Went to Dealer today for an oil change and got a surprise....
08-29-2018, 12:21 PM
#1
Drifting
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Went to Dealer today for an oil change and got a surprise....
Hi All,
Well I went today for my annual oil change since it has been close to a year since my last one (put about 5000 miles since last one) and within 5 minutes of pulling it in there, my service writer comes to me and tells me my wheel alignment is out... Find out that as soon as they take the car, they check the alignment first thing. I bet that is quite a money maker for them. (2015 Z51 Coupe with 18,000 miles on it).
So $229 for the Alignment + $149 for the oil change and I am $416 lighter in my pocket, lol.... SURPRISE!!!!! Just wanted to share.....
Take care,
Steve
Well I went today for my annual oil change since it has been close to a year since my last one (put about 5000 miles since last one) and within 5 minutes of pulling it in there, my service writer comes to me and tells me my wheel alignment is out... Find out that as soon as they take the car, they check the alignment first thing. I bet that is quite a money maker for them. (2015 Z51 Coupe with 18,000 miles on it).
So $229 for the Alignment + $149 for the oil change and I am $416 lighter in my pocket, lol.... SURPRISE!!!!! Just wanted to share.....
Take care,
Steve
Popular Reply
08-29-2018, 08:24 PM
Your alignment may have been just fine. Many Chevy dealers pay service writers a commission on any upsells. Over the years I have been told I needed power steering pumps, plug wires ect.. All checked out fine. They are many dealerships that are simply not honest. I even caught Hendrick BMW in Charlotte red handed when they claimed the mechanic had noticed several items needing repair. What they did not realize when they called my cell was I walked across the street to the Mercedes dealer and could still see my car sitting where I parked it and the mechanic had never even looked at it. They assumed I went home.
08-29-2018, 12:24 PM
#2
That's not a big surprise. There are many reports of cars leaving the factory w/ marginal alignments.
08-29-2018, 12:57 PM
#4
Racer
There was an episode on Velocity a week or two ago (maybe Two Guys Garage or something similar) where they got a factory tour for the Hunter wheel machines. They talked about how they were building a new system where the car can be scanned driving in to the shop to determine if the alignment is off. The CEO said that alignments were some of the biggest money centers for a dealership so it is not surprising that they want to push them. Not sure how long it takes a car to get out of alignment even slightly but i would wager that most cars are probably off by a little.
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Formula52 (08-29-2018)
08-29-2018, 08:24 PM
#5
Your alignment may have been just fine. Many Chevy dealers pay service writers a commission on any upsells. Over the years I have been told I needed power steering pumps, plug wires ect.. All checked out fine. They are many dealerships that are simply not honest. I even caught Hendrick BMW in Charlotte red handed when they claimed the mechanic had noticed several items needing repair. What they did not realize when they called my cell was I walked across the street to the Mercedes dealer and could still see my car sitting where I parked it and the mechanic had never even looked at it. They assumed I went home.
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08-29-2018, 09:02 PM
#6
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08-29-2018, 09:08 PM
#7
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I have a dealer near me who cks your alignment on the drive up/leave car approach lane if you let them. If you don't, no extra money changes hands. That is, until and if you go to your indie, real-alignment shop that does it to spec, not some broad range of X leading to Y.
08-29-2018, 09:59 PM
#8
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Sailfun's post about says it all.
08-29-2018, 10:13 PM
#9
Hi All,
Well I went today for my annual oil change since it has been close to a year since my last one (put about 5000 miles since last one) and within 5 minutes of pulling it in there, my service writer comes to me and tells me my wheel alignment is out... Find out that as soon as they take the car, they check the alignment first thing. I bet that is quite a money maker for them. (2015 Z51 Coupe with 18,000 miles on it).
So $229 for the Alignment + $149 for the oil change and I am $416 lighter in my pocket, lol.... SURPRISE!!!!! Just wanted to share.....
Take care,
Steve
Well I went today for my annual oil change since it has been close to a year since my last one (put about 5000 miles since last one) and within 5 minutes of pulling it in there, my service writer comes to me and tells me my wheel alignment is out... Find out that as soon as they take the car, they check the alignment first thing. I bet that is quite a money maker for them. (2015 Z51 Coupe with 18,000 miles on it).
So $229 for the Alignment + $149 for the oil change and I am $416 lighter in my pocket, lol.... SURPRISE!!!!! Just wanted to share.....
Take care,
Steve
$229 for an alignment is just crazy, IMO! The oil price is a little high, as well; did you check your oil level when you got home?
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08-29-2018, 10:14 PM
#10
Race Director
Your alignment may have been just fine. Many Chevy dealers pay service writers a commission on any upsells. Over the years I have been told I needed power steering pumps, plug wires ect.. All checked out fine. They are many dealerships that are simply not honest. I even caught Hendrick BMW in Charlotte red handed when they claimed the mechanic had noticed several items needing repair. What they did not realize when they called my cell was I walked across the street to the Mercedes dealer and could still see my car sitting where I parked it and the mechanic had never even looked at it. They assumed I went home.
08-29-2018, 10:26 PM
#12
Race Director
quick video to educate the dealership haters.
https://youtu.be/eGmwV-roJd0
https://youtu.be/eGmwV-roJd0
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08-29-2018, 10:31 PM
#13
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CORVETTE TODAY Host
St. Jude Donor'15
Next time, tell them you'll get a 2nd opinion.
08-29-2018, 10:34 PM
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Seems very high for the alignment. Hope the car really needed it.
08-30-2018, 12:48 AM
#15
Burning Brakes
Your alignment may have been just fine. Many Chevy dealers pay service writers a commission on any upsells. Over the years I have been told I needed power steering pumps, plug wires ect.. All checked out fine. They are many dealerships that are simply not honest. I even caught Hendrick BMW in Charlotte red handed when they claimed the mechanic had noticed several items needing repair. What they did not realize when they called my cell was I walked across the street to the Mercedes dealer and could still see my car sitting where I parked it and the mechanic had never even looked at it. They assumed I went home.
08-30-2018, 04:30 AM
#16
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https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-gm-tool.html
08-30-2018, 04:33 AM
#17
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The dealers could get away with that regularly before the advent of the Internet and consumers started sharing information. They are really taking a chance in this day and age trying to screw the customer. It gets around fast.
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Formula52 (08-30-2018)
08-30-2018, 07:50 AM
#18
Le Mans Master
quick video to educate the dealership haters.
https://youtu.be/eGmwV-roJd0
https://youtu.be/eGmwV-roJd0
08-30-2018, 08:04 AM
#19
Burning Brakes
I've had my GS aligned twice in the Savannah area - once at a good tire store and once at my servicing dealer .
Both times less than $130.00
08-30-2018, 08:08 AM
#20
Drifting
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Your alignment may have been just fine. Many Chevy dealers pay service writers a commission on any upsells. Over the years I have been told I needed power steering pumps, plug wires ect.. All checked out fine. They are many dealerships that are simply not honest. I even caught Hendrick BMW in Charlotte red handed when they claimed the mechanic had noticed several items needing repair. What they did not realize when they called my cell was I walked across the street to the Mercedes dealer and could still see my car sitting where I parked it and the mechanic had never even looked at it. They assumed I went home.