Tips for a swirl free visit to the dealership tomorrow morning?

One thing I did and I recommend is to highlight the dents/dings with a china marker. Find a contrasting color and circle the dent, followed with a line and arrow showing exactly which dents you want done. I would also take a quick picture of them highlighted as well.



I did this to my SC430, highlighted stone chips with a black china marker.



As for washing, make sure it's in the work order. When you get the printout, it should say: CUSTOMER REQUESTS NO WASHING OF VEHICLE.



As long as it's in writing, you have more to come back and point out that your request was not followed through.



Regards,

Deanski
 
:o, I just searched the entire printout and they didn't even put it in the computer! He said something about them not washing cars normally. According to the guy there, their policy is no car wash unless requested, the totally opposite of the last dealership I went to. So maybe that's why it didn't say it in the printout.

Do you mean highlight the dents and chips so they can see where the only imperfections are. That way if you find dents/chips that they put in then you have proof? If that's what ya mean, would you take the picture there at the dealership for even more proof?
 
YES, Highlight ALL dents/defects prior to arriving at the dealer. I would take the pics prior to going.



Walk the car with the service manager, show ALL highlighted areas to the service manager and make sure they put this into the work order, how many dings/dents/defects and they should include a statement as "See all highlighted areas/marked areas for repairs" or something to that effect that they clearly understand that only those areas are to be addressed.



I still would request that a "DO NOT WASH" be added to the workorder. They only have to type it in!



Regards,

Deanski
 
The situation calls for "Diplomacy","Tact". Would you get an instant "Tude" if your first encounter with a stranger, led you to believe, that he/she, implied you were: numb, careless, not up to the task, dumb....? At my first visit, for service at the dealer, I explained to the service writer:" I baby my car. I have gone over every inch of her, trying to make it look sharp. So far I have only,(insert number) dents, or paint defects. Please be careful, but I trust it is in good hands. There's no need to wash it, as I just cleaned it so the "Tech" won't have to work on a dirty car." The service writer will hear you, without being set off. Once a situation is started in a negative way, it takes a "Big" person to overlook it." Tact " BTW, the Tech that worked on my car came and talked to me. He said it was one of the cleanest cars he had ever worked on. He asked what products I used. We were on the "right foot" from then on...
 
As rek implied, it's sorta a balancing act between being assertive enough and coming across all wrong. And if the guy has his attitude on, things can go downhill fast. I always make it clear that *I'M* the unusual element in the situation.



As for the insurance/customer in the shop issue, I had a used car dealership with a service area. I'll just say that I've NEVER had a problem talking with a tech or being in a shop. Well, one problem, but I just left instead of getting into it with the guy. This was when *I* was in my 20's at a place like ahunt01 described.



Every time I see a thread like this I'm just SO glad/lucky to be doing business with the shops I use! These days, they TAKE me back to talk with the tech.



ahunt01- Glad to hear it all worked out OK. You may very well be happier with the shop in PA you're considering. Yep, you DO have an extra hurdle in front of you being young, and driving a loud, tinted Honda doesn't help your case. Unfair? YES!! But still true. Maybe the shop in PA will see a fellow car nut/customer for life and have the right attitude from the get-go.
 
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