Caught dealership fishing?

PA DETAILER

PA DETAILER

DETAILED TODAY?
Took the Xterra in today for a side air bag recall. They reprogram the ACU so the side airbags do not employ to early in off road conditions.

But I do believe I caught the dealership "fishing"? They did one their multipoint free inspections that Nissan does. Your rear pads/rotors are in need of replacing. 1/32 left on the pads. $348 installed. I passed. Now I did the investigation. I get my state inspections and oil changes done at MONROE. Never had a issue with them. They always do brake inspections. I called them to confirm Nissan`s findings today, and to compare them to my last visit at MONROE.

59,477 Todays mileage.

57,508 Last brake inspection at MONROE. Report has it I had a little less than half pad left in the rears. Confirmed by my call today.

48,434 Last multipoint inspection at Nissan. Stated I had 8/32 left on the rear pads. NO WAY 7/32 OF PAD WAS USED IN 10,000 MILES! THAT WAS THE RED FLAG.
 
they pull that crap here all the time at the Toyota dealer ..besides needing brakes, 4 wheel alignment (when only front is adjustable) , cabin filters that would require removal of glove box, they also allow some outside glass company to come into the service bay and it seems that EVERYONE needs their windshield repaired ... I have hurt their dealer rating by complaining and making others who read reviews aware of the practice. It`s a shame sitting in the waiting area and watching every service writer come to customers and none of ever say the first time . "your car is ready"

ok .edit .. just to top your brake story .. they told us that the fronts were down also and I did nothing between oil changes , and the next visit my brakes had grown :rofl:
 
Nissan is a very sleazy brand. There`s a reason their cars sell for $6,000 off MSRP without even trying to negotiate!
 
DAC17 said:
Nissan is a very sleazy brand. There`s a reason their cars sell for $6,000 off MSRP without even trying to negotiate!
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This is an ignorant statement. These type of shenanigans have ZERO to due with Nissan - as the dealerships are privately owned. And Nissan makes 0.0 dollars on cash gravy work like: alignments, brakes, shocks, etc...

Not to mention, this a problem with the culture / management at the dealership..I worked for Ford and if you only knew the fraud that went down there...
 
We each have our opinion on this. Any Nissan dealer within 50 miles of my house is awful. Didn`t say it didn`t apply to other brands, just that Nissan is at the top of the list around here.

YMMV.
 
DAC17 said:
We each have our opinion on this. Any Nissan dealer within 50 miles of my house is awful. Didn`t say it didn`t apply to other brands, just that Nissan is at the top of the list around here.

YMMV.
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So, you think Nissan is conspiring with it`s dealerships *somehow* universally to try and sell people BS work and that is why they are a "sleazy brand" who can only sell cars with large rebates.

Are you serious?

I gotta a bridge 4 sale.
 
Who goes to a dealership, LoL.

All euro cars, all parts sourced through FCPeuro and all parts installed by me or an audi specialist or a volvo specialist.
 
The Driver said:
Who goes to a dealership, LoL.

All euro cars, all parts sourced through FCPeuro and all parts installed by me or an audi specialist or a volvo specialist.
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Agree. For the most part, nobody touches my cars but me..

I go to the dealer once a year for PA State Inspection. You have to go to some shop to do it yearly per PA state law. And, IMHO - a lot of these "specialty shops" suck.

I`ll take Ottos BMW over XYZ`s German Auto any day.
 
"The dealership tried to rip me off" :wacko: YA THINK? The most profitable part of a dealership is NOT the sales floor, its the service department. Then probably the financing dept.
 
Taking it back to Monroe Friday morning for a check on the rear pads/rotors. If they are that close I have no problem having them done. Just want to compare their findings to the dealer. And as far as NISSAN go`s on a whole. it`s my first Nissan. And I can honestly say it has been one of the most reliable vehicles I have owned.
 
Swanicyouth said:
Agree. For the most part, nobody touches my cars but me..

I go to the dealer once a year for PA State Inspection. You have to go to some shop to do it yearly per PA state law. And, IMHO - a lot of these "specialty shops" suck.

