Dealer Complaints

[cqae]

hey kitty, you say you are not happy with braddon & you wont ever take your car there if you can help it, maybe you should-& tell the salesman to kiss your ass as you were obviously interested enough to buy one!

but seriously I bought mine in melbourne & drove around pushing & shoiving on deals, I went to costanzo ford, city ford, bayford ford & etheridge ford. found all salesman to be reasonble(maybe a little smart assed) but as soon as they realised I dont mess around & am ready to buy they all change there attitude. all it takes is the following line "mate not messing around, do me a deal & I will buy today" does not matter if you actually buy or not, this just seems to get their attention. was treated with respect at all times & got a great deal.

was great to have them all call me back at the end of the day & ask if I wanted to negotiate further & I told them 'too late' already bought it, you had your chance & missed it, incedently, my bro-in-law, his apprentice, & one of his workers all bought XRs in the same week & mentioed my name so hopefully when it is time to trade up he will remember all the cars we bought, but I doubt it.

[Al Bundy]

Whats my beef... as the old saying goes. There are only a few good apples to be found. They lie so much and be careful of the "best price" My BIL buying a new XR8 got a great price. Traveled 1 hr to get to the dealer to be told sorry got the pricing wrong after confirming everything over the phone. In the end he bought a BMW.

PS note do not sign anyhting unless what they promise is actually written. In the end you will have no leg to stand on... Another warning to prospective buyers....

There is no cooling off period in buying a new car. You sign... you buy...

A friend warned me based on a Expensive Daewoo VX he was buying and was lied too (we will look after you with the small extras) yeah...

wasn't written... wasn't given!!!!

[rapt]

Didnt by my baby off the local dealer, but the service and after service was great they sent me a letter asking if all was all right.

Got a phone call the next week asking if all was all right , told them steering was creaking was told to bring it in that arvo.

Water pump sh*t itself the nearest dealer said no cars for the weekend so I had to hire one NOT HAPPY!

Very HAPPY with VALLEY FORD Warragul

Dullard Ford Bairnsdale good work from the service dept but I think I should have got a car!

[OwnaXR6T]

What I hate is going in for a warranty job and getting charged for the work by them making a dodgey excuse like it is a adjustment problem which is a wear and tare issue not warranty. took my car to alto ford a few weeks back in artarman for some warranty issues(well that's what I thought anyway) my stearing was clunking and it felt abit loose and I also I wanted them to check out a vibration coming from my aircon. when I went to pick the cat up I find that the steering job cost me $80 dollars and they said they tightened everything up and reajusted it, which isnt warranty and to top it off they didnt find the vibration in the aircon because they said the dash and everything had to come out and they didnt know if it would cost them or me! well I think that all stinks and im not going back again. as far as im concerned I dont care now that I voided my warranty with my aps system because dealers will try and charge you for everything they can and will avoid fixing warranty jobs by not getting finding the problem or by saying its wear and tare. to conclude I find ford warranty and nearly all dealer workshops a joke!!

[RK2707]

I have dealt with Altos in Sydney before with fleet maintenance issues and I've had the same dramas in regards to what is warranty and what isn't. Alto would have to be the worst dealer by far in this respect. Most other dealers have been ok but still not acceptable as far as I'm concerned.

The dealers are only watching their backs in regard to warranty due to the fact their auditors are very, very strict and reject quite a high percentage of claims due to poor information of the repair which is a dealer issue and certainly not our problem. We should be able to go in and get it fixed under warranty at no charge to us. And that's that. I for one always argue the point because I know my warranty policies and know how the system works.

If you don't get anywhere with the service advisor ask to speak to the service manager or next in charge. Failing that, stick your complaint in writing and send it to the Dealer Principal. Guaranteed to get a response then I assure you !

[Velvet Glove]

What I hate is going in for a warranty job and getting charged for the work by them making a dodgey excuse like it is a adjustment problem which is a wear and tare issue not warranty. took my car to alto ford a few weeks back in artarman for some warranty issues(well that's what I thought anyway) my stearing was clunking and it felt abit loose and I also I wanted them to check out a vibration coming from my aircon. when I went to pick the cat up I find that the steering job cost me $80 dollars and they said they tightened everything up and reajusted it, which isnt warranty and to top it off they didnt find the vibration in the aircon because they said the dash and everything had to come out and they didnt know if it would cost them or me! well I think that all stinks and im not going back again. as far as im concerned I dont care now that I voided my warranty with my aps system because dealers will try and charge you for everything they can and will avoid fixing warranty jobs by not getting finding the problem or by saying its wear and tare. to conclude I find ford warranty and nearly all dealer workshops a joke!!

If you take it in for something on a warranty, and they end up fixing up something and charging you for it, that is called unauthorized repairs. I have told many a mechanic to stick it up his/her blurter after taking my cars in for grease/oil changes, and getting hit for $300 for things like disc replacement when they didnt contact me to tell them what they were doing, and I didnt report any brake probs to them.

I have had a few panic in my time when I mention consumer affairs or drop the car off in civvys and 'check on it' during the day when I'm at work in uniform. Lots of people in the industry (like any industry) are straight out thieves and tarnish the reputation of those who are genuine good people who do a good, honest job.

Don't let them (or anyone) pull the wool over your eyes. Consumer affairs can give you some very handy advice. Know and apply your consumer rights. Certain people bank on the fact that the majority of people wont

[ducatijb]

The steering rack problem is well known to Ford and is definitely a warranty job I have had mine tightened twice,free of charge You shouldn't be paying for this

ALTO

[Guest Raslin]

I bought my XR6 Ute NA from Bryan Burt at Mt Gravatt in Brisbane and they were nothing but helpful.

The service I recieved whilst choosing the car was very professional and the treatment I recieved after the purchased was made was still very high.

They didn't push me to make a decission they let me decide what I wanted and I was able to haggle them with the price, and got a VERY good deal at the time.

I don't take the car there to get serviced as I have moved and now take to Beenleigh Ford and they seem to be ok, and were understanding when I told them I was have a brake shudder issue.

So all in all I was very happy with the service I recieved from the sales department and the service from the service department was of a satisfactory level also.

[curious]

Far North Queensland service department. Not happy

Gearbox needed to be replaced fair enough. Three weeks later started calling. "Oh sorry we damaged the cat converter taking it out, we shoud have on the road this afternoon. 3 days later "oh it hasnt arrived yet.

Finally they return it to the office, but put it into drive and after 5 seconds a loud clunk.

NO BLOODY OIL. Ring them up and they take it back and to this date it is still there.

These screw ups are influencial in peoples decision making when making purchaes... to a certain degree. Fair enough the youngens in the workshop must start somewhere but dont throw them the tools and then leave them to destroy.