Just Another Reason Why I Saty Out Of Dealerships.

[jedi134]

As I have mentioned before, I have not been into a dealership for over 10 years, Toyota included, maybe they are not all bad like others have said before, but I just want people to be aware.... Could be that if they know they can`t pull your pants down then they will not try???

But like I have said before, it`s the old couple I feel sorry for..

Nothing has changed as far as I see from forums like this and others. I dont need to be there to here the stories.

I am just highlighting what does go on.... people don`t have to take my advice or listen to me. But its there anyway.

Happy Toyotaing!!!!!!

watch out for the pirates!!!!!!!!

[anchorman]

Its just all dealerships in general, No actuall Toyota dealerships mentioned apart from Lexus????

Because they have nice shinney show rooms, give you a cup of tea and a paper to read, This does not mean they know what they are doing!!!!

Jedi

Stop drinking acid, its making you very bitter. Such sweeping comments are unfounded.

It seems that RAVs, RAV owners and RAV dealers really hack you off. What would you like us to talk about that would cheer you up? Its your choice

[Daveyonthemove]

I see your point about informing people, but you haven't really done that where Toyota dealers are concerned for Toyota owners.

I can understand Charlie's post because he was obviously at a bad dealer, and others should be aware of the dealer who tried to rip him off.

Your posts are based on your experience of dealers 10 years ago, and not advising Toyota owners about a specific Toyota dealer.

The best thing everyone can use to beat dodgy dealers is 'Common sense' and a bit of research.

[jedi134]

Yes I think your right, I must change my brand of acid, this ones clearly not good for me.

Its just dealerships in general, not any one dealer in perticular, just happens I have a Toyota which I think is great, so vent my views on the Toyota forums? can I not?

I don`t hate Toyotas or rav`s or their owners otherwise I would have sold it....and bought a tricycle

and relax......................................................................

[Daveyonthemove]

Yes I think your right, I must change my brand of acid, this ones clearly not good for me.

Its just dealerships in general, not any one dealer in perticular, just happens I have a Toyota which I think is great, so vent my views on the Toyota forums? can I not?

I don`t hate Toyotas or rav`s or their owners otherwise I would have sold it....and bought a tricycle

and relax......................................................................

But if you haven't had any dealings with a dealer for 10 years, why have you suddenly started ranting about them all, and if Toyota dealers have not ripped you off, or failed to complete a job to a satisfactory standard, then why claim they are all bad? It doesn't make sense IMO.

[Cyker]

Or a pony!

[CharlieFarlie]

If You remember I was on here last week saying what a great dealer Dunfirmline was for parts and they are !!But the service department are a joke !!

Shame really as I would have preferred to have kept the service book all Toyota. Having said that the next service isn't due until January 12.....

[jedi134]

I must admit, the parts departments are not that bad, and I talking all manufactures here, I`ve never had a problem with them, apart from the odd few who seem to suffer from pricing tourette`s and blurt out a crazy random figure. But you can always walk away, nothing lost nothing gained sort of attitude.

[anchorman]

Yes I think your right, I must change my brand of acid, this ones clearly not good for me.

Its just dealerships in general, not any one dealer in perticular, just happens I have a Toyota which I think is great, so vent my views on the Toyota forums? can I not?

I don`t hate Toyotas or rav`s or their owners otherwise I would have sold it....and bought a tricycle

and relax......................................................................

There you go Jedi, deep breaths.

You can come with me on a Friday night around the corner to my old mate and have a grumpy old man debate. Everybody gets it one way or another and top of the list is big bore exhausts. You can pause for for breath while you think of another subject then with eyes wide open you start the next rant with "and another thing" usually accompanied witha point in some direction or another. To join you need 2 tins of beer and a slug of whiskey. The best whiskey for ranting is monkey shoulder which my mate in Stepps told me I could get in any supermarket but him speak fork tongue so he will be on the ranting list tonight because all we can get down here is akin to the fuel they dish out on the forecourt - weasel pee (£20 an eyeful).

