dealership wars

[dirk_diggler]

Re: stealership wars

Anyone know what TuneDubs rate is?

i would like to know as well

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: stealership wars

$70 a hour I think and valid members get 10% off.

[Slalomguy]

Re: stealership wars

Don't know what Fountain Tire's (at Northland ) rate is, but after my last "you need front struts and your shocks are leaking" false diagnosis by NL, my Jetta now goes to Fountain Tire across the street, as they seem to be more honest in letting you know what needs to be done and what doesn't, even when I susequently gave Fountain Tire the green light to change the struts!!

[RONDAL]

Re: stealership wars

uggghhh dont even get me going on NL. Their prices on parts are 15% above VWcanada's MSRP, and their shop rates are no better.

Capilano VW in Vancouver I think Audi Service is $95/hr and VW is $85/hr. They do wicked work and have brand new equipment and everything there.

My car doesn't go to a dealership PERIOD however. The only time I am there is for OEM parts, and I dont want to be paying 15% markup on stuff thats already marked up being OEM

[Tuna]

Re: stealership wars

uggghhh dont even get me going on NL. Their prices on parts are 15% above VWcanada's MSRP, and their shop rates are no better.

FYI NL has the cheapest parts of all the 3 dealerships.....by far.

[VWSM]

Re: stealership wars

Hi Guy's and Gal's
my name is Paul Piotto the Service Manager at S.C.F.C
i've helped your club out many a times when it came to warranty claims or
assistance even though you never had your vehicle serviced here or had after
market parts installed.i also offer your club a discount on parts and labor
during your maintenance's or repairs.
i'am quite offended by the term stealership,ive bent over backwards to help
out where other dealerships wouldn't.
and you know who you are....
if you continue to use that term,so be it but don't come looking for me for any
assistance or advise anymore.
Sincerley
Paul

[Stonewall]

Re: stealership wars

I can say I am one of those people that use that term and for good reason too. Really it is for all VW dealerships as a whole, I have been to all three dealerships in town but really never for service that I myself was paying for (nore would I ever take my car to one to get serviced). If you look at the amount of VW horror stories and then at the good stories you will see a huge ratio towards the negative. VW has a very low customer satisfaction level being conveyed to the general public. Paul I do commend you for trying to improve that ratio but unfortunetly unless we clone you and ship you off to ever other VW dealership the term "stealership" will still be used.

[B5]

Re: stealership wars

Hi Guy's and Gal's
my name is Paul Piotto the Service Manager at S.C.F.C
i've helped your club out many a times when it came to warranty claims or
assistance even though you never had your vehicle serviced here or had after
market parts installed.i also offer your club a discount on parts and labor
during your maintenance's or repairs.
i'am quite offended by the term stealership,ive bent over backwards to help
out where other dealerships wouldn't.
and you know who you are....
if you continue to use that term,so be it but don't come looking for me for any
assistance or advise anymore.
Sincerley
Paul

I should give credits for Paul P. He helped me out on the warranties and repair cost for many occasions, or years. My recent engine swap was done by SCFC and I received great services from them. I wish Paul can join us earlier and come to the scene. I guess we will have an easier time with the ‘dealership’ and your place will be even friendlier than anybody in town. This is like an eye opening for a Service Manager post. In terms of respect, people will always remember the bad and never the good.

Ambrose

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: dealership wars

Thanks for your comments Paul and always glad to have people in the know on the boards. Many of us do appreciate the efforts made by yourself to better serve us VW enthusiasts. I personally feel the term 'stealership' is just something people coined to express unhappiness with the current costs of dealer auto service and I do not feel this is specifically an issue directed just at VW but all car companies.

[Khyron]

Re: dealership wars

While I have personally had good service from all the dealers, things like making owners remove aftermarket stereos before being Vag-scanned, or denying warranty for totally unrelated parts is what gets the name. And it does apply for many automakers, it's just VW has a rep for more bizarre warranty denial (or stupid things like the radio). Window regs and coils were all given millions of retarded excuses before VW finally admitted fault.

Khyron

[Dubs]

Re: dealership wars

Umm never have a problem at Gelnmore .. even though they are f**king busy and takes awhile for an apointment .. ride home in an a8 .. birthday card on your birthday .. no complaints.

[Lars]

Re: dealership wars

I dont have a problem with any dealerships heck I ever work as a tech at one. I do have a problem however when the wife took the car in and they did not do half the stuff and (she wont deal with car stuff at all anymore) when I took the car in a week later there was no problem getting it done

[Stampfan]

Re: dealership wars

My response to this as a non-club member that frequents this group and doesn't use SCFC is:

You'd think the logical response as a service manager that could potentially get additional business from those at other dealerships and privately would be:

" If you have any problems with my particular dealership's service, please come talk directly. I intend to to continue my outreach with your club full of our cars, and wish to continue a positive relationship. Try our service, I'm sure you'll find it better than your previous experiences under different staff at different times."

Instead, it reads like "if you've had a bad dealership experience, you're not allowed to talk about it or you're not welcome at SCFC". Funny, but responses like Dave the Tech, who has posted many times, would have me consider using SCFC for service. A response like the above would make me consider *not* using SCFC for service. Threatening to cut off one of two enthusiast clubs and potentially hundreds of car owners that might choose your dealership seems like an overly-harsh response. I was at the car show this weekend, and recognize that I literally have dozens of choices within Calgary about where to spend my auto dollars. If Volkswagen or a particular dealership wouldn't want my tens of thousands of dollars, I'll find someone who does. Its not a personal thing, its a business decision.

If Ronald McDonald came on my burger group and threatened to cut off my Big Mac supply if I didn't like the special sauce one day, I'd likely start buying burgers at Burger King. And with Ronald, I'm not paying nearly $100/hour as a customer. Glad I can shop around continue to have choices.

[tintin]

Re: stealership wars

First off, I don't know if this guy is really who he says he is.
However, if he is, just shot himself in the foot.

There are many people who read the boards (apparently he's one of them!) and because three or four people are frustrated with service he's out to make the club sound like a bunch of sourpusses.

I'd love to know who in this world actually LIKES going to the dealer - any dealer - any make - for service?! Having the car in the shop means you don't have your wheels and you are going to be paying for it. (Warranty work is just as frustrating as you don't know if the SM will cover it even though it's clearly warranty work and really, your car shouldn't be broken in the first place) - sounds like a fun day to me when I'd rather be cleaning my fingernails or something.

Look at the big picture Paul. People complain because they don't want to be there in the first place. Time to get some thicker skin and help solve the problem rather than lash out at group of people who are exceptionally understanding and passionate about VWs. We are the ones buying parts. We are the ones buying new cars. We are the ones who tell others to buy VW. We are the ones that help you stay in business. Think about it. You help us, we help you.

[End rant]
Wait, no, I'm not done. NL wanted to charge me an hour labour to install a new cover on my side mirror when it was wrecked. I put it on in the parking lot in 45 seconds. If they charged an $70 labour for 45 seconds work, that works out to $5,600 an hour. Good thing I'm not an idiot.

[ok, end rant]

Stealership, stealership, stealership!

[for real this time - end rant]

[R-Audi]

Re: dealership wars

For me the "stealership" refers to prices for parts... you can EASILY find OEM parts elsewhere for much cheaper.. and only when you confront the dealer about the prices (The odd time I have) *sometimes* they will lower them for you. (Glenmore Audi for me, Thx guys!)

Like anything they have to make money as well... but parts costing double what you can get them off the internet is ridiculous. (ECS and PureMS make money selling at those prices.. which leads you to believe that dealerships do overcharge.... therefore being named stealerships)