C5 turned away from Dealer
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
C5 turned away from Dealer
"TURNED AWAY:
Stopped in at a Chevy dealership for possible service and was turned away cuz my C5 is over 10 years old. WOW!!!!
A member of a C5 page on Facebook who's from Union City GA just posted this
He wrote " I wanted them to assess my oil leak and they turned me away. True story. "
Stopped in at a Chevy dealership for possible service and was turned away cuz my C5 is over 10 years old. WOW!!!!
A member of a C5 page on Facebook who's from Union City GA just posted this
He wrote " I wanted them to assess my oil leak and they turned me away. True story. "
Last edited by SG Lou; Oct 13, 2017 at 02:56 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 375
From: Central Florida
I would have to know what he means by that? Usually two sides to every story. Everyone has a right to decide what they will work on. Personally I wouldn't have considered a dealer for anything out of warranty. They did him a favor. IMO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
All the local independent shops here know nothing about C5s. The local Chevy dealership has a Corvette expert that has owned several Corvettes. They have always been glad to work on my cars. I first took my '80 to them when it was 25 years old and they were happy to replace a couple of corroded brake lines. I don't think they will ever turn down business unless they don't think they can fix it. They have always been good to me and even quoted me half what an independent shop wanted to replace fuel filter on C5. Not all dealerships are out to screw you. Small town GM shops are pretty darn good.
Advanced
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 89
Likes: 12
From: Arlington Texas
All dealerships differ. I have worked at 7 different GM dealerships around DFW and only one had the ten year policy and even they weren't adamant about it. If you came in with a 15 year old well maintained car, they would still agree to work on it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,281
Likes: 1,097
From: Pittsburgh PA
Well there are exceptions to every situation. I deal with a Chevy dealer here in Pittsburgh that at anytime you go there they have any model corvette sitting in there bays, and I would not hesitate to bring mine there. They have mechanics that have been there for many years. On the other hand I have an independent mechanic that does all my work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Oviedo Florida
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We have customers coming in to our shop all the time with the
same complaint.
Consider the dealer, what if the customer's vette needs parts
that are no longer available from the factory? What will they tell
the customer?? They are just avoiding problems. And would
prefer the customer buy a new vette.
same complaint.
Consider the dealer, what if the customer's vette needs parts
that are no longer available from the factory? What will they tell
the customer?? They are just avoiding problems. And would
prefer the customer buy a new vette.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,418
Likes: 1,598
From: Western NY
I'm pretty sure that the GM BK deal probably has something to do with this, especially with the potential parts availability problems. Consider this, in many cases, the only parts dealers would install during a repair, was an OE GM part.
Given my personal experience, as a part-time Advance Auto Parts employee, after I retired from full time work, I think that Dorman has taken over a LOT of the parts supply for 10-15 year old cars. And, considering the line of parts they now sell, it looks to me like they bought a LOT of GM's tooling. BUT.......would a GM dealer install a Dorman part, and warranty both their labor, as well as an "aftermarket" part???
Given my personal experience, as a part-time Advance Auto Parts employee, after I retired from full time work, I think that Dorman has taken over a LOT of the parts supply for 10-15 year old cars. And, considering the line of parts they now sell, it looks to me like they bought a LOT of GM's tooling. BUT.......would a GM dealer install a Dorman part, and warranty both their labor, as well as an "aftermarket" part???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Just my experience with the local dealership. Always did great work, stood behind their work and charged reasonable prices. I have had horrible experiences with independent shops. Tried to sell me parts and repairs I did not need more than once.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I'm pretty sure that the GM BK deal probably has something to do with this, especially with the potential parts availability problems. Consider this, in many cases, the only parts dealers would install during a repair, was an OE GM part.
Given my personal experience, as a part-time Advance Auto Parts employee, after I retired from full time work, I think that Dorman has taken over a LOT of the parts supply for 10-15 year old cars. And, considering the line of parts they now sell, it looks to me like they bought a LOT of GM's tooling. BUT.......would a GM dealer install a Dorman part, and warranty both their labor, as well as an "aftermarket" part???
Given my personal experience, as a part-time Advance Auto Parts employee, after I retired from full time work, I think that Dorman has taken over a LOT of the parts supply for 10-15 year old cars. And, considering the line of parts they now sell, it looks to me like they bought a LOT of GM's tooling. BUT.......would a GM dealer install a Dorman part, and warranty both their labor, as well as an "aftermarket" part???
Last edited by JR-01; Oct 13, 2017 at 10:09 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 266
Likes: 59
From: Williston Florida
I called chevy dealers in Ocala and Gainesville to get an appointment to service the automatic transmission. At one dealer the girl on the phone put me on hold while she talked to the service dept, came back on and said they don't work on cars that old. The other dealer put me on hold, never came back so I hung up and called back, just asking for the service dept.
