Car Dealerships - Is it just me?

littlemissbossy

Does anyone else dread having their car serviced?

As a woman driver I hate having anything done to my car. I used to work at a dealership for over 10 years but still find it a nightmare.

My car needs servicing its a 12 month old "hot hatch", I need to get it done at a main dealer to keep my warranty up. The lad at the service desk is very lacking in personality barely looks up from his computer.

Me: Please can you tell me how much to service my Fiesta?
Lad: how old is it?
Me: 12 months old, its it 1st service
Lad: engine size?
Me: 2 litre"
That caught his attention he looks up and says "you sure its a Fiesta?" arggh.

I know they'll try and pull a fast one on me when I take it in next week.

Is this just me, please tell me I'm just paranoid.

michaelro

littlemissbossy wrote: »

Does anyone else dread having their car serviced?

As a woman driver I hate having anything done to my car. I used to work at a dealership for over 10 years but still find it a nightmare.

My car needs servicing its a 12 month old "hot hatch", I need to get it done at a main dealer to keep my warranty up. The lad at the service desk is very lacking in personality barely looks up from his computer.

Me: Please can you tell me how much to service my Fiesta?
Lad: how old is it?
Me: 12 months old, its it 1st service
Lad: engine size?
Me: 2 litre"
That caught his attention he looks up and says "you sure its a Fiesta?" arggh.

I know they'll try and pull a fast one on me when I take it in next week.

Is this just me, please tell me I'm just paranoid.

Take it to an Independent then.
Until next year when BER runs out, you can service your car anywhere that is VAT registered and uses official parts and your warranty will remain intact.

Anihilator

littlemissbossy wrote: »

Does anyone else dread having their car serviced?

As a woman driver I hate having anything done to my car. I used to work at a dealership for over 10 years but still find it a nightmare.

My car needs servicing its a 12 month old "hot hatch", I need to get it done at a main dealer to keep my warranty up. The lad at the service desk is very lacking in personality barely looks up from his computer.

Me: Please can you tell me how much to service my Fiesta?
Lad: how old is it?
Me: 12 months old, its it 1st service
Lad: engine size?
Me: 2 litre"
That caught his attention he looks up and says "you sure its a Fiesta?" arggh.

I know they'll try and pull a fast one on me when I take it in next week.

Is this just me, please tell me I'm just paranoid.

Sorry but I would expect you to have stipulated it was an ST. I suspect the ST servicing may be different from the rest.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Maybe go on a car or make specific forum and enquire for competent servicing in your part of the world.
Not all dealerships have office types on the desk, hopefully in the workshop is better, maybe keep an eye open to see what the mech's look like.
I find that small family owned dealers care far more for repeat custom than faceless glass palace types.
I would be tempted to use an indy if my dealer was poor, but they're excellent as most Toyota dealers are.

flyingscotno1

littlemissbossy wrote: »

Me: Please can you tell me how much to service my Fiesta?
Lad: how old is it?
Me: 12 months old, its it 1st service
Lad: engine size?
Me: 2 litre"
That caught his attention he looks up and says "you sure its a Fiesta?" arggh.

I know they'll try and pull a fast one on me when I take it in next week.

I find the best way is to ask the questions as if you have a knowledge of things even if you know little as they think you know what you are talking about. Instead of the above, I'd say 'I have a Fiesta ST 2litre can you give me a price to service it'- completely by-passes the last bit.

harveybobbles

I know someone who had a Lexus ISF and when he was booking it in for a Service, the spanner on the Service Reception questioned if it was indeed a Lexus...

Needless to say he didnt use that place...

anewman

And OP has been taken in by dealer's lies from their experiences with them and does not know about BER!

I remember reading a post on a forum by a woman asking to test drive a car (who was in fact in to her cars and driving etc and knew her stuff) and the dealer had a sexist attitude, "it's too fast for you" etc etc.

harveybobbles wrote: »

the spanner on the Service Reception questioned if it was indeed a Lexus...

No it's a Lada!

Hintza

OP assuming you have a choice call up a cpuple of garages and check the price. Then if you favour one over the other and it is not the cheapest ask them if they have a better price etc...

missile

Is this just me, please tell me I'm just paranoid.

It is all female receptionists at my dealer and I don't have a problem with that. The man / woman carrying out the work will have no idea if you are blonde, so why would they rip you off?

I would suggest it is you.

littlemissbossy

Hintza wrote: »

OP assuming you have a choice call up a cpuple of garages and check the price. Then if you favour one over the other and it is not the cheapest ask them if they have a better price etc...

Thanks for all the advice, I was quoted £153.00 at first but then after some debate got it down to £120.00, thats another thing that gets me. I think I need to chill a bit. ha ha

Katie-Kat-Kins

Services at main dealers are normally a set price. At Mazda there was always a poster up by the counter with the prices for services on that. A first service will have a standard list of checks and replacements and will cost the same on that model of car. I phone up before and have never had any cause for concern depsite being a young woman with a sporty car. With renault I never go in, they collect it from work and return it. They quote over the phone and take payment after by phone.

It helps that they collect it from a solicitors office though I suppose........

I'd tell them the precise make and model upfront though - not doing just makes you look like a numpty that doesn't know what you drive!