My Mazda Dealership Experience
01-05-2006 | 12:22 PM
#1
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My Mazda Dealership Experience
First off, I bought my car a week or so ago. Everyone on the sales side was exactly what I would expect, very good people. The salesman was nice, went over every little detail of the car with me and made sure I was knowledgable about what I was buying. The finance manager was equally helpful and took very good care of me.
I had to return my car to get detailing done at a later date. While I was in, I decided to ask about a few things I wasn't happy with...brake rotors rusting where the wheel hub forms (after just buying it), wanted to check ECU version, etc.
The service person informed me that it should have the most recent and really did not want to check. Additionally they told me to spray paint my rotors...no offers of replacement. Additionally, I asked about replacing the CD player with the MP3 player version. They are the same cost, since I could not get all the options I wanted. They told me I would have to pay full price plus labor to get it installed, which ticked me a bit. He said that he was cutting me a deal, but the price was STILL higher than Rosenthal Mazda's website.
Overall, I loved the office and sales staff at the dealership, but it seems as if the service people wanted to do everything to get out of working on the car. Should I be upset or just let it go? I let it go at the dealership level because I did not want to put the salesman in the middle anymore as he did everything possible to ensure my satisfaction.
I had to return my car to get detailing done at a later date. While I was in, I decided to ask about a few things I wasn't happy with...brake rotors rusting where the wheel hub forms (after just buying it), wanted to check ECU version, etc.
The service person informed me that it should have the most recent and really did not want to check. Additionally they told me to spray paint my rotors...no offers of replacement. Additionally, I asked about replacing the CD player with the MP3 player version. They are the same cost, since I could not get all the options I wanted. They told me I would have to pay full price plus labor to get it installed, which ticked me a bit. He said that he was cutting me a deal, but the price was STILL higher than Rosenthal Mazda's website.
Overall, I loved the office and sales staff at the dealership, but it seems as if the service people wanted to do everything to get out of working on the car. Should I be upset or just let it go? I let it go at the dealership level because I did not want to put the salesman in the middle anymore as he did everything possible to ensure my satisfaction.
01-05-2006 | 12:55 PM
#2
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Hell in the desert
For the wheel hub rust, it's in all car, all cars that's been sitting at the lot new or used. Only thing you may not find rust on the brakes is if the brake rotors are made out of some other type of exotic materials or if they were painted. Otherwise, regardless of what car you look at you'll find it. You'll simply have to paint it yourself.
As for the replacing of CD to MP3, you should've had the deal in there before signed, that way you could've negotiated for it. Now I guess it's a little bit too late for that. Remember, all dealerships are crooks, you need to get everything you want before you sign your papers otherwise they're not going to help afterwards.
As for the replacing of CD to MP3, you should've had the deal in there before signed, that way you could've negotiated for it. Now I guess it's a little bit too late for that. Remember, all dealerships are crooks, you need to get everything you want before you sign your papers otherwise they're not going to help afterwards.
01-05-2006 | 02:00 PM
#3
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Hey Budweiser8Jr, welcome to the forum and to RX-8 ownership!
Wait a minute - that's not necessarily true. Many of the folks on here have been able to get the non-contact portion of their rotors sand-blasted and painted for free by the service centers. It's far more common in the midwest, north-east and Canada, but it seems that only a few people were told a flat, 'no,' about the brake rotor painting. Mine were painted silver and they look fine.
If this service center doesn't appreciate your business I say go elsewhere. You don't need to make a scene about it, you can even be casual about it when you call up another dealership. Say, "hey, I bought at dealership X, but their service center is too busy to help me out, can I make at appointment with you for this/that?" They ought to be delighted to be paid by Mazda to work on your car regardless of where you bought it.
Doing a no-cost exchange of your head-unit doesn't sound likely at all. The 2nd unit would have to be purchased and there would be many hours of labor for the swap. Then, the removed head unit may not have value - if you were buying a new car and asked for a CD unit to be installed would you expect a brand new one or one that was torn out of another car some time ago?
