Hi guys. I too am very happy to read it is solved. Please understand the majority of new-car dealers and independent repair shops are honest and reputable. Your experience at your Chevy dealer might also be partially not their fault. In my city, we have a Chrysler dealer, a GMC dealer, Cadillac dealer, a former Ford dealer, and a former import dealer who worked real well together. We would borrow service manuals among shops, fix each other's trade-ins, and help over the phone. The one notable exception is the local Chevy dealer. He works cooperatively with no one, and has more ways figured out to legally separate you from your money than even GM has dreamed up. One of GM's tricks, as you've learned, is the need to program computer modules to a specific vehicle, and then they can't be reused on another one. That makes them worthless to the salvage yards. Of course GM will not release the ability to do that to the independent shops. Trying to put them out of business. It's that type of unfriendly business practices that first came to light at multiple classes I attended over the years. Unfortunately, whatever GM comes up with to cost you money after the sale, other manufacturers copy it a few years later. Ever wonder how the manufacturers can be so profitable, but they aren't able to sell their cars right now?
Our Ford and import dealers were bought up by the Chevy dealer, so now a huge percentage of buyers who insist on a new GM vehicle will drive 15 or 34 miles to a dealership in a nearby city. Incidentally, his service bays are always nearly empty at all of the dozen dealerships he has acquired. His reputation is well-known, but that doesn't reflect on all the other decent dealerships.
When you look at the two-page list I put together for my students, you'd be amazed at all the expenses dealers have to meet government regulations, from taxes, insurances, manufacturer-mandated procedures, environmental regulations and fees, to all the expenses associated simply with having 50 or more employees and you'd be unable to figure out how they can do that when only charging $100.00 per hour. And understand well over half the employees don't bring in any income to the business. It's all on the backs of the dozen mechanics and body shop personnel. Much of the hourly labor charge goes to cover them for things people have sued for in the past. We all pay for that now.
I too tried to help customers out in the past, but that can come back to bite your mechanic. When I worked at a Sears Auto Center, a mechanic would have been fired for doing what yours did for you. If anything goes wrong with the repair and you're involved in a crash or a fire, there's going to be a lawsuit. Where does the liability start and end? Sears was worried about that, plus, any work we did outside of the job was considered taking work away from the business. Other than GM, no company knew more about how to increase profits than Sears. My manager even tried to fire an employee for using his employee discount to buy a Christmas present for a friend.
I'm happy everything worked out in your story, but remember there's always the other side to consider. We also had one very unscrupulous independent shop owner who has since run out of customers, (victims), and is out of business. I will never defend a dishonest business owner, or a dishonest customer, but they do give the entire industry a huge black eye. I hope your next repair story leaves you with a smile on your face.
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Saturday, October 1st, 2022 AT 1:22 PM
