Agent009
Agent009
"The vanity of others offends our taste only when it offends our vanity"
View My AgentSpace

Print this Page | Digg It | del.icio.us

New Toyota Program To Address “Horrendous” Dealership Experiences
When a power window motor on Robert Glenn's Camry went bad, the suburbanLos Angeles writer expected to spend a couple hundred dollars on repairs, but when he called the dealer he'd been using for 20 years, the price came in at twice that amount. Frustrated, Glenn called another dealer, closer to his office, who said he'd do the work for half price. So Glenn switched shops asking his new dealer to do an oil change, too.

The next day, however, the bill came to…$400. Instead of a regular, $30 oil change, Glenn was charged $168 in labor alone for a "power oil flush." Now, clearly angry, the father of two called Toyota's factory representative, who admitted there's no such thing as a power oil flush, but who declined to push the dealer for a refund.

Read Article
New Toyota Program To Address “Horrendous” Dealership Experiences



Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]
tifosi_f1tifosi_f1 - 6/25/2007 4:49:46 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
ouch, that is bad service . That basically milking the customer, $400 for a oil change is a rip-off and for a camry too.

Being in the US, can't the person sue or file a case with a consumer protection agency to get the money back?

reply to this comment
Agent009Agent009 - 6/25/2007 4:52:40 PMView My AgentSpace
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Well this is not limited to Toyota by any stretch at all. This is an overly aggressive service department issue, trying to pile on services.



Bmw8terBmw8ter - 6/25/2007 5:51:46 PM
+4 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Holy crap man....I just bought my wife a fully loaded 2007 Camry XLE V6 Charcoal color, and we're picking it up tonight. I hope our service department isn't like the one in this article.

reply to this comment
Agent009Agent009 - 6/26/2007 8:24:12 AMView My AgentSpace
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
That is probably true of of a lot of dealerships now... We have to keep on top of the Honda delearship. We now request a certain mechanic to only service the vehicle. That helps tremendously.


GeorgemiaGeorgemia - 6/28/2007 5:30:52 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
My Ford dealer charges $30.00 for an oil change. My only complaint is that they insist that oil changes should be 3 months or 3,000 miles, because of "hard duty," in Florida. The factory recommendation of 5,000 miles and six months should be just fine, and avoids wasting precious oil resources.


toolatetoracetoolatetorace - 6/25/2007 11:46:27 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Oh, what a feeling !!!!

reply to this comment
Agent009Agent009 - 6/26/2007 8:25:26 AMView My AgentSpace
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
LOL, the author tossed that in there. I was wondering what the heck it had to do with the overall experience. I am suprised he didn't mention he had a dog too...


reply to this comment
2JZSoarer2JZSoarer - 6/26/2007 12:41:33 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Don't judge all the Toyota dealerships on one bad apple.The dealership where I work is a Toyota signiture dealer,which means we have a high rate of customer satisfaction for service and sales..

reply to this comment
Agent009Agent009 - 6/26/2007 8:26:21 AMView My AgentSpace
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Actually you should applaude Toyota for doing this. They know that every make has this issue, but the are addressing it.


sold2earlysold2early - 6/26/2007 11:11:38 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I was planning on buying a Camry, but with its transmission problems and the company/dealerships refusing to do anything about it, I'm going to stick with Honda. That's the attitude I'd expect with the Big 3, not Toyota.

It will be interesting to see what the reliability data looks like on the '07 Camry when Consumer Reports publishes their consumer survey results. Based on what most people in the forums are saying about their cars, it will not be good.

Overall I think Toyota is good, but the quality of their recent product introductions and their attitudes about dealing with the problems have gone downhill sharply.

reply to this comment
2JZSoarer2JZSoarer - 6/26/2007 1:27:01 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
You are miss informed "Sold2early",no Toyota dealership can refuse to repair or replace your transmission if the is an issue,it's part of the warranty,if a dealer were to refuse such service,you can call Toyota customer service and file a complaint about the dealer,and Toyota will be on them like flies on crap,lol.
As for the transmission issues,there is a software updated,to improve shifts for both 4 cylider and 6 cylinder Camrys.


Bmw8terBmw8ter - 6/26/2007 2:16:08 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
A buddy at work bought his Toyota from the same dealer as I did, and he said that when you purchase a new one or go in for major service, Toyota sends you a survey for you to rate the quality of the experience.

He said, the dealer called him the same day he received it to tell him that if he had any problems with his car, not to submit the survey until the issue was resolved. Even the carsalesman was talking about it before I left the dealership, I guess as a last minute effort to downplay the significance Toyota places on customer input(apparently it's a big deal).

The way my buddy put it, they almost want you to find some sort of fault in your car for them to fix so that they are almost guaranteed to get an excellent rating from the you.


toolatetoracetoolatetorace - 6/27/2007 10:10:50 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Consumer Reports , our favorite toaster testers , will never say anything bad about Toytie and never will . Worst thing they will do is not give it a "Best Buy" rating. Something must have ticked them about the new Tundra because, they did not give them a top rating but, then again no full sized truck got a "Best Buy " award , go figure


2JZSoarer2JZSoarer - 6/26/2007 9:14:23 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
BMW8ter you are right about the survey,it is a big deal,I know when we get a bad survey,we get in trouble and some dealers are known to fire the employees that caused them the bad survey,if it happends often..

reply to this comment
Bmw8terBmw8ter - 6/26/2007 11:59:49 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
All in all, my experience was a pretty good one to be honest. I give the manager high marks for getting pissed over what he presumed would be a simple exchange of words and numbers to "verbally" seal the deal, and then kicking his chair in anger when I told him I wanted to see an amortization chart; this was after we had a subtle 30 minute, incoherent, exchange of words regarding the monthly payment he had written down.

