Good On Ya Holden

XR227 · 21-07-2011, 07:14 PM

My Father (78 y/o) took his Executive Commodore to Holden for a Service, he then gets a phone call through the day asking him would he like to have his brake pads replaced as the old ones were worn.
He replied yes, while the car is up there you may replace them. Thank you for letting me know.
He picks up the car in the afternoon and drives home, I get home from work
and he showed me a cardboard box that they had left in the back on the floor. Opened it up and it was the old brake pads, Then had good look at them and there was heaps of meat left on them, took em round and showed me Panel beater mate who then told me they weren't even half worn.
Told dad to go back up there and ask to speak to the service manager and
ask him what the go was in replacing brake pads that seemed to look okay, which he did. He was given and apology and was told he would only have
to pay cost for the new pads. Jeez thanks.

outside · 21-07-2011, 07:19 PM

thats crap tell them to put the old ones back in

XR227 · 21-07-2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outside

thats crap tell them to put the old ones back in

That's exactly what i said, dad didn't want to make a fuss.
No just pads done.

Jim Goose · 21-07-2011, 07:23 PM

Did they machine the discs?

vztrt · 21-07-2011, 07:27 PM

I remember with my old BA I did another 20,000k's after they said that my pads were worn. Then I replaced them. But they were done after that, maybe another 5000k's but I wouldn't wanna try.

I guess in the future get your dad to only service at the dealer and get stuff done elsewhere. Or find a new mechanic.

foxtrot3 · 21-07-2011, 07:35 PM

Hi. One of the things that a dealer, or for that matter anyone, when servicing a car has to make sure that things like brake pads and such will last till the next service. With extended service intervals a lot of brake, steering and suspension parts may get changed well before they are worn out as a customer that has a car fail a month before a due service may go elsewhere because " the dealer didn't get it right last time". Poor dealer cant get it right either way can they. Cheers MD

FERG_51 · 21-07-2011, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxtrot3

Hi. One of the things that a dealer, or for that matter anyone, when servicing a car has to make sure that things like brake pads and such will last till the next service. With extended service intervals a lot of brake, steering and suspension parts may get changed well before they are worn out as a customer that has a car fail a month before a due service may go elsewhere because " the dealer didn't get it right last time". Poor dealer cant get it right either way can they. Cheers MD

Im with you.

Day-mow · 21-07-2011, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxtrot3

Hi. One of the things that a dealer, or for that matter anyone, when servicing a car has to make sure that things like brake pads and such will last till the next service. With extended service intervals a lot of brake, steering and suspension parts may get changed well before they are worn out as a customer that has a car fail a month before a due service may go elsewhere because " the dealer didn't get it right last time". Poor dealer cant get it right either way can they. Cheers MD

fact is im sure its cheaper to ware the costing of labour for putting old pads back on and maybe giving away free stuff then a law suit because they didn't replace the brakes and you had an accident.

this being said there is a difference between being slightly over cautious and ripping people off.

i dont trust many mechanics

MITCHAY · 22-07-2011, 06:01 PM

I have had this experience with my car. I'm rather direct with questioning these things now when I have services.

My problem I have these days is they don't tell me about replacing things until I pick it up so I have to organize to get it done later even though I specifically say to call me!

uranium_death · 21-07-2011, 08:14 PM

I used to play tennis with a bloke who had been buying his cars from a particular Holden dealiership for over 30 years and having them serviced there too...

He took his VZ Calais in (where he had just recently purchased four brand new tyres) where he was told that he'd need four new tyres because his were worn...

We walked into the showroom and made a massive commotion, pointing out that he'd been having his car serviced there for decades, and asking how many other times he'd been ripped off?

He was offered free servicing for the lifetime of the existing car...

Keep in mind, there's a reason why I went to an independent mechanic and not a Ford dealership for my servicing...

Windsor220 · 21-07-2011, 08:18 PM

But I thought it was only Ford service that was bad

Falc'man · 21-07-2011, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsor220

But I thought it was only Ford service that was bad

Good call.

It's nothing to do with the brand (even in the OP's case) and all to do with the fact we're dealing with humans; there's either a screw up or someone wants to make a quick, dishonest buck.

