How the Acura dealership tried to rip me off...

Sergio · 05-07-08, 10:32 PM

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.

dumplingcorp · 05-07-08, 10:39 PM

right on brother, stick it to the.......entity.

nino418 · 05-07-08, 10:45 PM

i think they broke it on purpose to get you to pay for it. Fuckin scumbags

samblaze · 05-07-08, 10:45 PM

Way to stand up for yourself and not let them get away with that BS!

bandoni™ · 05-07-08, 10:52 PM

although things happen, you should have received the vehicle in the same condition you brought it in. I think you did the right thing sergio, and props to you for not backing down.

Stevec · 05-07-08, 11:04 PM

I'd be curious enough to say that I'd come in to take a look at the broken part. We're talking all mechanical here, right? What "breaks" in the door handle?

Now, when I pulled the handle right off my American car in 1976 because, well, pig iron sometimes cracks and pulls apart, there was no question what happened.

*sam o nela* · 05-08-08, 12:28 AM

Props man!! Way to stand your ground! Hell, they should eat the $200 NEW part too!! F*kers!!

Kenso · 05-08-08, 12:29 AM

I'm sure plenty of people on this forum have had broken inside door handles before, it's not like some unheard of event. Now perhaps someone was less than gentle with the handle and broke it, in that case I would agree that the dealership is at fault. But shit does in fact happen on any and all cars, moreso on older ones. They may have just had the bad luck to have been in possession of the car when it happened. Who knows.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nino418

i think they broke it on purpose to get you to pay for it. Fuckin scumbags

I would imagine they have better things to do really.

CDUBB1 · 05-08-08, 12:44 AM

you did the right thing. If they demanded that you pay for it u should magically make something happen to that TL

acafool · 05-08-08, 01:19 AM

They were ready to stick it to ya with no vaseline.

whats77inaname · 05-08-08, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandoni™

although things happen, you should have received the vehicle in the same condition you brought it in. I think you did the right thing sergio, and props to you for not backing down.

Damn skippy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenso

I'm sure plenty of people on this forum have had broken inside door handles before, it's not like some unheard of event. Now perhaps someone was less than gentle with the handle and broke it, in that case I would agree that the dealership is at fault. But shit does in fact happen on any and all cars, moreso on older ones. They may have just had the bad luck to have been in possession of the car when it happened. Who knows.

Which is why I HATE it when people ask me to work on their computers. If something goes bad while in possession, you're stuck like that, b/c you do get the, "It wasn't like that when I gave it to you." Nice.

telafonic · 05-08-08, 02:01 AM

I agree that the car should be as you brought it, but if it broke now, it most likely would occur not too far in the future no matter how gentle you are on it, so I think splitting the cost would be fair to the dealership since it doesn't seem like the guy was negligent and you were there when it happened to witness it.

BayAreasFinest · 05-08-08, 02:08 AM

right on Sergio!

jkurl · 05-08-08, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandoni™

although things happen, you should have received the vehicle in the same condition you brought it in. I think you did the right thing sergio, and props to you for not backing down.

^ I agree totally ^

Ken · 05-08-08, 02:24 AM

junkyard = pretty much free and it works too. $400 for a new door handle, thats just BS. Like I said at the meet, you should look for an independent shop that specializes in Hondas to work on your car and not get ripped off.

05-07-08, 10:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sergio Legend Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San José, CA Posts: 840 Car 1: 1995 Coupe LS 6-Speed Milano Red iTrader: (7)	How the Acura dealership tried to rip me off... 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.

