Dealership service denied

[Area51BS]

My local dealership(Mullinax) is currently doubling the size of their service center. Wonder how they plan to staff it? Also means too many vehicles require service.

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[Morrisattack]

The whole “staff shortage” BS is played out. We hired when we needed to fill positions at my company. The issue is all dealerships are interested is making as much money as possible while giving as little output to the customer as possible. Covid is over but they will milk this as long as we put up with it. Nobody has the tools at home to work on modern vehicles anymore so they know it is ‘bend over and don’t complain’ or ‘come back in a month’.

Assuming you have no idea what it takes to be a technician today. 1st you have to good with your hands and be willing to get dirty. 2nd you need to willing to start out making very little money. Not to mention you'll need to invest about 100 grand in tools. And you'll need to be smart enough to work on the modern car that's a rolling computer. Not many people have all of those qualities

 

[mcinfantry]

Having actually done mechanic work I love these threads.
‘Played out’
‘People are lazy’
Go open a service center
Make bank. Since that’s what everyone thinks it’s all so easy. I can walk anywhere in the greater Baton Rouge area and make well over $35 an hour spinning wrenches. But I can’t find a single person I know willing to work in that field.

you can’t force a dealership or anyone to take you as a customer
Capacity. Like it or not no one has capacity they used to for a lot of reasons

no matter how many times you write down or shout
the most powerful words in the automotive world

Magnussen-Moss Act

you don’t understand you are like a modern day Medusa, turning anyone in your wrath to stone with the fear of that one sentence, or maybe NOGAF

 

[Mountain Mike]

I went to my small local dealership and asked about an oil change. They said that they were short handed and it would be 6 months before they could look at a vehicle or do any service. " Can I put you on the list"? Um no. It only took me a week to get into a large dealership not to far away. I have no idea how that small dealership will stay in business.

 

[Brockdog12]

I bought my 22 at one dealer and it is in for warranty work at a dealer I didn’t buy it from that is closer to my home, they had no issue working on it and I have a brand new loaner from them, a 23 model with 400 miles on it. I did have to wait 3 weeks for a loaner to come available. Told me vehicle may take a couple weeks to get the work completed.

 

[vzqhsg]

I purchased my month old 2023 Wildtrak about 30 miles from my home and the dealer has a sister dealership closer to my home. I made an appointment at the closer dealership to have my HVAC issues addressed (under warranty) and have to wait until end of April for a loaner - yes, a month since I made it in March. It was interesting they had no idea I owned the vehicle. Apparently the owner of the dealerships (4+) doesn't work off a shared system...so be it.

While waiting, I went to a closer Ford dealer near my home (not owned by the dealer I purchased from) to see if I can get an appt sooner address the issue - with or without a loaner. They asked me if I bought the car there (which I didn't) and told me they would not perform any service on my vehicle, other than a quick oil change. I asked why and was told they have limited resources and would only work on purchasing customer cars. Seriously!? What kind of service is this? I should be able to bring my vehicle to any Ford dealership, especially for warranty work. I cannot believe Ford (corporate) would allow dealers to turn away Ford vehicle owners. Am I missing something? Anyone else having a similar experience?

Your thoughts @Ford Motor Company?

Pre COVID I would understand your concern. Post COVID welcome to the new world of the Car Companies of America. If the statement about resources is true, then I would do the same. My dealer is in a small town. Since I bought my 2017 F-150 they have prioritized folks that purchased their cars over the others. I hope we all like bananas.

 

[CarGuy]

Pre COVID I would understand your concern. Post COVID welcome to the new world of the Car Companies of America. If the statement about resources is true, then I would do the same. My dealer is in a small town. Since I bought my 2017 F-150 they have prioritized folks that purchased their cars over the others. I hope we all like bananas.

During Covid, I agree. But there should be no excuse now. I have numerous other cars from different manufacturers and have no problem getting service…and treated like a paying customer.

 

[vzqhsg]

During Covid, I agree. But there should be no excuse now. I have numerous other cars from different manufacturers and have no problem getting service…and treated like a paying customer.

Are they all American dealers? I agree with your after COVID comment, but not all folks have returned to work. Our dealer still has staffing issues. They need a person to drive cars from dealer to dealer. That used to be a very popular job at a dealer. Hope you have better luck in the future.

 

[John P.]

Wow—I went from BMW to this? It’s enough that my car came with a roof defect (replaced) and other nagging things that never happened with my 2001 Audi TT, 2008 MazdaSpeed3, 2011 Audi S5, 2018 Audi RS3, or 2020 BMW X5 (all bought new), but now actually getting service or a loaner is a problem when the car has these issues?

Ford, really?

 

[CarGuy]

Are they all American dealers? I agree with your after COVID comment, but not all folks have returned to work. Our dealer still has staffing issues. They need a person to drive cars from dealer to dealer. That used to be a very popular job at a dealer. Hope you have better luck in the future.

Thanks. And no, they are Mercedes and Porsche. Mercedes did have staffing issues during Covid, but has been fine since last year.

 

[Morrisattack]

During Covid, I agree. But there should be no excuse now. I have numerous other cars from different manufacturers and have no problem getting service…and treated like a paying customer.

It's a different world than before covid. There is a lack of quality technicians and cars have changed. If I can't take care of everyone than the customers that bought from me and spend money in my service department has to get first priority. It's unfortunate but choices have to be made. Saying all that I wouldn't refuse you but you'd be behind my customers

 

[JohnnyBronco]

This is for refusing to warranty something, not refusing to even look at the vehicle.

Dealers can take whatever work they want and prioritize any customer they want.
Most dealers are extremely backed up with work due to parts shortages and lack of people that want to work on cars anymore. Makes sense that they would want to take care of the people that gave them business before anyone else

Even regular customers get 6 week wait for simple state inspection. It is a shortage of techs not of garage space.

 

[Ducati1098]

Even regular customers get 6 week wait for simple state inspection. It is a shortage of techs not of garage space.

Oh I’m well aware, because I am one haha I’m just saying they’re obviously going to prioritize regulars over people that aren’t.

 

[etmccaus86]

Are they all American dealers? I agree with your after COVID comment, but not all folks have returned to work. Our dealer still has staffing issues. They need a person to drive cars from dealer to dealer. That used to be a very popular job at a dealer. Hope you have better luck in the future.

Where in MI? I've time to kill between dropping and picking up the little one at school.

 

[JohnnyX]

It might have something to do with dealers not being able to make money on warranty repair... saw this a couple months ago.

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