Franco Cozzo · 21-07-2011, 08:17 PM

The Honda dealership I worked at, a few years before I started one of the mechanics totaled a customers new S2000.

Hows that for service?

Feathers · 21-07-2011, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

The Honda dealership I worked at, a few years before I started one of the mechanics totaled a customers new S2000.

Hows that for service?

I've seen that happen to someone's new Holden ute as well.
Mechanic pulled out of the dealership driveway in front of me, floored it up the street, then gave it too much right foot, too soon, coming out of a roundabout, and went sideways into a telegraph post.

My local Ford dealer have mostly been good to me.
When I had a clunking noise in the back, they took it in overnight and pulled the rear end apart to inspect it. Found nothing wrong, so it was all tightened up and put back in.
It was well out of warranty then, so I was feeling a bit sick when I asked how much, to my surprise I was told there was no charge.

Though they did call me on two seperate occasions to tell me that my front brakes were very worn, and would need changing urgently.
The second time, I was quoted $600+ on top of the service for them to do it.
When I declined and mentioned that I have a bunch of mechanics that would do it for me for nothing, the service manager agreed, and said he'd do the same thing.
Three years later they were finally replaced, but still had over 10,000ks left in them.

Airmon · 21-07-2011, 08:50 PM

Sounds like alright service. There was an issue and they came to the party, apologized and offered a solution.
They could have thrown the old pads out and you'd be none the wiser.

ILLaViTaR · 23-07-2011, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airmon

Sounds like alright service. There was an issue and they came to the party, apologized and offered a solution.
They could have thrown the old pads out and you'd be none the wiser.

Completely wrong.

Ben73 · 21-07-2011, 09:47 PM

It's not just dealerships who rip you off.
I went to a tyre places to get got new tyres and a service in my old Magna. When picking up the car I was told my brake pads were almost gone and I will need new ones soon.
A couple of months later I went to another place for something unrelated. I asked the guy to check out the brakes while the car was there and replace them if necessary.
When I picked up the car he told me he didn't change the brakes because there was over 6000kms left on them and it was a waste to put new ones on.

At least some places are trustworthy.

You Yangs · 21-07-2011, 10:06 PM

I once had a service done and they said the rear pads would need replacing in 5K, 25K later and still they didn't need replacement.

Mr Hardware · 21-07-2011, 10:20 PM

lets all say it together

STEALERSHIP

Zedjay · 21-07-2011, 10:43 PM

you know what...they take advantage of the elderly.!!
my dad (who is 80 this year) took his FG in for a service not that long ago and they told him it needed new break pads and rotors...he said do it and then told me about it..i rang them and said that i was a machanic and that when my dad picked the car up i wanted the old pads and rotors given back to him so i could check them out myself.......when my dad picked it up they told him that an apprentice had mad a mistake and he didnt need them after all....and gave him a free car care kit lol....... they are dead set rip offs these dealers..

IDT · 22-07-2011, 03:12 AM

I can't believe there are people on here justifying, either in part or in full, the behaviour of this workshop. Thats a scum bag act on an old fella, pure and simple. To top it off how hard would he have to be on his brakes to need them changed before the next service?

FalconForce · 22-07-2011, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WAForce8

To top it off how hard would he have to be on his brakes to need them changed before the next service?

you would actually be surprised how quickly some people smash through brakes, when i worked at Land Rover we had some cars that had pads done almost every service and rootors done every 2nd

but still i will agree that some mechanics will rip off old blokes and people who look like the could be had over

foxtrot3 · 22-07-2011, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WAForce8

I can't believe there are people on here justifying, either in part or in full, the behaviour of this workshop. Thats a scum bag act on an old fella, pure and simple. To top it off how hard would he have to be on his brakes to need them changed before the next service?

Hi. Sorry to upset you but how upset would you be when some "gray nomad" with a 2 tonne car and 1.5 tonne caravan smashes in to you because the brakes might be ok till the next service. Cheers MD

ELGT4me · 22-07-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxtrot3

Hi. Sorry to upset you but how upset would you be when some "gray nomad" with a 2 tonne car and 1.5 tonne caravan smashes in to you because the brakes might be ok till the next service. Cheers MD

No worse than having some clown run up your backside, or change lanes on top of you, because he was too busy on his phone or doing her makeup whilst driving!!!

