Are Dealers Really Sleezy?

2001 Jag with antenna broke. We replaced the mast but there is a nut that prevents it from going all the way up. It's a special nut that only dealer has. So, customer goes to dealer. Comes back wtih $493.60 quote.

We called the dealer and asked why so much? They say the nut will not come off and only way to do it right is replace the whole assembly including the motor.

Right in front of the customer, we stripped out the nut in 5 seconds and gave it to customer. Dealer said that they will replace the nut for free.

What the heck? And this is from Jaguar dealer.

I also had personal experience where my X5 bluetooht all the sudden stopped working. Took it to dealership and they said that whole unit needs to be replaced. $1,400 and that it was NOT covered under warranty. I came back home and reset the battery. Works like a charm.

What the heck? From a BMW dealer.

These are such a ridiculous examples of what stupid things dealerships do sometimes. I guess they need to make money too, but this is not right. If I didn't know any better, that I would have paid both Jaguar and BMW. Good thing that I had a bit of common sense, otherwise, I would have been down by $2K now.

I know some dealerships do fine job, but not all. You gotta watch out for the sleezy ones. My lesson: Use common sense. If it seems extraordinary amount, don't take it for granted that it's such a monster job. Sometimes dealers give you a big bluff to bank on you.

Hope you don't get suckered in by sleezy dealerships.

-tom

Try an Audi Dealer, take your 2001 Audi TT in to the dealer and ask, why doese my electronic dash, drivers window, timeing belt, and many other RECALL items not work, didnt you guys fix these things when the car was in the shop for regular maintenance. . no comment.
It might as well be a Toyoto :)

I'm sure that there is a small percentage of dealers that aren't sleezy. I just haven't been able to find one yet.

And now the State of Delaware wants to let dealers do our motor vehicle registration inspections. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Currently the inspections are free at State Motor Vehicle Inspection Lanes.
The state suggests a $20 fee. Yeah, right.

Had the same thing happen with a company van. Guy out on deliveries, got back in to go to the next stop and the engine wouldn't turn over at all. He's lazy and ignorant, so he called the dealer and had it towed there to be looked at. They spent a whole 30 seconds looking at it and said "New engine, $16,000." It was a custom-ordered diesel Chevy Express. A couple days later another guy (who happened to have a brain) went to pick it up to have it looked at somewhere else. He decided to pop the hood and cut the fan belt and it fired right up. The AC compressor clutch bearing had seized, cost $75 to replace, van ran for another 250,000 miles with no troubles.

Yeah, dealers can be crooks.