My personal recommendation would be to read in the electronics forum here about aux inputs. If you want to hook up your iPod what you probably want is a PIE adapter and you can purchase and install that yourself.
Regarding checking the flash version - I've met with some resistance there too. It looks like the service managers do not want to ask the techs to do anything unless there is a path to charge out the work. If they were doing warrenty work - fine, they bill Mazda. If they're doing non-warrenty repairs - fine, they bill you. However, if you ask about any ambiguous check this or look at that they'll drag their feet. The service center I use also refused to perform a compression check on my car when I brought it in for a failed cat. I wanted to see the compression checked for my own piece of mind, but they had no path to charge it out so they refused (nicely).
Originally Posted by NomisR
You'll simply have to paint it yourself.
If this service center doesn't appreciate your business I say go elsewhere. You don't need to make a scene about it, you can even be casual about it when you call up another dealership. Say, "hey, I bought at dealership X, but their service center is too busy to help me out, can I make at appointment with you for this/that?" They ought to be delighted to be paid by Mazda to work on your car regardless of where you bought it.
Doing a no-cost exchange of your head-unit doesn't sound likely at all. The 2nd unit would have to be purchased and there would be many hours of labor for the swap. Then, the removed head unit may not have value - if you were buying a new car and asked for a CD unit to be installed would you expect a brand new one or one that was torn out of another car some time ago?
My personal recommendation would be to read in the electronics forum here about aux inputs. If you want to hook up your iPod what you probably want is a PIE adapter and you can purchase and install that yourself.
Regarding checking the flash version - I've met with some resistance there too. It looks like the service managers do not want to ask the techs to do anything unless there is a path to charge out the work. If they were doing warrenty work - fine, they bill Mazda. If they're doing non-warrenty repairs - fine, they bill you. However, if you ask about any ambiguous check this or look at that they'll drag their feet. The service center I use also refused to perform a compression check on my car when I brought it in for a failed cat. I wanted to see the compression checked for my own piece of mind, but they had no path to charge it out so they refused (nicely).
01-05-2006 | 02:43 PM
#4
Director of Service
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 167
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From: IN
now...i have to argue one point....not all dealerships are crooks.....i'll agree that some are, but you can't say they are all unless you've been to them all....all cars will have the rust though...if they don't have it to begin with, they will eventually unless you paint them.....i've personally never seen the bulletin about the dealership painting the rotors...but i know i've tried to get them warrantied through my district mazda rep, and i've had no luck....i am a service manager at a mazda dealership, by the way......and i can speak from experience...that its hard to get a technician to work for free...most of the time my techs will do things like that if i ask.....but they are here to earn a living too...they have family's to support and such....i personally don't have a problem asking the techs to do stuff like that, and especially if they are already in there....but i know a lot of techs that won't...guess i just have a couple good ones....lol
01-05-2006 | 03:28 PM
#5
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Originally Posted by 05whiterx8
ni am a service manager at a mazda dealership, by the way......and i can speak from experience...that its hard to get a technician to work for free...most of the time my techs will do things like that if i ask.....but they are here to earn a living too...they have family's to support and such....i personally don't have a problem asking the techs to do stuff like that, and especially if they are already in there....but i know a lot of techs that won't...guess i just have a couple good ones....lol
I would expect it is the service manager's responsibility to make sure the techs are doing (at least mostly) profitable work - not freebies because an owner is 'interested'.
05whiterx8, can you elaborate? Are the techs at your service center paid based on what they do rather than by the hour?
01-05-2006 | 03:47 PM
#6
Director of Service
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 167
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From: IN
most auto technicians are paid whats called flat rate...for every hour they turn...or hour they earn on a job, they get paid a certain amount.... each job pays a certain hour amount to complete, kind of a guide to how long each job should take....if your faster than that good, if your not....too bad.....not like they work 8 hours they get 8 hours of pay.......if they earn 7 hours in a week, thats all they get paid for......thats why some are reluctant to do things like that...we've had weeks where we work on cars all day long for 5 days straight and only end up with 20 hours earned
01-05-2006 | 03:55 PM
#7
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https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ighlight=nedor
I was told the rust is covered under warranty and they have sanded and painted the rotors free of charge.