I`ll take Ottos BMW over XYZ`s German Auto any day.
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I agree, however I`m lucky that two of my friends are Audi and Volvo techs. PLus the software alone is insane, if I. had a base model it would be ok but the S7 requires crazy stuff from the software to the hardware it`s crazy. I am doing pads, rotors and sensors on her this weekend though (FCP lifetime warranty!).
 
I used to work at an Audi dealership. Though it was a tough decision (good money, coworkers, was one of two techs there first certified to work on the R8`s when they came out), I left after being there 10 years when I couldn`t stand how much the place had turned into a money machine.

Every car had to have a list of recommendations. Sorry boss- they`re machines: they`re not always broken!

Management put a big focus on "efficiency" where you had to book x% more flat rate hours than your clock hours. I got high praise when my efficiency went up - all that happened was that I got sick of their game and just punched out earlier so my clock hours went down. All I wanted to do was the job right the first time, not pad my wallet.

I`ve since gone to an independent where we focus on 2 brands (BMW and Audi, I guess technically 2.5 or 3 brands because we also do Mini), and have been able to provide the service to customers that I would hope to receive if I were in their shoes.

Just like detailing, Unfortunately I think it all comes down to the luck of what technician/service writer you get. I won`t say all dealer techs are crooks, because I know other guys that held my values as well. But I do have a lot of cars come from the dealer after going in for a recall where some of the recommendations they give are shameful - oil "leaks" that are barely seeping, etc. Surprise surprise, it`s usually gravy work.

Independent shops aren`t without fail either. I had a car recently where a shop charged 45% more than we would to do a water pump, thermostat, and coolant hose on a `09ish 3 series. Using cheap Chinese parts that failed a month later (they refused to go back to that shop after repeat bad experiences). They charged full labor to replace a thermostat that has to come out to do the water pump. 1.6 hours for a quick connect radiator hose that was half off already. I was literally shaking mad when I saw their work.

Sorry to rant, I`d been meaning to add that last one to the "REALLY?!" thread, but this seemed like the better spot.

My advice to people- no matter who it is saying you need a repair, have them show you why. Even if you`re not super mechanically savvy, they should be able to comfortably/confidently show you what is wrong or explain why it needs to be done.
 
Heh heh, guess I might be the only guy here who has almost all his work done at dealerships (exception is the Jag...and guess which car gets returned with unresolved, but fortunately minor, issues now and then?).

While most any shop could work on my Crown Vic and the Tahoe, the Audis aren`t all that easily serviced now that they`re so old. And I like knowing each person who will be touching my car..think "direct responsibility". From the Loaner Valet to the Service Writer to the Tech, the only people who touch my vehicles are guys I know and trust. Telling people "only touch the door handles please"..."Hey, no fender covers and don`t let your shirt touch it" ..."hey, no torque-stick, do `em by hand and use a sleeved socket"... all that gets old and [ticks] off people who don`t know me. The guys I trust already know all that stuff and abide by it. I`m willing to pay for that.
 
PA DETAILER, why dont you take your rear wheels off and LOOK at the pads yourself? Even if you just get out a ruler to measure the pads you will educate yourself and not have to trust someone else to be honest towards you. If YOU find that the pads arent as worn as they claim you can go back and let them know they will not be getting your business any longer.
 
dcjredline said:
PA DETAILER, why dont you take your rear wheels off and LOOK at the pads yourself?
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Plus, I`d be *very* leery of having somebody I don`t know doing the on/off. I once snapped a lugbolt off after some "pro" overtightened the lugnut.

And note that I quit letting `em use the torque-sticks after finding significant variations between the lugs, each one on each wheel. Not just a case of being all Autopian about it ;) I mean...not like they don`t have a torque WRENCH (which I ASSUME has been calibrated)...

IF the pads aren`t really as worn as they said, I`d not necessarily say "lost my business", but if I bothered to go back and talk with them at all I`d see what they have to say about it and *then* make my decision.
 
This subject is done. After this morning`s visit to Monroe, the lowest set is at about 3/32. Did I need a brake job today or at the time of the dealership visit? NO. Near future? Of course. Of course the advice I was given I was going to follow anyway. Run them till your hear the sensors chirp. And the rotors have plenty of material to be cut.

The dealership? All I can say is that in the past, and all warranty work I had done was exceptional. This time I think they may have been looking for the quick dollar.
 
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