05-07-08, 10:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
samblaze Sherwood GS Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lakewood, OH Posts: 1,873 iTrader: (10)	Way to stand up for yourself and not let them get away with that BS! __________________ 86 Saab 900S Coupe 5MT 94 Acura Legend GS 6MT 04 Subaru Forester XS A/T

05-07-08, 10:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
bandoni™ putting the ass in class Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: casa grande, az Posts: 3,513 Car 1: 90 honda accord ex5speed Car 2: 89 legend sedan auto iTrader: (3)	although things happen, you should have received the vehicle in the same condition you brought it in. I think you did the right thing sergio, and props to you for not backing down. __________________ sig by doubleglow the sigwhisperer ƃuıʇsod ǝɹoɟǝq ɥɔɹɐǝs plnoɥs sɹǝsn ʍǝu join the acura legend flickr group visit my flickr page

05-07-08, 11:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Stevec Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lake Forest CA Posts: 259 Car 1: 1995 White LegendLL iTrader: (0)	I'd be curious enough to say that I'd come in to take a look at the broken part. We're talking all mechanical here, right? What "breaks" in the door handle? Now, when I pulled the handle right off my American car in 1976 because, well, pig iron sometimes cracks and pulls apart, there was no question what happened. __________________

05-08-08, 12:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
sam o nela CAP CAP M* F*R! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: SoCal Posts: 9,143 Car 1: '87L, 5 speed Sedan Car 2: '71 Datsun PL521 iTrader: (10)	Props man!! Way to stand your ground! Hell, they should eat the $200 NEW part too!! F*kers!! __________________ <Monocolor Paint Scheme> <JDM Clear Corners> <Cleared out Rear Turn Signals> <Acura Caliper Grill Emblem> <Independent Yellow Fog Mod> <15% Tint> <Iggee Seat Covers> <EL Reverse Glow Gauges> <Dimmer Mod> <Ford Taurus Cupholder Mod> <CC Tunk Light Mod> <Fut Short Throw Shifter> <Custom CAI> <AEM Bypass Valve> <OBX Headers> <Magnaflow High Flow Cat> <Dynomax Super Turbo Muffler> <Drilled/Slotted Rotors> <Painted Calipers> <Axxis Metal Master Pads>

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05-07-08, 10:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
nino418 Type 2ed Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CT Posts: 483 Car 1: Green 1992 Acura Legend LS Coupe 5 speed MT type II swapped Car 2: 2002 Honda CR-V EX iTrader: (2)	i think they broke it on purpose to get you to pay for it. Fuckin scumbags

05-08-08, 12:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
CDUBB1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: BK NEW YORK Posts: 375 Car 1: Lil red hooptie Car 2: MTA Car 3: 1995 TAN SEDAN 50k . iTrader: (0)	you did the right thing. If they demanded that you pay for it u should magically make something happen to that TL

05-08-08, 01:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
acafool DSGB Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: macon,ga Posts: 156 Car 1: 94 civic ex(for sale) Car 2: 98 chevy tahoe iTrader: (0)	They were ready to stick it to ya with no vaseline.

05-08-08, 02:01 AM	#12 (permalink)
telafonic Spiral descent Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Posts: 4,447 Car 1: KA2 Olympia White over Savanna Gray Metallic 5-spd conversion L Car 2: KA7_8 SWP 6-speed Car 3: 1996 A6 iTrader: (7)	I agree that the car should be as you brought it, but if it broke now, it most likely would occur not too far in the future no matter how gentle you are on it, so I think splitting the cost would be fair to the dealership since it doesn't seem like the guy was negligent and you were there when it happened to witness it. __________________ Various G1 and G2 parts For Sale

05-08-08, 02:08 AM	#13 (permalink)
BayAreasFinest Its a Legend baby Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bay Area Posts: 805 Car 1: 1991 Auto iTrader: (6)	right on Sergio! __________________ 1991 4 door auto 15.15 @ 91.17: CAI, EGR block plate ************************************** KA8 Vinyled Coupe Taillights http://www.acura-legend.com/vbulleti...3/#post1302298 ********************************************** ********

05-08-08, 02:24 AM	#15 (permalink)
Ken aka desired_speeds Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Hella Part of Cali Posts: 7,633 Car 1: 91 Legend LS - soon to be manual Car 2: 91 Legend L - parts Car 3: 96 Honda Saber 32v iTrader: (2)	junkyard = pretty much free and it works too. $400 for a new door handle, thats just BS. Like I said at the meet, you should look for an independent shop that specializes in Hondas to work on your car and not get ripped off. __________________ . k e n Parting out a 91 L 5-speed, let me know if you need any parts besides engine and 5-speed parts. The car is Rosewood brown with type E cloth interior.

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