No lie, the written monthly payment he wrote down ended up being $10 more than the actual payment, and he cited the additional $10 as "some sort of bank fee".

Hey 2JZSoarer....I'm assuming you work at a dealership. I managed to talk the finance guy into giving me just the extended warranty for $1100 extra. How low can you actually go on it?


GeorgemiaGeorgemia - 6/28/2007 5:36:25 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
ALL dealerships use service departments as profit centers! It's my understanding that they make money
1. From used car sales
2. From service
3. From new car sales.

It's one of the reasons GM can't get rid of low performing dealers. Those guys can go a long time with used cars and oil changes.

reply to this comment
bevisroybevisroy - 6/28/2007 10:16:04 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Lexus ALWAYS understates their 0 - 60 times by at least .5 seconds. Here are the results of the 5 Top Luxury Cars in this test which was reported in the January Issue of Car and Driver. Please note these tests were all done on the same day at about the same time and at the same altitude. The results reflect the average of 3 runs and all cars are the 2007 vintage.

Mercedes S550 5.6, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.1 (Benz show 5.4 in their specs)
BMW 750iL 5.7, 0 - 60 quarter mile in 14.2
Jag XJ Super 6.0 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.5
Lexus LS460L 6.2 0 - 60 quarter mile 14.6
Audi A8 6.8 0 - 60 quarter mile 15.2

Note that Lexus, as usual, is more than the 5.4 the manufacturer CLAIMS to get by .8 seconds.

Also note the LS430 (prior model the LS460 replaced) was rated at 295 HP and was actually 278 when Lexus corrected their rating. And there were no refunds or apologies from the so-called "quality" car company. ABC - Always Be Careful what you buy from the (REPREHENSIBLE) Toyota/Lexus people.....


reply to this comment
To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).

Most Recent Stories
Renntec Mercedes C63 AMGFerrari Enzo Replacement SpiedNew Jaguar XF-R Spy Shots from California DesertSarah Palin Opens A Can Of Alaskan Whoop-Ass On Obama And Democrats-But What Does She Drive?Recall Issued for 2009 Jaguar XFCONFIRMED: Chevrolet Volt to be revealed this monthStudy: Women get ’turned on by engine sounds of MaseratisLamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 gets diamond wheels and pink brakesWill Buyers Be Willing To Settle For A 4 Cylinder BMW, Or It That Just Too Far Of A StretchUpcoming Beetle Design Will Inject More TestostoroneRumor: Ferrari working on a 430 Scuderia Spider2010 Chevrolet Camaro orders start next monthHyundai to show Santa Fe hybrid concept in ParisIs Imitation The Sincerest Form Of Flattery? Honda Releases Their Own Prius Look Alike!2009 Mazda MX-5 FaceliftCitroen reveals new hybrid conceptEarly look at America-bound Ford C-MaxSpies Become MythBusters When It Comes To Your Options If You Think You've Bought A LemonIs BMW The Company Actually Behind The Audi A4 Driving Experience App?NHTSA Sides With Toyota On Unintended Acceleration Issues Claiming 400 Owners Had No CaseChrysler Still Sits In The Basement, Sales Down 34% For AugustHow Low Should It Go? Analysts Predict Oil To Plunge As Low As $80 A Barrel!The Bottom Falls Out Of Audi Sales In August, Down 16% For The MonthHyundai May Be Fuel Economy Leader By Meeting Standards 5 Years Ahead Of DeadlineGM Employee Pricing Program Fails To Limit Sales Losses - Sales Down 20.4% In AugustHyundai Stumbles Down 8.8% For AugustBMW Sales Dip 4.1% In August - Mini Remains Strong Up 34.1%Honda Stumbles 7.1% In August - Acura Makes Progress Down 8.2%2008 Mercedes Brabus Bullit Black ArrowMazda Tightens The Belt With a 4.4% Decrease In August SalesNissan Rebounds With Sales Up 14.2% - Infiniti Up 8.0% For AugustToyota Drops 9.4% In August - Lexus Year End Clearance Event Curbs Losses To 9.1%Volkswagen Rides The TDI To A 2.9% Increase August SalesMercedes Benz Sales Drop 11.8% In August - SMART Sales Remain StrongFOMOCO Stuns No One With A 26.6% Shortfall In August SalesBMW 135i Outpoints Its Competitors to Become Consumer Reports' Top-Rated Sporty CarGerman Car Market Sales Fall 10.4% For AugustInfiniti M35 to get 303-hp V6 VQ35HR engineHot News: Mercedes CLT2009 Lexus IS Facelift Spurts Out On The Net$200 Spy Tool Allows You To Track Your Errant Children Or Spouse's Every MoveConsumer Reports Analysis: Best Money Saving HybridsChrysler working on electric cars and plug-in hybrids$2 million Bugatti Veyron crashed againHonda's Prius rival to be revealed on ThursdayKia Soul to debut at Paris Motor ShowHummer H3T on sale in Middle East this NovemberBMW pure electric 1-series in the worksAudi working on R3 roadster with 4-cylinder engineWho Is Going To Be The First to Fall And How Soon?