Mitsubishi / Mazda of Greatneck of NY are great bunch of folks. From Sales to Service, I received nothing but upmost respect as a customer. It is very true that majority of the dealers that I've seen will screw you in the **** but in my 15 plus of years going through tons of dealers(owning pontiac, acura, 2 mecuries, toyota), I've never seen dealer such as the Mazda dealer that treated me with professionalism, no run arounds, straight answers and took the time to find me the best deal. Even the service manager treats me like a president of his company.
If I continue to recieve the royalty treatment, I may never buy any other cars other than this dealer. Sure there are other cars that I wish to drive in future but no matter what, knowing you got a good deal with help of good sales rep. like Eric and to Service Manager Frank whom shows that he is concerned about my worries, I know that I am in good hands.
Nedor
I was told the rust is covered under warranty and they have sanded and painted the rotors free of charge.
Mitsubishi / Mazda of Greatneck of NY are great bunch of folks. From Sales to Service, I received nothing but upmost respect as a customer. It is very true that majority of the dealers that I've seen will screw you in the **** but in my 15 plus of years going through tons of dealers(owning pontiac, acura, 2 mecuries, toyota), I've never seen dealer such as the Mazda dealer that treated me with professionalism, no run arounds, straight answers and took the time to find me the best deal. Even the service manager treats me like a president of his company.
If I continue to recieve the royalty treatment, I may never buy any other cars other than this dealer. Sure there are other cars that I wish to drive in future but no matter what, knowing you got a good deal with help of good sales rep. like Eric and to Service Manager Frank whom shows that he is concerned about my worries, I know that I am in good hands.
Nedor
01-05-2006 | 04:02 PM
#9
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Wow, I thought warrenty work was like that - manufacturer only pays X hours labor for job Y. However, I thought the service center ate the difference. Hmmm, seems like a recipe for disgruntled techs (for instance, if they get stuck fixing a hopeless transmission job).
It does explain why it's hard to get simple 'favors' like querying the flash/ECU version. I'll bet most techs won't do anything unless the service manager has entered a code for them to get paid. Like you say, you'd need to have a couple of good ones.
Thanks for the insight.
It does explain why it's hard to get simple 'favors' like querying the flash/ECU version. I'll bet most techs won't do anything unless the service manager has entered a code for them to get paid. Like you say, you'd need to have a couple of good ones.
Thanks for the insight.
01-05-2006 | 04:06 PM
#11
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Originally Posted by nedor
I was told the rust is covered under warranty and they have sanded and painted the rotors free of charge.
01-05-2006 | 05:28 PM
#12
my other car is blue
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 165
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From: McKinney, TX
Budweiser, you should post up this information in your local regional forum and see if anyone can suggest a better dealership. Since you have no location listed, we don't know where to point you.
01-05-2006 | 05:58 PM
#13
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 445
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From: Hell in the desert
Originally Posted by Cool-Blue-Dad
Hey Budweiser8Jr, welcome to the forum and to RX-8 ownership!
Wait a minute - that's not necessarily true. Many of the folks on here have been able to get the non-contact portion of their rotors sand-blasted and painted for free by the service centers. It's far more common in the midwest, north-east and Canada, but it seems that only a few people were told a flat, 'no,' about the brake rotor painting. Mine were painted silver and they look fine.
Wait a minute - that's not necessarily true. Many of the folks on here have been able to get the non-contact portion of their rotors sand-blasted and painted for free by the service centers. It's far more common in the midwest, north-east and Canada, but it seems that only a few people were told a flat, 'no,' about the brake rotor painting. Mine were painted silver and they look fine.
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