It was yesterday at 7:30 AM when I dropped off the Coupe at the Acura of Stevens Creek for a regular oil change, nothing fancy. David, the representative, greeted me just as I got out of the car, "Hello Sergio!" Everyone there knows me; I have been a regular at the dealership since I purchased my 2001 Integra brand new back in 2001. I am what you call a valued customer to the dealership (in other words, I've spent quite the penny at their premises).
"So what are you here for?", he asked, smiling as he helped me open the door and sat down on the seat to take mileage. "Just a regular oil change of 3,000 miles. "And not a mile more!" he replied. Yes, they are all fake like that, but sometimes I think they're just too nice to be faking it. I get all the paperwork done, escorted to the waiting room as I'm told that the shuttle person will arrive shortly. Just as I am pouring my Starbucks coffee into my cup, the shuttle person arrives and I am off to work. This is what you call service.
I get the call at work from David telling me that the Coupe is ready to be picked up and everything checks out; there are no radiators to be replaced or random tidbits that add up to a grand this time. "Great!", I replied.
All happy and excited, just as if I had a son or daughter that I was waiting to pick up from school, I arrive at the dealership. David is still hard at work talking to some lady co-worker; they were talking business and I believe that is his superior. Once he is finished with her, he comes over to me, asking me, "Did you know you don't have high-beams?" I know; I have JDM headlights and they are not hooked up properly. He tells me everything is fine once again and that my car will be called for shortly. I make the payment of $48.69 and wait outside for my Coupe to arrive. I hear the alarm chirp from their lot behind, and lo and behold, the Coupe arrives all clean and shiny driven just to where I am standing.
I walk over to the driver's side, where the mechanic had just shut the motor and pulled the e-brake. He cannot get out. "Um, just pull the handle, dude." I'm thinking to myself. I see hand gestures from within the rolled up window with a look of hesitation on his part. He rolls the window down and opens the door FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WITH HIS HAND STICKING OUT!!! Okay, now I have a slight feeling of "What the hell" going through my mind. "Did you know your door handle is broken?" "What the... no I did not, I did not bring my car like this." I thanked him for pulling up my car and I calmly (okay, I was really fucking pissed and I was ready to speak with Mr. David back in the office). "Hmm, let me take a look at that." He wiggles the door handle and checks the side of the door; the handle is clearly out of place and barely hanging on to the door panel. "It seems to be doing something." No shit, you pull the handle and you hear something; it's still broken and I was getting ready for his words. "Well, things like this happen, being that this is an older car these things will eventually give in." Having a confused face on what to say next, he tells me that I can bring it in tomorrow and they will take a look at it. I told him that it is an inconvenience for me, being that I have no other car and I need to get to work. "I tell you what, I'll set you up with a loaner car for tomorrow. I'll give you a call tomorrow." I leave the Coupe parked where it is and next thing I know, I am getting into a 2008 TL. This is where the excellent and superb customer service ends.
Late in the morning, I get a call from David tell me that unfortunately, he has "bad news". The part for the handle that is broken needs to be replaced. Moreover, it is a rare part and will cost $400 total; $200 for the part and $200 for labor. I am furious now. "Excuse me, but I feel that I am not responsible for this and I should not have to pay for this." He tries to be nice, but repeating that things like this happen and I am responsible for regular wear and tear. I told him that I am not paying, that it is not my fault. "You can speak to my manager", he suggested, and lo and behold I was speaking to the manager of Service a minute later.
She repeats what David had said, that I am responsible for regular wear and tear. I told her that it occurred at their hands and that it had been perfect when I left it at their dealership. I would not give in. She then tried to compromise, that they would pay labor and that I would pay for the $200 part. No. Knowing that I would never give in, and that I am of course correct, she said that they will find a used part and install it for me at their expense. I keep the loaner car until they somehow go to a junkyard and fix my handle...
There are people, especially uninformed about their rights and just plain common sense, that would give in and pay the $400. Am I right or wrong?
Sorry for dragging this too long, but I haven't written in a while and it felt good to write.
