".jdb." (brockmjd)
07/17/2014 at 11:10 • Filed to: None
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15|
".jdb." (brockmjd)
07/17/2014 at 11:10 • Filed to: None | 0
| 15 |
I recently had a comment featured on the front page of my awful warranty repair experience. Though the 80 miles they put on my car while it was in the shop wasn't the issue that got me so frustrated, it was one of them. The fuel light being on when I got my car back was the proverbial last straw.
Which leads me to a question: I get putting 50, 60, even 100 miles on a car as part of a service. With a major component rebuild or replacement, I know that some things take a while to show up. But if a shop takes a car out for more than, say, a gallon's worth of test-driving, is it reasonable for them to top it up? I should reiterate that this was warranty service, but I think that even with non-warranty, a gallon or two of gas ought to fall under that "shop supplies" charge.
And not to beat a dead horse, but the issue I had was less "you drove my car 80 miles!" and more "You're giving me my car back empty, now I have to fill it up"
jkm7680
> .jdb.
07/17/2014 at 11:13 |
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What I'd say is that the amount of gas on the car should be noted before the road test, and then after filled to the same point that it was before the testing. Kind of like how rental car companies go about doing it.
DipodomysDeserti
> .jdb.
07/17/2014 at 11:15 |
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Just build it into the price like any other consumable needed to fix your car. When I had warranty work done on my BMW they filled it back up for me for free. That was nice.
phenotyp
> .jdb.
07/17/2014 at 11:17 |
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After my car was in a shop for 8 (yes, EIGHT) weeks, I expected the least they could do was return the fuel level to where it was when I brought it in.
When I picked it up, it was dead empty.
wabbalosthiskey
> jkm7680
07/17/2014 at 11:18 |
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Including where they charge $8/gallon for it. On the flip side there's nothing more annoying when a car comes into the shop for work that requires driving it (road, dyno, etc) and the owner brings it empty. It's your car dude, ain't my responsibility to put gas in it for you. Unless of course it's in for a fuel pump replacement, in which case it's ALWAYS topped off, ensuring a fantastic day for the guy trying to fix it. Ugh.
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jkm7680
> wabbalosthiskey
07/17/2014 at 11:20 |
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Jeez, I'll bet that people do that to get free gas and that being it. I'd just go to the customer and tell them to give me the money to top it off, because gas isn't complimentary.
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.jdb.
> phenotyp
07/17/2014 at 11:21 |
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I feel for you, pheno. Don't know if you saw my story , but yeah, picking up an empty car was the last straw.
N51fanatic
> .jdb.
07/17/2014 at 11:21 |
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Funny, i just got my BMW back from service yesterday, spent two days there for brakes, alignment and window fix. Velet pulled it up, i made it to the exit of the parking lot, and BOOM, or shall i say, [BMW DING], the fuel light came on. I'm sure i dropped it off on almost empty, but it was late, i was tired and hungry, and it did feel like a kick in the pants that i would need to make another stop on the way home.
What probably got me more agitated was that i had to stop at 3 gas stations to find one that sold deisel to fill up the loaner they gave me.
crowmolly
> .jdb.
07/17/2014 at 11:26 |
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Given it's a large enough place like a dealer, they could add two checkboxes on the form you fill out:
1.) Please fill after service
2.) Please wash after service
With rates associated printed next to it.
That way the customer can make the choice and the shop doesn't run the risk of a customer being angry for filling the tank for $3.75/gal when they could have bought it themselves for $3.65/gal or something like that.
MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> .jdb.
07/17/2014 at 11:31 |
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yeah that's not cool, there's no excuse for empty/gas light on.
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.jdb.
> crowmolly
07/17/2014 at 11:31 |
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I think that there are absolutely folks that would pay for that. But I think that replacing fuel they used while servicing your car shouldn't be an extra charge. You want to "bake that in" to the rates, and labor on a transmission is $1250 instead of $1235, that's fine, you're a business, I get that, and fuel isn't free. But I firmly believe that cars should be returned to customers in at least as good shape as when they were dropped off — and that includes the fuel tank.
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phenotyp
> .jdb.
07/17/2014 at 11:31 |
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I hadn't seen that. What a shitshow.
Hooker
> .jdb.
07/17/2014 at 11:33 |
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At the dealership I work at, you will get your tank back where it was, however, it will be charged to your bill. If, on the other hand your vehicle is in for a warranty repair, it's covered.
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.jdb.
> Hooker
07/17/2014 at 11:42 |
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That's pretty fair. I mean, if I was quoted $200 for a repair and it came in at $189 and when I looked through, I saw something like "Fuel - 1.2 gallons @ $3.78/gal" I'd probably have this reaction: "What? Really? Well, I mean, I guess they did have to road test it and and that takes fuel and fuel isn't free. But grumble grumble." With stuff like that, I'd almost rather have the line items NOT separate.
Like with rental car places charging fees for having to register their cars, keep the lights on, operate a business at the airport... That's overhead . The rental car isn't $134.89/wk plus $100 in fees. It's $234.89/wk. Just say that and be done with it.
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Hooker
> .jdb.
07/17/2014 at 11:51 |
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But then no one would rent the car. It's all a game and a gimmick. They advertise the lowest price, however, make back all their profit in fees. It's not right but that's what people want. Obviously. I would rather it just be straight pricing but hey, I'm usually wrong.
Here at the Chevrolet place I work at if a customer's car needs fuel we will typically warn them it was a charge for that reason. They are normally fine with it. There are occasions when the dealership will pay for it outside of warranty however.
ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback
> .jdb.
07/17/2014 at 11:53 |
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When you get a loaner you have to bring it back with the same amount of fuel you received it with, so it shouldn't be a big deal for them to provide you the same courtesy.