Shocked!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 4
From: 34°0′34″N 95°30′53″W Indian Territory
Shocked!
About 3 weeks ago I had to take my '10 GS into the dealership for a couple relatively minor warranty repairs. The driver's seat memory was acting flaky and the tire pressure monitor on the back passenger side tire was showing either "XX" pressure or something like 89# of pressure. On my way to the dealership the car was low on gas and just about when I pulled into their shop the low fuel warning came on -- I told the service manager that there would be plenty of gas for what they needed to do. I picked it up about a week later and everything was lovely. The first thing I did was go about a block to the nearest gas station and filled up as the low fuel warning was still on.
About a week ago I received a $24.99 bill in the mail for "FUEL". WHAT!?!? It really went all over me because the service manager never said a word to me about that when I picked the car up. They did do a good job fixing the problems but the fact I wasn't told at the time I picked the car up chapped my behind BIG-TIME! Mostly because I KNEW they hadn't put $25 worth of gas in my car. Premium gas is selling for around $4 per gallon here at this time so that would equal a hair over 6 gallons. That is about 1/3rd of what the tanks hold plus whatever was left - unless they drove my car about 80 miles I should have had at least 1/4 tank of gas showing and no low fuel warning.
I debated about what to do... If I just ignore it they'll probably keep billing me and I could see it being turned over to a collection agency. I'd also have a hard time going back for any further warranty work. (This dealership is about 25 miles from me and the next closest would be another 25 miles further...) If I paid the bill I would be irritated because I was being ripped off. What to do? I decided I'd just pay the bill and know they were just another typical stealership. I pay bills online and had put the bill in the stack for the next time I was online.
So, today I was on my way home from work and I get a call on my cellphone from the dang ol' stealership. When I answered it was some young lady who said she was calling from their accounting office. Was I being dunned already?!?!
I was all prepared to tell her I was going to pay the bill but just hadn't gotten around to it. Well, guess what? She said she was calling because of the bill they had sent me for the gas and that it was a MISTAKE. She apologized and said they hadn't really put gas in my car but the bill went out before they could catch the error. She told me to please ignore it and throw it in the trash.
WOW!!!
I'm completely SHOCKED!
So, I'm very impressed. I've NEVER had that sort of dealership experience in my life! So I suppose I should give them a positive plug. Paris Chevrolet in Paris, Texas. I don't know if they've ever sold a new Corvette or not (I suspect NOT) but they have treated me very well. (The service manager gave me his card and wrote his personal cellphone number on it when I stopped by to ask about dropping my car off for these repairs in particular.)
So I'm giving them two thumbs up this time around!
(I'm still sitting here with my jaw on the floor...
)
About a week ago I received a $24.99 bill in the mail for "FUEL". WHAT!?!? It really went all over me because the service manager never said a word to me about that when I picked the car up. They did do a good job fixing the problems but the fact I wasn't told at the time I picked the car up chapped my behind BIG-TIME! Mostly because I KNEW they hadn't put $25 worth of gas in my car. Premium gas is selling for around $4 per gallon here at this time so that would equal a hair over 6 gallons. That is about 1/3rd of what the tanks hold plus whatever was left - unless they drove my car about 80 miles I should have had at least 1/4 tank of gas showing and no low fuel warning.
I debated about what to do... If I just ignore it they'll probably keep billing me and I could see it being turned over to a collection agency. I'd also have a hard time going back for any further warranty work. (This dealership is about 25 miles from me and the next closest would be another 25 miles further...) If I paid the bill I would be irritated because I was being ripped off. What to do? I decided I'd just pay the bill and know they were just another typical stealership. I pay bills online and had put the bill in the stack for the next time I was online.
So, today I was on my way home from work and I get a call on my cellphone from the dang ol' stealership. When I answered it was some young lady who said she was calling from their accounting office. Was I being dunned already?!?!
I was all prepared to tell her I was going to pay the bill but just hadn't gotten around to it. Well, guess what? She said she was calling because of the bill they had sent me for the gas and that it was a MISTAKE. She apologized and said they hadn't really put gas in my car but the bill went out before they could catch the error. She told me to please ignore it and throw it in the trash.WOW!!!