When someone finally answered and I told him what I wanted, he said 'sorry, that car is too old'. I drove into Gainesville to get the oil changed in my Toyota and asked them where was a shop that serviced automatics in Vettes. They recommended a shop almost next door to them so I went there. The owner said 'Vettes? No problem, $106 out the door, come early'. I returned the next day and they got the job done in about 2 hours.
I had told the owner that the car was new to me and I wanted him to give me an evaluation of the transmission's condition so I would know what to expect. He said 'the old oil was clean, no clutch or band residue in the pan, and the filter was clean, I shouldn't expect problems with normal driving'. The car has 145,000 miles on it so this is better than I expected, it shifts fine even when I get on it occassionally. This is my first Vette with an automatic.
When someone finally answered and I told him what I wanted, he said 'sorry, that car is too old'. I drove into Gainesville to get the oil changed in my Toyota and asked them where was a shop that serviced automatics in Vettes. They recommended a shop almost next door to them so I went there. The owner said 'Vettes? No problem, $106 out the door, come early'. I returned the next day and they got the job done in about 2 hours.
I had told the owner that the car was new to me and I wanted him to give me an evaluation of the transmission's condition so I would know what to expect. He said 'the old oil was clean, no clutch or band residue in the pan, and the filter was clean, I shouldn't expect problems with normal driving'. The car has 145,000 miles on it so this is better than I expected, it shifts fine even when I get on it occassionally. This is my first Vette with an automatic.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 498
Likes: 100
From: New Jersey
At my dealership we'd be crucified for turning away a car. First by our fixed ops director, then by our district rep.
Its happened, and not just due to age. We turned away a toyota once and there was hell to pay. We're not a toyota dealer...
Its happened, and not just due to age. We turned away a toyota once and there was hell to pay. We're not a toyota dealer...
Last edited by acuevo; Oct 13, 2017 at 10:48 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,657
Likes: 195
From: Boxford Massachusetts
I'd take my Vette to the dealer more often and they'd be thrilled to have the business, but the damn thing just runs and runs. Other than oil changes, my maintenance costs for 2017 in my 2004 DD vette were $0.
My dealer is not out to screw me. Are their rates higher than the rates at the independent shop? Sure. But they give me rides to and from the shop, they know what they're doing and they take pride in their work. Sure they make a profit on me. Is that a crime?
My dealer is not out to screw me. Are their rates higher than the rates at the independent shop? Sure. But they give me rides to and from the shop, they know what they're doing and they take pride in their work. Sure they make a profit on me. Is that a crime?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 204
Likes: 12
I called a Chevy dealer when I needed my rear main seal replaced, so pretty intensive work considering the need to drop the rear differential and all. This was last year, so at the time my '03 was a 13 year old car. I used a specialist shop that works on Corvettes of all generations as well as classic cars instead, charged me a little more than the Chevy dealer wanted but they ended up doing a lot of other nice things for me while in there. Chevy dealer probably would've just fixed the one thing I told them to and that would've been it.
Dealer service departments aren't all bad, just depends on the brand. Lexus service departments from everything I've heard are outstanding. If they need your car overnight, they'll give you a loaner and they'll make sure the loaner car is the same class of car that you brought in. So if you take a flagship LS460, they will give you another LS460 as a loaner and not one of their entry cars. I have no need for such a car now, but Lexus is on my shortlist due to their reliability and service. I would never expect such treatment from any Big 3 manufacturer.
Dealer service departments aren't all bad, just depends on the brand. Lexus service departments from everything I've heard are outstanding. If they need your car overnight, they'll give you a loaner and they'll make sure the loaner car is the same class of car that you brought in. So if you take a flagship LS460, they will give you another LS460 as a loaner and not one of their entry cars. I have no need for such a car now, but Lexus is on my shortlist due to their reliability and service. I would never expect such treatment from any Big 3 manufacturer.
Team Owner
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From: Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light.
St. Jude Donor '08 thru '26
"TURNED AWAY:
Stopped in at a Chevy dealership for possible service and was turned away cuz my C5 is over 10 years old. WOW!!!!
A member of a C5 page on Facebook who's from Union City GA just posted this
He wrote " I wanted them to assess my oil leak and they turned me away. True story. "
Stopped in at a Chevy dealership for possible service and was turned away cuz my C5 is over 10 years old. WOW!!!!
A member of a C5 page on Facebook who's from Union City GA just posted this
He wrote " I wanted them to assess my oil leak and they turned me away. True story. "
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not all dealers are out to screw you and many have very competent techs that do things right. I trust my local dealership completely with my car - never had a problem with them working on it.It's too bad that some owners do not have the same faith in their dealership, but in many cases it is probably very justified.