Another dealer story

2810 Views 18 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Alexander Hales, Sep 3, 2005

IHonda2002

Discussion Starter · Jul 27, 2005

Well, another dealer story, although a minor one.

I've been going to the same dealer since I bought my Insight, and I've been generally pleased with them, but the tire inflation issue is starting to get to me. I went in for a routine oil change and checkup and when I got it back the little check list said the tires were set to 32 psi per factory specs. I questioned the service dude right away and asked if he's ever looked at the door jam where it says 38 and 35. He seemed a little surprised by that so I offered to point it out to him. I then ranted a bit about keeping the techs aware of what kind of a car they are working on, making sure my voice was raised enough so other service managers could hear. If something like that gets by them, something I can check easily, what things are getting by that I can't check so easily. He offered to pump them correctly, but I normally keep mine at 42 and 38 anyway so I said I'd just take care of it at home.

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tiger

· #2 · Jul 28, 2005

IHonda2002; I think I can offer some real world (Insight) to your comment on service.

I would prefer to "NOT" mention the dealership that I work for, not that it really has any bearing on the situation or my comments, but I would like to Retain my job. So.

What few people realize when they drop their vehicle off at a dealer for, lets say an oil change, is that the "Hourly" paid, lowest man on the totum pole gets your vehicle and I can assure you that there is know way that he knows anything (Usually) about the vehicle.

The techs that are the (Master-Technicians) do not do routine service such as oil changes.

So, Mr. or Ms. Public thinks because they drop their vehicle off at a Honda Dealership or which ever dealership that they are getting serviced by the best "Qualified" person at that dealer, believe me they would be surprised.

I think I have said enough to let you see and now know why your tires had the incorrect pressure in them.

Regards;
Terry

BTW; The only way to get around the above situation is to (Specify) on the (Repair-Order) a certain tech to do the work.

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tiger

· #14 · Aug 5, 2005

Honda Insight Dealer Service Departments:

A few more comments to the replies that have been posted above on Honda Service Departments.

If you have a service department that you like and trust, then I say you are very lucky.

They are out there but as I said in my comments above and I still stand by them, believe me in more situations than not I can assure you that just because you take your vehicle to an (Authorized-Dealer) does (NOT) assure you that you will get one of the dealerships Master-Techs. to service your vehicle unless it has a really serious problem. The reason you get a "Hourly" tech to do routine service is because believe it or not oil changes are not a money maker for the dealerships service department, therefore the service dept. uses the cheapest labor person they have which happens to be the oil change techs. (FACT) :!: :!: :!:

Oil change Techs are Hourly Paid, Range From $9.00 To $11.00
Master Techs. are paid from $17.00 To $25.00 Per Hour
So you figure it out, which ones do you think you get for routine Service :?: :?: :?:

My comments here are to be of I hope Some Help to those of you out there that do not know how dealership service departments work.
"Remember I do, I work for a Dealership" :wink:

Regards;
Terry

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tiger

· #16 · Aug 9, 2005

Re: That's the way, all right

Wayne M said:
Yep, Tiger's got it pegged, all right.
The actual techs are also paid on what's known as a 'flat rate' scale, which basicly means that the Honda folks have a book (document, whatever) that states an amount of 'time' the tech gets paid for every item on your car. Just for figurtive example, say the Honda book says "for a Civic major service, Joe Tech will be paid 1.4 hours" (that's one point four). If Joe can 'beat the book', he 'makes a profit'. The pay scale was intended to be an incentive to be productive, but the times they paid me by were frequently way non-realistic. Because if it takes Joe longer than that 1.4 hours, so sorry, thats only what Joe gets paid!

Additionally, this puts self imposed pressure on the tech to get through each job as fast as possible, while doing the job correctly. Comebacks are always done for free on the pay scale. So some guys do tend to get kinda sloppy with hardware going back, and crooked ones will try to screw you over. But the good ones are gems. Treasure them.

:arrow: "AMEN"
Regards;
Terry (Tiger)

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