I'm completely SHOCKED!So, I'm very impressed. I've NEVER had that sort of dealership experience in my life! So I suppose I should give them a positive plug. Paris Chevrolet in Paris, Texas. I don't know if they've ever sold a new Corvette or not (I suspect NOT) but they have treated me very well. (The service manager gave me his card and wrote his personal cellphone number on it when I stopped by to ask about dropping my car off for these repairs in particular.)
So I'm giving them two thumbs up this time around!
(I'm still sitting here with my jaw on the floor...
)
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,565
Likes: 6
From: Henderson NV
Nice story Supercrewbear. I have realized over time and being in a number of forums, most comments are in a negative vein. Lots of negative posts and comments, and a few positive posts and comments. It's the nature of the beast of forums and follows the line of the squeaky wheel gets the attention. Most folks have something to say about a bad experience, but a good experience doesn't get posted as much as negative ones. It's good to read about a positive experience, especially IRT, in regard to for those in Rio Linda, Chevy/Corvette Dealerships. You learned a couple valuable lessons too. Don't be in a hurry to make noise, let things go for a short period. And, you catch more fly's with sugar than you do with poop. If you have to say something, say it nicely and don't start the conversation with yelling and threats.
Again, great story and experience for you. 
Again, great story and experience for you.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,355
Likes: 12
Good on you for relating a positive story about some people who did not gouge you! And--------- they work at an automobile dealership!!!
It does, in fact, happen all the time. Just like over the course of the past two weeks I have had a very positive experience with Dennis Fichtner of Fichtner Chevrolet up in Montana.
It does, in fact, happen all the time. Just like over the course of the past two weeks I have had a very positive experience with Dennis Fichtner of Fichtner Chevrolet up in Montana.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 21,844
Likes: 140
From: When all is said and done... there is a hell of a lot more said than done. Riverside,Texas
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 158
Enjoyed the story. Got to appreciate the dealer for contacting you for correction and apology. Not a huge sum of $ and some dealers would not have gone to the trouble call or not wanted to admit to a mistake. You handled the situation well in not calling them right up on first thought and pointing fingers. Good to keep perspective that life is short and we all make mistakes along the way.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
What am I missing here? 
A company's employee or employees screw up. Send out a bill that even if correct would be exorbitant. The company discovers their error and tries to correct it. And this deserves an atta'boy? Has the expectation of competence in business dealings sunk that low?
Where I come from you make a mistake you are expected to fix it promptly to avoid further damage to your reputation. The original damage is done and can never be undone. A prompt correction is expected and, if not forthcoming, just creates more damage. Everyone makes mistakes. That is expected and doesn't eliminate you from future business if promptly corrected. But correcting the error still doesn't make up for making the error in the first place. At best, if the error was minor, it just gets you back even with the competition which hasn't made an error yet. Certainly you don't deserve praise for fixing your own mistakes. If that were the case I'd intentionally make a lot of mistakes so I could fix them and become the best in the business.
This thread certainly seems to say a lot about people's expectations of dealers.
A company's employee or employees screw up. Send out a bill that even if correct would be exorbitant. The company discovers their error and tries to correct it. And this deserves an atta'boy? Has the expectation of competence in business dealings sunk that low? Where I come from you make a mistake you are expected to fix it promptly to avoid further damage to your reputation. The original damage is done and can never be undone. A prompt correction is expected and, if not forthcoming, just creates more damage. Everyone makes mistakes. That is expected and doesn't eliminate you from future business if promptly corrected. But correcting the error still doesn't make up for making the error in the first place. At best, if the error was minor, it just gets you back even with the competition which hasn't made an error yet. Certainly you don't deserve praise for fixing your own mistakes. If that were the case I'd intentionally make a lot of mistakes so I could fix them and become the best in the business.
