I thought about joining an F150 forum just to bitch about service writers. Rough day yesterday and something incredibly minor snowballed.You get the right one they are a godsend, and then there's most of them. I wouldn't want that job and apparently neither does the nitwit I ran encountered. Dealership was OK as far as they go, but this guy on point is a problem. I don't mind changing the oil on my 2015 but it feels weird working on something that wasn't made in the 20th century.

So my early 69 has a Oct 68 CE motor in it. I couldn't help but wonder what level of horse***t must've been involved in getting that done. Maybe things were different back then. Dunno. Seems like obnoxiousness hasn't changed a whole lot in the past 50 plus years.

 

I hate when ANYONE works on any of my vehicles and try to avoid it. I have even done repairs (minor) that were covered under warranty to avoid going to the stealership. I especially do not trust anyone working on my older cars. When I need new tires I take the wheels off and drop then off at the tire store. When my 15 was new I was foolish enough for the stealership to provide the first free oil change. I arrived 10 minutes early for my 1030am appointment and was told I would have to wait 1.5 hours. When the service manager writes a book about his work experiences I will get a whole chapter.

 

I had gone on a longer rant with lots of detail but it just served to **** me off even further, and when you get into the details they are petty. Usually are. Thing is no matter where you go you want to make sure the person is actually engaged with you and your problem i.e. listening and not just trying to blow you off, at your own inconvenience. I sort of thought that was what a service writer was there for. I know we're a bunch of codgers here, set in our ways and particular about details. Up to this point all I ever did was drink the coffee and sit quietly. Had this guy and his manager even let me speak - they didn't - I'd probably still be doing that.

I went to an indie shop from 1983 until he retired this year. These days I do most work myself and have some local options for state inspection, tire service, etc. That dealership's the only one for some distance and I'll walk right back in there for a recall or to go the parts counter. Give it a month and the staff will turn over again.

As for that service writer, his punishment is to continue to sit there all fat and greasy in a lump on a stool working on that next heart attack. Whatever he said to his manager sent the guy DEFCON4 instantly, which probably speaks volumes about the place. Having done many, many service calls at dealerships all over the place - this one included - they always seem a half step away from a knife fight anyway once they are away from customers. NOT a cuddly friendly environment. He actually shoved $25 at me and told me he was going to go fire the mechanic, am I happy now?

Wow. Real Jack Welch Six Sigma graduate there, a real Zenger Miller. I literally never said a word to the (young) man. The service writer made an insincere offer to refund part of my money so I said 'ok fine' and after I showed up to 'run my card through' it was THEN he had to waddle over and speak to his manager about it. I just called him on his own BS. But I got the cash, which I am at a bit of a loss to explain but what the hell, how often does a dealership ever hand over actual money for anything?

 

There was a Chevy dealership in Friestead, Wi back when I was a kid. The service manager would take you order, then go back and do the oil change or tune-up, then off to the parts dept to look up the parts needed or take care of parts customers. A one man show. T

 

I can beat you horror story ten fold. My Z4 Garage Queen had an engine part recall, so reluctantly, I take it to the dealership. They take me home and pick me up that afternoon, once the repair was made. As I am talking to the service writer about getting the oil changed, I notice they have scratched my car near the fuel door. Since I spent my career in sales, I was calm and didn’t scream or start using all the cuss words, I picked up in the Navy. So this young girl looks at the scratch, takes some photos with her phone, and nonchalantly tells me to call her in a week. After calling her 5 times, she sets up a time for me to bring my car in. I pick up my car the next day and the scratch is completely gone. They bring my car out and a lady from the on site scratch repair company tells me this happens all the time, that 80 % of their business is caused by the dealership. Top that!

 

My turn: Check Engine light stays On.....Service writer does his thing.....Mechanic says faulty gas cap $55.00......under warranty.....Silly Me-didn't inspect repair.....stop at gas station on the way home.....original gas cap is still on the car.....Engine light comes on, again....stop at AutoZone....buy $3.00 O-ring and install on original ($55.00) gas cap......Engine light goes off/stays off.....imagine that.