You Know What Really Grinds My Gears....The Sequel!

[gallione11]

Originally Posted by pylon

There's a saying, "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."

Personally I would be less likely to look after a customer that attacks me with insults, as I will probably never see them again (and they are likely a write off anyway), than someone who words the email in a professional manner citing they felt they were mislead or overcharged. 9/10, I will accommodate the polite/professional approach. 9/10 I will ignore the insulting email. It is not conducive to reply to ignorant hatred.

FYI every dealer on the face of the earth charges shop supplies. It covers all of the stupid little stuff you don't think of. Seat covers, towels, topping up washer fluid, etc.... It should be disclosed on the original quote, and perhaps the service writer simply forgot to. But 10% +/- is the industry norm, and most dealers cap it at $25. You will have to get used to fixing your own cars, if you have an issue paying it. Also every single quote in a car dealership or pretty much any business on the face of the earth is + tax. I cannot remember the last time I was quoted tax in, besides by the local pizza joint.

$77/88 for an oil change? Good lord.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by gallione11

$77/88 for an oil change? Good lord.

OEM Brand specific, full synthetic costs us $9 a litre. And it is a factory requirement to use it. So at 5 litres of oil, you're already at $45. Filter cost is around $14, so you are at $59. Add in a new plug, washer, etc.... call it $70.

Do you honestly think a Tech that has 4 years of schooling, and probably another 5 years at least, of factory training, is only worth $17 for the 40 minutes the average dealer Oil Change takes? Those grimy schmucks back there, are some of the most brilliant people I have ever met. They solve some ridiculously impossible problems. Some of the guys I have met wrenching cars, could probably build frikking rockets. There isn't a dealership in North America that turns a profit on a straight up $79 oil change. Why do you think they have service packages, and brake jobs, and warranty work they all try to squeeze in at the same time.

At the dealer I work for, the material cost, just to do my oil change, is $90. More than our menu price. And I get it all at cost. Most places the basic oil change service is a loss leader to get you in the door, and they are actually losing money after the tech clocks out his hours.

[burn_this_city]

I routinely spend over $100 on the oil and filter alone doing it myself. Personally I think it's hilarious $11 is worth writing an angry email over.

[puckluck2]

The only thing that pisses me off about those oil change places is how they will straight up lie to get more business. I had literally just changed my transmission fluid at a transmission shop then went to Minit Lube and guess what the guy told me he recommends changing? The transmission fluid.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by gallione11

$77/88 for an oil change? Good lord.

That's about how much mine cost when I do it myself, seems good for a shop.

Originally Posted by puckluck2

The only thing that pisses me off about those oil change places is how they will straight up lie to get more business. I had literally just changed my transmission fluid at a transmission shop then went to Minit Lube and guess what the guy told me he recommends changing? The transmission fluid.

Last and only time I went to a Mr Lube I was told I needed to replace my one week old battery, and one month old transmission fluid. And the 'tech' threw out my magnetic drain plug and replaced it with some cheap pos made out of metal that softened under heat.

I'll continue to do it myself now

[pylon]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

The only thing that pisses me off about those oil change places is how they will straight up lie to get more business. I had literally just changed my transmission fluid at a transmission shop then went to Minit Lube and guess what the guy told me he recommends changing? The transmission fluid.

That is one thing I never recommend, are Jiffy lube places, unless you want just cheap oil. Some of them run the same oil through the lines no matter what you buy. And they run off a script to basically recommend everything.

Dealers are so meticulously micro managed from the factory level and by AMVIC now, they won't dare risk their dealer license and pull a switch like that. The crappy part about going to the dealer and getting your oil changed is waiting 1-2 hours for some surly tech who would rather be swapping out a transmission or rebuilding a head doing a job a 14 year old could do. But the good part is the fact that you have a surly tech who would rather be swapping out a transmission or rebuilding a head doing a job a 14 year old could do.They don't miss anything.

I have seen people come in for their last warranty required oil change, and drive away with a new engine a week later after the tech found a couple microscopic metal shavings that just "don't seem right" on oil plug. And even if you are off warranty, they can catch things early before they snowball into massive problems.

[puckluck2]

Yeah, I think I am just going to go to Honda or Acura from now on. I actually have been going to them for years and just the other day noticed they use Petro Canada oil. I don't know if that is a good thing or bad thing but it doesn't sound like great quality oil.

[pylon]

Most manufacturers have a quality range that has to be adhered to. For us it is as follows:

Only a very few oils are sold in the US that meet the 507.00 specification; Mobil 1 has an oil sold mainly at MB dealerships Mobil 1 ESP, the Castrol Edge (but must be labeled to meet VW specification 507.00 most Castrol Edge sold in the US does not meet this specification), I have seen some Shell Helix Ultra Extra and Shell Helix Diesel Extra that is labeled to meet this specification, but the oil was a "grey market" export from the UK.

We usually sell Castrol Synthetic Oils that are specifically formulated/branded right in the bottle for VW. However, you can buy oils that fall within the range that are not branded for us, that would still meet VW's requirement. I would guess that the Petro Canada Oil Honda is using, would fall under such a requirement. There are very few refineries that actually produce motor oil, and there is a lot of crossover.

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by Wormius

It's called a "red eye", dammit. Respect the red.

It RGMG when people say this is what a red eye is. No, it isn't. A red eye has tomato juice, not clam, first of all. But more importantly it requires a raw egg. That is the "eye", it's the whole point of the name.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by pylon

Most manufacturers have a quality range that has to be adhered to. For us it is as follows:



We usually sell Castrol Synthetic Oils that are specifically formulated/branded right in the bottle for VW. However, you can buy oils that fall within the range that are not branded for us, that would still meet VW's requirement. I would guess that the Petro Canada Oil Honda is using, would fall under such a requirement. There are very few refineries that actually produce motor oil, and there is a lot of crossover.