This thread certainly seems to say a lot about people's expectations of dealers.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 4
From: 34°0′34″N 95°30′53″W Indian Territory
What am I missing here? A company's employee or employees screw up. Send out a bill that even if correct would be exorbitant. The company discovers their error and tries to correct it. And this deserves an atta'boy? Has the expectation of competence in business dealings sunk that low?
Where I come from you make a mistake you are expected to fix it promptly to avoid further damage to your reputation. The original damage is done and can never be undone. A prompt correction is expected and, if not forthcoming, just creates more damage. Everyone makes mistakes. That is expected and doesn't eliminate you from future business if promptly corrected. But correcting the error still doesn't make up for making the error in the first place. At best, if the error was minor, it just gets you back even with the competition which hasn't made an error yet. Certainly you don't deserve praise for fixing your own mistakes. If that were the case I'd intentionally make a lot of mistakes so I could fix them and become the best in the business.
This thread certainly seems to say a lot about people's expectations of dealers.
A company's employee or employees screw up. Send out a bill that even if correct would be exorbitant. The company discovers their error and tries to correct it. And this deserves an atta'boy? Has the expectation of competence in business dealings sunk that low? Where I come from you make a mistake you are expected to fix it promptly to avoid further damage to your reputation. The original damage is done and can never be undone. A prompt correction is expected and, if not forthcoming, just creates more damage. Everyone makes mistakes. That is expected and doesn't eliminate you from future business if promptly corrected. But correcting the error still doesn't make up for making the error in the first place. At best, if the error was minor, it just gets you back even with the competition which hasn't made an error yet. Certainly you don't deserve praise for fixing your own mistakes. If that were the case I'd intentionally make a lot of mistakes so I could fix them and become the best in the business.
This thread certainly seems to say a lot about people's expectations of dealers.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,355
Likes: 12
What am I missing here? A company's employee or employees screw up. Send out a bill that even if correct would be exorbitant. The company discovers their error and tries to correct it. And this deserves an atta'boy? Has the expectation of competence in business dealings sunk that low?
Where I come from you make a mistake you are expected to fix it promptly to avoid further damage to your reputation. The original damage is done and can never be undone. A prompt correction is expected and, if not forthcoming, just creates more damage. Everyone makes mistakes. That is expected and doesn't eliminate you from future business if promptly corrected. But correcting the error still doesn't make up for making the error in the first place. At best, if the error was minor, it just gets you back even with the competition which hasn't made an error yet. Certainly you don't deserve praise for fixing your own mistakes. If that were the case I'd intentionally make a lot of mistakes so I could fix them and become the best in the business.
This thread certainly seems to say a lot about people's expectations of dealers.
A company's employee or employees screw up. Send out a bill that even if correct would be exorbitant. The company discovers their error and tries to correct it. And this deserves an atta'boy? Has the expectation of competence in business dealings sunk that low? Where I come from you make a mistake you are expected to fix it promptly to avoid further damage to your reputation. The original damage is done and can never be undone. A prompt correction is expected and, if not forthcoming, just creates more damage. Everyone makes mistakes. That is expected and doesn't eliminate you from future business if promptly corrected. But correcting the error still doesn't make up for making the error in the first place. At best, if the error was minor, it just gets you back even with the competition which hasn't made an error yet. Certainly you don't deserve praise for fixing your own mistakes. If that were the case I'd intentionally make a lot of mistakes so I could fix them and become the best in the business.
This thread certainly seems to say a lot about people's expectations of dealers.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 287
Likes: 3
From: pembroke pines florida
memo to self .dont run car low on gas .techs hate getting a car low on fuel.especially when you have a drivabilty problem.2 the fuel in tank cools fuel pump.running car low on fuel takes life away from fuel pump.who cares its covered under warranty.yah but when your stuck on side of road .you will care .im just saying.its kool to know there are some decent people in this world we live in .
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 857
Likes: 10
From: Indianapolis Indiana
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
HA I started trailing off in the middle of the article. Glad I went back and re-read it. Thought it was a post about getting scammed by the dealer. These positive threads need disclaimers at the top 