[JasoninDLH]

Not saying all dealer maintenance shops do this, but be vigilant for upselling if you bring your vehicles to dealers for maintenance.

CBC hidden camera investigation regarding dealer maintenance shops and their shenanigans:

 

[puddlesplasher]

I have just watched watched that whole video and it's going to be an eye opener for some of our members who are possibly first time owners of their Jeep. Keep in mind that the video pertains to all cars, vehicles and Dealerships (until proven otherwise).

It is likely some members who prefer to use their local garage/mechanic have experienced "up-selling" from Dealerships, that they swapped to using local business and felt the results in their own pockets. I was one of the guys that allowed my Dealership to service my cars as I had extended warranties. But just like the video indicates, there are some Service personnel that are somewhat unscrupulous. Though I did not experience it with the UK Dealership (Arnold Clark) to that extent it would from time to time rear its ugly head.

Being a miserly, Scotsman who doesn't want to part with a fart for free I am sure you can understand why I was quick to ask why a minor repair had turned into a fortune. One of the worst places for this was imho Kwik Fit (tyres/brakes/exhausts) Franchise. "Sorry Sir but we advise you get .......... £££s of work carried out." "Eh, no! Just repair my tyre for me please". "Ah but Sir you need..........".

Now at least with my local garage I get any servicing work carried out without all the bother. If they suggest I need additional work carried out then it's usually with good reason and they are willing to show you what it is and leave it for you to decide with no hard pushing to part with your cash.

Before I forget, Recall!!! How downright dangerous was it that a Dealership knows there is an issue and won't openly advertise it to their customers? It's exactly the same imho that you guys are experiencing with:

• Oil
• Plastic fans
• On Board memory flashes.

Dealerships know that your Jeep requires the updates yet why are some so reluctant to tell you? I was fortunate that Arnold Clark franchise told me when my horn was intermittently sounding that an update was required free of charge. Yet on the other hand they knew but kept quite until I approached them. That video says it all, "The dealership has to do the recall work at a reduced price" and they don't want our custom at that point.

 

[JasoninDLH]

I have just watched watched that whole video and it's going to be an eye opener for some of our members who are possibly first time owners of their Jeep. Keep in mind that the video pertains to all cars, vehicles and Dealerships (until proven otherwise).

It is likely some members who prefer to use their local garage/mechanic have experienced "up-selling" from Dealerships, that they swapped to using local business and felt the results in their own pockets. I was one of the guys that allowed my Dealership to service my cars as I had extended warranties. But just like the video indicates, there are some Service personnel that are somewhat unscrupulous. Though I did not experience it with the UK Dealership (Arnold Clark) to that extent it would from time to time rear its ugly head.

Being a miserly, Scotsman who doesn't want to part with a fart for free I am sure you can understand why I was quick to ask why a minor repair had turned into a fortune. One of the worst places for this was imho Kwik Fit (tyres/brakes/exhausts) Franchise. "Sorry Sir but we advise you get .......... £££s of work carried out." "Eh, no! Just repair my tyre for me please". "Ah but Sir you need..........".

Now at least with my local garage I get any servicing work carried out without all the bother. If they suggest I need additional work carried out then it's usually with good reason and they are willing to show you what it is and leave it for you to decide with no hard pushing to part with your cash.

Before I forget, Recall!!! How downright dangerous was it that a Dealership knows there is an issue and won't openly advertise it to their customers? It's exactly the same imho that you guys are experiencing with:

• Oil
• Plastic fans
• On Board memory flashes.

Dealerships know that your Jeep requires the updates yet why are some so reluctant to tell you? I was fortunate that Arnold Clark franchise told me when my horn was intermittently sounding that an update was required free of charge. Yet on the other hand they knew but kept quite until I approached them. That video says it all, "The dealership has to do the recall work at a reduced price" and they don't want our custom at that point.

Well spoken.

 

[Marek K]

It's not just dealerships. It can happen with any car-repair shops.

The funniest thing was a back in about 1996, when I took my 1982 Toyota Supra in for new tires at a tire chain store.

Them: "Sir, you also need new front struts and rear shocks." (Which they, coincidentally, could do.)

Me: "Why do you say so?"

Them: "Because your car has over 140,000 miles on it, and we recommend they be changed at 100,000 miles."

Me: "Well, I had new struts and shocks put on about a year and 15,000 miles ago."

Them: "Oh, well, then you don't need new struts and shocks."

Or a shop will recommend that "required" periodic maintenance be done if they don't have a record that they've done it -- like the oil changes I always do myself. The correct question would be, "when was the oil last changed?"

 

[Mud Pie]

It's a well known fact that "mechanics" went the way of the blacksmith. There just isn't any around anymore. Now they are "automotive technicians". They type in your VIN, hook you up to a PC and it tells them what needs repairs.