Nowthen, with regard to dealers. I am not a good one to ask because I tend to be a bit OCD when it comes to who works on my car. I had reversing sensors and a tracker fitted to my red RAV when it was new and when I got it home I couldn't tilt the seat rear forward. I took out the trim and sure enough one of the cables was not anchored - simply popped it back in. Its an easy enough mistake/ommision to make but my problem came with what else was lurking on the now exposed boot floor. I could tell the brand and shoe size of the two "techy's" that had fitted the axtras from the thick greasy prints in the boot. They also left me all the bonus tie wrap cuttings and the bits of wire off cuts and insulation tape etc. It took a couple of minutes to pick up the bits/vacuum and about 10 minutes to wipe out the oil and grease. Of course most would be none the wiser about their £24k purchase but it tells you something about the work ethic and conscience of the two "techy's" (can you feel what I think of that term) that worked on somebody elses property. My issue is that if I were happy to accept that standard of work I could do it myself and save £90+VAT per hour. I had a steering joint done under warranty. The column on a RAV is sealed by a rubber boot and a stainless steel clip. It is done this way to allow the vehicle to wade to the specified depth without water entering the cabin. Although it had the clip on the invoice it came home with a tie wrap on it which cannot seal the column like the special equal pressure stainless steel clip. I was assured it would be fitted if I returned the car but I asked for it to be posted to me and I did it. If you saw the clip it is a funny looking thing that takes a bit of figuring but you simply squeeze 2 lugs on the outside and it exerts exactly the right pressure around the full circumference. I then took the steering column apart and fitted it myself.

Now having said the reasons why I am wary, they never did anything dangerous like the photos of the Merc. You can definitely get that kind of work done by independants or mobiles or more commonly by DIYers. For the most part dealers process huge quantities of cars - especially during the warranty period and sometimes long after to the complete satisfaction of the owners. My feeling is that for servicing I am not going to get the fully qualified and trained mechanic (proper name) as he will be doing diagnostics and more complex work. I will be getting an equally named "techy" who may be semi-skilled with some NVQs of some sort but I will certainly be paying the same labour rate for him. The work is safe and to a reasonable standard but my doubting thomas character won't let the memories of tie wraps and stainless steel clips go. I have had some very good work done under warranty and I always phoned back to say so. Like I say, most people are satisfied, the work is safe and the cars are reliable.

There is a pecking order or food chain analagy to owning cars. Those that can afford new cars can usually afford to have them dealer serviced or prefer to do so in order to secure any warranty issues although you know my thoughts on this. As the car gets older then it tends to fall into the hands of somebody who can afford that value of vehicle and then they tend to be serviced by independants. At this stage, I would suggest that this is the right thing as dealer servicing and repairs can prove expensive in relationship to the value. There are times even with older cars, when going directly to the dealer will be the best course of action to either pick up on an extended warranty or make use of their specialised diagnostic equipment and proper mechanic. The secret is to know which to choose and to find garages that have a good reputation.

This forum is a good place to start for guidance and there is nothing wrong with recommending dealers/garages that have a good reputation but in line with the ethics and dignity of the forum we will not condone threads or posts that that condemn specific named organisations as these could be one offs or personal.

[Parts-King]

Daveyonthemoveagain- Why don't you tell us about the experience you had with a Toyota dealer that has driven you to post up failings by NON Toyota dealers?

I think you might find the answer here Davey

As I have mentioned before, I have not been into a dealership for over 10 years, Toyota included, maybe they are not all bad like others have said before, but I just want

A bulk assassination of the dealer network his hasnt visited in 10 years- I expect you also say everybody with a hoody is a hooligan, everyone with a beard is a boffin...........The list is endless

You say there should be a dealer review section, there is, it's at the top of the page under a tab called Reviews

Take a visit to a dealer, any dealer and post up your true experience, dont just carp on all the time about how bad everybody is when you dont even visit a dealer

Here is a good dealer, oh yes, the dealership I work from LINDOP TOYOTA WIN PRESIDENTS AWARD

Do we get everything right on every ocassion? No of course not, but the vast majority of customers go away very happy and return next time for what we hope is an equally good experience

Kingo

[jedi134]

All my information is taken from other forums, the forum in question I took the examples from is recommened by the guys on the Lexus forum??? And it was a Lexus garage at fault in one example.

I surpose I started this thread due to me having my Rav4 wheel aligned about a week ago, Obviously not by a main dealer, and you must no my opinion on them by now.

I took it to a place recommended by WIM forums, close to me who actually knows how to do wheel alignment, They imaged the car, told me exactly what was wrong and how they were going to correct it, job done in an hr car perfect, no drama no BS, no fobbing off.

While I was waiting in their waiting room, I noticed numerous emails and print off`s from forums and happy customers pinned to the wall, There must have been over 20 in all, and every single one of them read along the lines off:

Main dealer

Main dealer cannot find any fault with my car.

This has been going on for months/years

Hundred of pounds spent, fault still there.