ILLaViTaR · 23-07-2011, 10:32 PM

Edit Deleted

ILLaViTaR · 23-07-2011, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WAForce8

I can't believe there are people on here justifying, either in part or in full, the behaviour of this workshop. Thats a scum bag act on an old fella, pure and simple. To top it off how hard would he have to be on his brakes to need them changed before the next service?

It's cause they're all mad right wing baby boomers lol, been through this condescending crap in many a thread, something with a clear right and wrong suddenly becomes controversial because certain people feel entitled to their "rights" which in reality is simply their defense mechanism for sugar coating their greed..

Absolutely disgusting he has to pay for new pads he already had.

So he's $70+ out of pocket solely because a workshop's tried to rip him off?? (A mistake??? don't make me laugh) Not only that but the workshop just gets to decide (who are they to?) that they're not going to be out of pocket period despite their mistake and losing profit on labour is as far as they're willing to go. So let the customer we cheated foot the bill for our incompetence......
They should be compensating him for the mere nerve of attempting to cheat the bloke.

Gavin Thomas · 23-07-2011, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

.....So he's $70+ out of pocket solely because a workshop's tried to rip him off?? (A mistake??? don't make me laugh.....

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Mate, i'm not defending or justifying that dealership at all in any way - but i would suggest that if it was a total money grabbing rip off, or they were being dis-honest, then i would find it very weird / stupid that they would put the "evidence" in the car for the owner to plainly see,

I do agree that they should have given a full refund though - and even a sweetener of some sort to make amends.

FYI = i'm from generation X, so i'll take it i'm exempt from your "mad right wing baby boomer" comment.

EB# · 22-07-2011, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR227

.....He was given and apology and was told he would only have
to pay cost for the new pads. Jeez thanks.

With a rort like that, he shouldn't have needed to pay for the new pads either !
You could have mentioned the Dept of Fair Trading, and they might have even
washed the car too !

maty · 22-07-2011, 07:01 AM

had my territory in for warranty work went and picked it up.Wife tells me her festiva is due for a service so i ask if i can leave it, they say no problems. This is a friday lunch said i will pick it up saturday lunch.We go to pick the car up saturday wife drops me off have a joke n said looks like it hasnt moved, go in to pay , they forgot alll about. I was not happy took car home swmbo was ****ed monday service manager rings to apologise, he agrees to service it for free,He came to my house the next night picked up the car, left me a new territory . I had a phone call during the day about new pads n rotors to be machined he quoted $90 i said yes need 2 b done. When he dropped the car home that night i asked how i was going to pay he said dont worry we will wear the cost. Wife was happy.

Scruba · 22-07-2011, 06:45 AM

I find it depends on the relationship you can build with the service advisor. I bought an ex cop AU with 6 months factory warranty on it. My advisor fixed a heap of stuff under the warranty that wouldn't have been recognised otherwise due to it being an ex police vehicle. He is the reason I bought the BF new from the dealership and has always looked after me. Full respray under warranty, any niggling issues with the car he has helped me with no problems at all.

I took out a dealer warranty on the BF as Ford's extended warranty wasn't available at the time and have only used it once. Paid for itself that one time too. Unfortunately now when I take the car in he's not on shift so I get the "scraps" and treated like pos.

Had my car damaged but it was denied. Ended up talking with the service manager and all was fixed at no cost to me.

Again I put it down to building a relationship with your service team and letting them know that you know what you are talking about and won't be taken for a ride.

I've traded the Falcon on an SS which I get next week. I am sure to be choosing my mechanic carefully!

I've built up a good relationship with my Pontiac's mechanic so he will no doubt be charged with the SS also. No bull attitude and looks out for me. As they say, your new car warranty can't be void as long as it is serviced withing the manufacturer's specs. Get it done elsewhere and save $ and hassle. The little guys need to keep your business and won't give you the run around.