Previous vehicles- I've had techs tell me that my 15 minute old spark plugs need replacing. I literally replaced them, drove a 1/4 mile to the shop. Excuse given ? "Oh, we went by what the PC said because no one changes plugs themselves anymore.". So basically they didn't even look. Air filter needs replacing...because of mileage, doesn't matter that I replaced it a month ago. They said it was dirty (quick oil change place, I stopped going to ANY of them). I said, "Show me the filter. I Sharpie the date of install and my initials on every filter. The filter you show me better have the same date I have on my phone file and written in the same place.". They decided to not change it. I don't write the date, but they don't know that. I say that lie because one time I asked to see the filter and the filthy one they showed me wasn't even for my car !! When I called them out on the fake/switch, they said they grabbed the wrong one, they all get tossed in a pile. Yeah right. When they finished up I told the manager my vehicle will never darken their bay again. And it hasn't.

The shop I use now for non-dealer repairs is good. They'll have a litany of things to address but as they read them off they add, "This doesn't need to be done now..", "This one could be done, not now but soon.." etc.. No pressure.

 

[JasoninDLH]

I have just watched watched that whole video and it's going to be an eye opener for some of our members who are possibly first time owners of their Jeep. Keep in mind that the video pertains to all cars, vehicles and Dealerships (until proven otherwise).

It is likely some members who prefer to use their local garage/mechanic have experienced "up-selling" from Dealerships, that they swapped to using local business and felt the results in their own pockets. I was one of the guys that allowed my Dealership to service my cars as I had extended warranties. But just like the video indicates, there are some Service personnel that are somewhat unscrupulous. Though I did not experience it with the UK Dealership (Arnold Clark) to that extent it would from time to time rear its ugly head.

Being a miserly, Scotsman who doesn't want to part with a fart for free I am sure you can understand why I was quick to ask why a minor repair had turned into a fortune. One of the worst places for this was imho Kwik Fit (tyres/brakes/exhausts) Franchise. "Sorry Sir but we advise you get .......... £££s of work carried out." "Eh, no! Just repair my tyre for me please". "Ah but Sir you need..........".

Now at least with my local garage I get any servicing work carried out without all the bother. If they suggest I need additional work carried out then it's usually with good reason and they are willing to show you what it is and leave it for you to decide with no hard pushing to part with your cash.

Before I forget, Recall!!! How downright dangerous was it that a Dealership knows there is an issue and won't openly advertise it to their customers? It's exactly the same imho that you guys are experiencing with:

• Oil
• Plastic fans
• On Board memory flashes.

Dealerships know that your Jeep requires the updates yet why are some so reluctant to tell you? I was fortunate that Arnold Clark franchise told me when my horn was intermittently sounding that an update was required free of charge. Yet on the other hand they knew but kept quite until I approached them. That video says it all, "The dealership has to do the recall work at a reduced price" and they don't want our custom at that point.

It's not just dealerships. It can happen with any car-repair shops.

The funniest thing was a back in about 1996, when I took my 1982 Toyota Supra in for new tires at a tire chain store.

Them: "Sir, you also need new front struts and rear shocks." (Which they, coincidentally, could do.)

Me: "Why do you say so?"

Them: "Because your car has over 140,000 miles on it, and we recommend they be changed at 100,000 miles."

Me: "Well, I had new struts and shocks put on about a year and 15,000 miles ago."

Them: "Oh, well, then you don't need new struts and shocks."

Or a shop will recommend that "required" periodic maintenance be done if they don't have a record that they've done it -- like the oil changes I always do myself. The correct question would be, "when was the oil last changed?"

It's a well known fact that "mechanics" went the way of the blacksmith. There just isn't any around anymore. Now they are "automotive technicians". They type in your VIN, hook you up to a PC and it tells them what needs repairs.

Previous vehicles- I've had techs tell me that my 15 minute old spark plugs need replacing. I literally replaced them, drove a 1/4 mile to the shop. Excuse given ? "Oh, we went by what the PC said because no one changes plugs themselves anymore.". So basically they didn't even look. Air filter needs replacing...because of mileage, doesn't matter that I replaced it a month ago. They said it was dirty (quick oil change place, I stopped to to ANY of them). I said, "Show me the filter. I Sharpie the date of install and my initials on every filter. The filter you show me better have the same date I have on my phone file and written in the same place.". They decided to not change it. I don't write the date, but they don't know that. I say that lie because one time I asked to see the filter and the filthy one they showed me wasn't even for my car !! When I called them out on the fake/switch, they said they grabbed the wrong one, they all get tossed in a pile. Yeah right. When they finished up I told the manager my vehicle will never darken their bay again. And it hasn't.

The shop I use now for non-dealer repairs is good. They'll have a litany of things to address but as they read them off they add, "This doesn't need to be done now..", "This one could be done, not now but soon.." etc.. No pressure.

All perfect examples why I started doing all my own repairs. I was sick of all the upselling! Drove me crazy! 🤯

 

[Marek K]

Well, there's a fine line between dishonest upselling; and doing at least a cursory inspection and letting you know what needs to be done, now or later.

One of my indicators of a good shop (independent or other wise) is when they tell you something like, "your brake pads are getting down in thickness. But don't worry about it now; you've got at least a year left on them."

 

[JasoninDLH]

Well, there's a fine line between dishonest upselling; and doing at least a cursory inspection and letting you know what needs to be done, now or later.

One of my indicators of a good shop (independent or other wise) is when they tell you something like, "your brake pads are getting down in thickness. But don't worry about it now; you've got at least a year left on them."

Good point!