Recently I received my ddm backbone. As I don't have the facility to raise my solstice to install it, and because the nearest service station leads a lot to be desired, I figured I would try the dealership where I purchased my car.
With all the gm dealerships that have closed, it seems that the remaining ones have picked up more business. Anyway, I showed the service manager the ddm information and explained to him what I wanted done.Now that they just sell cadillacs, Either he didn't seem interested or he just didn't have a clue. I said that it is most likely a 20-30 minute job. He said he could not do it unless he charges me for one hour. It kind of rubbed me wrong, as I was more than willing to pay for a half hours worth of labor and felt that a
qualified "GM tecnician", should not need an hour for this job. To satisfy my curiousity I went to another Gm dealer, if you could believe it, only a mile away, and explained the same thing to him. He said we don't want to install non gm parts.
For years I have owned GM cars, for years the service has sucked.
Despite what fritz Henderson says, I have absolutely no reason to believe, that the new GM is going to be any better with customer service than the old one. There is no way in hell I will deal with them anymore.
My wife has a honda civic and when she brings it in for service they do all in their power do make you feel like a customer should.
I would be very surprised if the new GM is successful.....ford and toyota are going to clean their clocks.
Back up the little Kappa on a pair of ramps.
Slide under and pull 12 bolts. Use them to install the new brace.
Drive off the ramps... depending on tools available... 15 minutes.
(Don't forget the crowbar for the exhaust.)
If you took a Chevy part to a Honda dealer and asked them to install it
they would probably look at you funny... and say "No can do", very politely.
Even small towns have lots of independant mechanics in them, and they thrive on pleasing customers as this is thier only business. How do I know, Because I am one. We go out of our way to help the customer.
sorry dude but you have anything done you get charged for an hour for just starting the job then the time after that......and since it is not a GM part it is not in thier best intrest to install after market stuff on carss....I would have gotten you to sign a waiver then had someone do it on thier own....
just have to wounder how does that make GM look bad....get a garage to do the work
I said that it is most likely a 20-30 minute job. He said he could not do it unless he charges me for one hour. It kind of rubbed me wrong, as I was more than willing to pay for a half hours worth of labor and felt that a
qualified "GM tecnician", should not need an hour for this job.
Stay well,
Charlie
How long does it take for the tech to get the ticket, walk out to your car in the parking lot, drive it in, set the lift, get under the car, read the instructions, get the jackstand to hold the exhaust up, loosen the exhaust, remove the old plate, install the new plate, tighten up the exhaust, remove the jackstand, give the car a good look around while he is under there, lower the car, drive it back around, park it and then turn the ticket back in with the service writer?
The clock starts when the tech leaves his bay to go get the car, it stops when he turns the completed ticket in.
I think an hour of labor is very fair having done this exact install at home on my own lift.
If it was such a simple quick job you should have done it yourself. Would have been cheaper if you own any metric deep wheel sockets, Let's see I think you need a 15mm deep well socket, ratchet, and I want to say either a 12 or 13mm socket with a 6 inch extension and a set of ramps. I am betting that you could have gotten all of tools for under the $85-100 you would have spent at the dealership. And in the end you would have learned something about your car and had tools to show for it for your next project.
Try getting a motorcycle serviced. My Triumph has nissin calipers, like a lot of motorcycles, and the local honda shop wouldn't work on it cause it isn't a honda...also, another shop has a minimum of one hour labor on any job....labor in most motorcycle shops today is $80 and up.....and as been mentioned most independent shops will install just about anything...
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The beatings will continue until morale improves.
If it was Me I would find a shop that can do the little stuff for you....BECAUSE....you might want to have something big done and they will give you a deal on it....
Yep..no GM dealership around here will install aftermarket or custom parts inhouse either. Gotta go to an independent shop for that.
My GM dealer installs aftermarket parts. Had Fujita intake installed for 1 hr labor. I can't see any dealer putting a car on the rack for less than a hour labor. Too much liability and overhead to be doing $30 jobs.
If they feel that the modification would do anything detrimental to the car, either due to the fact of the matter or their opinion (even if its misinformed) then they are 100% within their rights to refuse the job if you ask me. They should also refuse non-standard jobs if they don;t know the ramifications of the work being done, since it affects things like warranty and their own liability
That dealer was unfamiliar with the job being requested...and this sours you on GM?!? That's bass-ackwards if you ask me
My wife has a honda civic and when she brings it in for service they do all in their power do make you feel like a customer should.
Stay well,
Charlie
How, exactly, should a customer feel?
You probably "believe" the customer is always right!
Take your Civic to the dealership and TELL them that you want them to put on a high flow cat with resonator, etc., because you want that cool, ricer racer sound. Are you going to TELL them that they have to because you expect it to be done regardless that it may actually be illegal to do so? Will they capitulate to your whining? I don't think so.
Do as some others have done, go to the dealership for additional service (oil change, etc.) and have it done at the same time. They probably will not charge the full hour as the car is already up on the lift anyway. If they do try to charge an extra hour's labor, you can then accuse them of billing like a lawyer- and they won't want that!
It'll be okay once you reflect on this a bit. We can all still be friends.
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"Louie, I think this is the begining of a beautiful friendship."
When my wife was younger, I was always amazed at the hoops she could get people to jump through. Maybe try sending your wife back to the same dealers and have her ask to have the work done?
I am in the S.E. part of Wisconsin, just south of the Milwaukee area. I have tools coming out of my ears and a lift to put your Kappa 4 feet in the air, and yes I know how to lift it correctly and safely. I am willing to help out anyone most anytime with their car. I have been working on cars for a hobby for 40 years. Just PM me and and I'll give you my cell number, let's do some wrenchin'
Mike Moore
Caledonia, WI (Just south of Milwaukee)
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It'll be okay once you reflect on this a bit. We can all still be friends.
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