Sorry meant Minit Lube is using the PC oil.

[Knut]

Sexist dinks like this GMG's. Honestly, what century are we in ?

http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/960...ated-response/

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Sexist dinks like this GMG's. Honestly, what century are we in ?

http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/960...ated-response/

Just a bad joke I hope... Granted some people really are that stupid

[polak]

Originally Posted by pylon

There's a saying, "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."

Personally I would be less likely to look after a customer that attacks me with insults, as I will probably never see them again (and they are likely a write off anyway), than someone who words the email in a professional manner citing they felt they were mislead or overcharged. 9/10, I will accommodate the polite/professional approach. 9/10 I will ignore the insulting email. It is not conducive to reply to ignorant hatred.

FYI every dealer on the face of the earth charges shop supplies. It covers all of the stupid little stuff you don't think of. Seat covers, towels, topping up washer fluid, etc.... It should be disclosed on the original quote, and perhaps the service writer simply forgot to. But 10% +/- is the industry norm, and most dealers cap it at $25. You will have to get used to fixing your own cars, if you have an issue paying it. Also every single quote in a car dealership or pretty much any business on the face of the earth is + tax. I cannot remember the last time I was quoted tax in, besides by the local pizza joint.

Like I said, I normally ignore my dads rant translation/spec writing requests but this one seemed like a fun one. I never really cared enough about hidden charges to complain on my own but since he asked me and they do anger me to some extent I went with it.

I also understand the charges, but as you said they shoukd be in the original quote. Especially if they're in the $10 - $20 range as that's enough to impact where a person might go.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by polak

Like I said, I normally ignore my dads rant translation/spec writing requests but this one seemed like a fun one. I never really cared enough about hidden charges to complain on my own but since he asked me and they do anger me to some extent I went with it.

I also understand the charges, but as you said they shoukd be in the original quote. Especially if they're in the $10 - $20 range as that's enough to impact where a person might go.

How can it be in the original quote if the sevice writer doesn't know what supplies they might use? I deal with a Ford dealership all the time and shop supplies and such are always in the final bill. Depending on the work that has been done supplies charges have been as little as $6 and upwards of $15. In the end I go where I get the best quality of service.

[Red John]

As a business owner, would be a lot more likely to accommodate someone who asked nicely than wrote a vitriolic email like that. Especially if that vitriolic email is clearly coming from someone who doesn't understand the industry and the cost of doing business. Ignorance and anger don't go together well.

It's funny, consumers get mad at car salesmen who try scummy tactics. We all say that in the 21st century, the nature of sales has changed and people are more likely to buy when treated respectfully.

Then these same people turn around and don't show the same respect to the service department (in this case the manager who has to read that email).

Hope you don't get your $11 back.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Red John

Ignorance and anger don't go together well.

And yet, they are so often found together...

[strombad]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

It RGMG when people say this is what a red eye is. No, it isn't. A red eye has tomato juice, not clam, first of all. But more importantly it requires a raw egg. That is the "eye", it's the whole point of the name.

It RGMG when people say someone is wrong, without accounting for the distinct possibility of multiple truths.

http://cocktails.about.com/od/cockta...r/red_beer.htm

Fancy way of saying: you're wrong for calling someone else wrong. The Red Eye, like many cocktails of the sort, can correctly be made in a variety of ways. Whether you use tomato juice or clamato, add vodka, hot sauce, an egg, it's up to you. Look it up.

You just so happen to use the version of the drink created by the movie "Cocktail". So unless "Cocktail" is your bible, you should probably stop letting people who make versions of drinks not found in the movie GYG. If it is? Well, Coughlin's laws probably make pretty good commandments.

[DuffMan]

I always thought Red Eyes were American and were Tomato juice and whatever.

I love Clamato and beer, and there are all sorts of situations it fits into. after golf, breakfast, if you plan on drinking a lot but need to stay sober.

As far as the oil change goes, I am routinely quoted on average $800 - $1400 when I take my vehicle in for an oil change, at the Chrysler dealership. They always add in a few recommendations, rear main seal, all fluids, bunch of other stuff.
The last oil change cost $1600 including fixing the slight whining from the engine which turned out to be the water pump, and then an axle boot, I think. Funny thing is, they had just replaced my water pump about 2 years ago. that's what gmg's. paying twice for the same thing, Happened with my brakes also.

400 or 500 I can handle, but paying 1600, you didn't really expect gmg's.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

I always thought Red Eyes were American and were Tomato juice and whatever.

I love Clamato and beer, and there are all sorts of situations it fits into. after golf, breakfast, if you plan on drinking a lot but need to stay sober.

.

huh?

[19Yzerman19]

The fact that certain people have made #######ized or improvised versions of a drink with whatever they had on hand does not somehow expand what the drink is. The entire point is that it looks like a red eye. Thus the name. The yolk is what creates this visual. Recipes that omit the egg presumably do so because some people are weirded out by the notion of drinking a raw egg - squeamishness does not give one license to re-define a term, any more than I can remove the bacon and still call my sandwich a BLT.

I'm open to certain variations on drinks that don't change the basic essence of them. If someone wants to use celery bitters in a red eye, cool. If you want to float a bit of red wine on top of your manhattan, go nuts. But you can't omit a central ingredient to a drink and have it still be that same drink. It's like making a mint julep without mint.

Clamato and beer is a clamato shandy, simple enough.