillar finisher! Damn. They ordered it and today I went in and they installed it. All for a small clip... My rear hatch springs were finally in (took 1 month to get the part ordered) so I got those put in too! Woot!

craniac24 · 04-22-2010, 05:54 PM

Glad to hear. And you didn't even have to call the police or anything!

earwicker7 · 04-22-2010, 07:03 PM

Yeah, there's a bit of a gouge in the leather on my steering wheel from when they removed the dash. The problem is proving they did it. I know they did it, but I'm not tripping over it.

04-09-2010, 07:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 53 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 19	Irritated with dealer, what would you do? OK I admit, I am a little anal about my brand new Z. But this just irritates me to no avail. Careless people working on your car doing small damage while removing parts,etc. Now the damage might not be serious, but still it's not right. I have had this happen numerous times in my life with all my cars. They remove a plastic panel and break off the clips, snaps or break or crack the plastic. They scratch a plastic panel, the paint, a wheel, etc. I know this can easily happen but if you are careful you can avoid a lot of it. And if they do it, should they be held accountable? In my latest problem, it's not a huge deal but my car is 2 months old and it just irritates me. I am not sure if I should tell them about it and have them fix it or not. I mean, if I did it myself I would just live with it, but I didn't and it's under warrantee! The dealer removed the passenger side cowel and in the process broke off a hard rubber stud on the A pillar rubber that attached to the cowel. Not a big deal but today while looking it over again, the A pillar (painted part near the bottom near cowel) is quite loose because of it. I guess that one stud kept it more secure. Now I know I can just use some double sided tape or glue or ___ but should I? I looked up the parts online to see what all would need to be replaced and it seems the whole outside painted A pillar. $333.00 online. Worth it? I know if I went in there with this story they would probably think I am just nuts... __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV Last edited by tjlazer; 04-09-2010 at 07:51 PM.

04-09-2010, 08:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
azn370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,722 Drives: z34 - R1 Rep Power: 490	I say don't take it back to the dealer unless your car won't start. But see if you can get money for the damage. __________________ 2010 k23 H&R sport springs / Spc rear camber arms / SSR SP1 / Berk cbe / Varis cf lip / Nismo S-Tune side skirts

04-09-2010, 08:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Xan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MA Posts:99999999999999 Posts: 3,301 Drives: 370Z 40th Aniversary Rep Power: 24	I would have them fix it, if they broke it.. __________________

04-10-2010, 03:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
fullmonty A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Dirty Jersey Posts: 7,762 Drives: 370 Touring/Sport Rep Power: 34	You break it you buy it. Thats the way I'd look at it __________________

04-10-2010, 07:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
FuszNissan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. Louis Posts: 14,275 Drives: Pure Sex Rep Power: 542	Communication always helps __________________ Mods: Too Many to list! LouFuszNissan ZDAYZ 2012

04-09-2010, 07:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	just tell the dealer your part is loose and have it looked at.

04-10-2010, 03:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
j.arnaldo Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 937 Drives: Nissan 350Z, 2004 Rep Power: 0	If they give you a hard time, go the BBB way.

04-12-2010, 12:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
Azathoth Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: nowhere Posts: 58 Drives: nothing Rep Power: 15	Ask them, "How many vehicles can I damage on your lot before you call the police?" If they respond "1", ask them if you can borrow a phone to call the police. They have two choices.: They can either fix your car or you'll call the police to report "Willful and Malicious Destruction of Personal Property". Those words are akin to saying "Fraud" to the F&I Guy. No car dealer likes it when the cops show up to arrest an employee. They're already playing hardball with you. It's time to take it up a notch. the BBB and Attorney General are nice and fun, but they take months to resolve issues. The police can get stuff handled Now. Don't make idle threats. Follow up your words with Action. Good Luck.

04-13-2010, 10:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
v8zracer260z Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Micanopy Posts: 124 Drives: 09 370Z blk touring Rep Power: 15	I agree this is best handled by talking to the service manager and if nesessary the general manager. If they don't resolve the situation then ask for the Nissan Corporate manager assigned to that dealership. If you keep going up the chain somebody will take action. You do not have to make legal theats to get action. A little preassure in the right direction will yeild the desired result of getting you car to the condition it was in before the dealership worked on it. I have personally used this method with great results. Often it does not have to leave the dealership personel to have the problem fixed. Just use their version of the chain of command. In the future carefully inspect your vehicle after repairs are performed even if it is just an oil change for any damage and immediately bring this to the attention of the service manager. This will often make resoluion much easier than after you have left the dealership. Hope this helps Rick

04-22-2010, 05:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
tjlazer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tacoma Age: 53 Posts: 2,496 Drives: Z34, R35 Rep Power: 19	Spoke to the manager and he was really cool about it and had me come in for them to take a look at it. Turns out the part to replace is over $300 as it is the whole painted A pillar finisher! Damn. They ordered it and today I went in and they installed it. All for a small clip... My rear hatch springs were finally in (took 1 month to get the part ordered) so I got those put in too! Woot! __________________ 2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

04-22-2010, 05:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
craniac24 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ronkonkoma, NY Posts: 339 Drives: 2010 PG Roadster Rep Power: 402	Glad to hear. And you didn't even have to call the police or anything! __________________ 2010 6MT PG Roadster w/Sport & NAV. Stillen Exhaust, Stillen GIII Intake, Eibach Springs, H&R Spacers 15f/20r, SPC Rear Camber Kit. Thanks to Vinny Ten Racing!

04-22-2010, 07:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
earwicker7 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 265 Drives: 09 370Z (maxed out) Rep Power: 16	Yeah, there's a bit of a gouge in the leather on my steering wheel from when they removed the dash. The problem is proving they did it. I know they did it, but I'm not tripping over it. __________________ 2009 Magnetic Black 370Z with Touring, Sports and Navigation Packages--Fast Intentions CBE with 12" Resonators/Carbon Fiber Mufflers and LTH--Stillen G3 Cold Air Intakes, Underdrive Pulley and Grounding Kit--Uprev Tune

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