Dealer keeps car for numerous days, fault still there. ( I can vouch for this one, xxxx had my car for 2 weeks and 5 dealerships later found Right rear too much toe out)

Wheel alignment center:

Brought my car to you for wheel alignment and in 2 hrs you have rectified my 3 year on going problem.

One owner had tyre wear problems from 8k miles all the way throught to 95k at which point he brought the car to the said wheel alignment center, they rectified the fault in under an hr, I can`t name the manufacturer apparently, but Charlies other car is one.

Having a long chat with the alignment guy, it seems a lot of main dealers take problem cars to him now? So a manufacturer cannot repair a fault on its own make of vehicle? I really cannot comprehend this. They take the car to him for repair and then charge the customer extra for not doing anything.

So the same problems are still apparently here as they were 10 years ago........nothing has changed?

[Parts-King]

Have you got your trousers caught in your bike chain Jedi? You appear to be going round in circles :o

I can't see anything new in your postings, you just keep rambling on about wheel alignment experts and people (not you) who have had problems with main dealers (any franchise) You are relying on uncorroborated forum contributions from people you dont know. Anybody glancing over this post would assume you have bad experiences with your dealer, but you don't, you dont even visit a dealer

Kingo

[jedi134]

O right so every one must make up stories on forums, just for the sake of it. Wheel alignmet is just one part of it, I hav`nt found an engine repair forum that posts bad repairs yet..

Just look at Anchormans experience with the tie wrap LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is he making this up to, is this a uncorroborated forum contribution from a person I dont know??

Anyway I obviously have hit a nerve here, so I will let it be.....

[Parts-King]

Anyway I obviously have hit a nerve here, so I will let it be.....

No you havnt hit a nerve with me, I agree with you, there are SOME bad dealers, just as there are SOME national chains, fast fit operators, independants, Fred in the shed's, Boiler repair men, drain "experts" bla bla bla

You have made your point, you just keep reiterating it for some reason. You only read one side of the story on a forum, it is not balanced. take a chill pill and move on ;)

Kingo

[Daveyonthemove]

IF you had posted up an experience of your own visit to a dealer, then people would take your comments seriously, but instead you have looked across the internet for posts from OTHER people, about OTHER dealers and expected everyone to agree with you and avoid their local dealer.

As for the 'Evidence' you have posted up, you have provided extracts from what the wheel alignment specialist has written about his own handy work.

This is obviously going to show the dealers to be bad (which they appear to have been) and him to the hero, so it's a one sided post anyway.

If you don't actually use a dealer, then IMO that revokes your right to complain about them.

[jedi134]

The extracts are from his happy customers not the wheel alignment specialist, the customers have written this of their free will........Please read the posts properly

I have my own experience of dealerships although quite a while ago, and it seems the same still goes on. I was also non the wiser, but educated myself and I was shocked at what I found.

I am not saying they are all bad, how can I? just I have never found a good one.

But I`m sure the Lindop group are fine, as so many rate this dealership, themselves included, Keep up the good work, and I did not mean to offend or upset anybody

But like the saying goes "The truth hurts" ;)

[Manxrav]

I have owned 3 Toyota,s and would never contemplate having anything done to it, by anyone other than the Main Dealer. If I am not happy with their level of service I let them know, and they always take my comments on board. I also now have a Mini Cooper S and that will be serviced by the BMW main dealer on Island.

As the dealer who sold me the Mini said to me last week ( and he is a Honda main dealer) if you have a Main dealer full service history it bodes well when you part x your car in the next time you buy.

I must abmit I well agree with Charlie regarding the dealer washing the car when it,s been serviced as far as I am concerned it is a nono and I tell them NOT to touch it at all when it,s been serviced.

Really in my case it,s a case of building a good repore with your main dealer and I find it does pay dividends.

Regards Clare

[anchorman]

everybody with a hoody is a hooligan

They are on a Friday night at grumpy old mans night

Certainly - everybody with a big bore exhaust is a hoody!!!

........so it is therefor uninsured.......

........and another thing..........

[Big Kev]

....AND THOSE BLOODY ROMANS USED TO THROW US CHRISTIANS TO THE LIONS...!!!!

Ah will NEVER go to Italy on holiday.....

Big Gott....

[Uncle_P]

Blimey what a long thread!

I've had had work done at various dealers from all different marques down the years and have never really had anything to beef about. The standout hero has to be Mitchels at Cheshire Oaks who seem to have a different ethos to the competition ( http://www.mitchellgroup.co.uk ) As for independents, I always look for the good garage scheme sticker on the door, find your nearest by entering your post code here: http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/

Lindops is only a stones throw from where I work, so I know where I'll be going if I need any bits for my Rav