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Prime was Damaged at Dealer - What is fair?

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by geguia, Jul 6, 2017.

  1. geguia

    geguia Active Member

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    so i brought in my prime for the 10k service.

    we did a walk around the vehicle at drop off and no damage.

    Picked up the car and noticed a gouge on the bottom front bumper and immediately brought it to their attention. Lovely that nobody pointed this out and would have happily let me drive out.

    They checked the video and confirmed it happened at some point in the day off camera.

    Dealership took the car and said they'll replace the bumper piece asap.

    That was last week and now they believe it will be fixed Monday (< 2 weeks).

    They did place me in a loaner at no cost of course but I'm still frustrated at the inconvenience of all this.

    I drive 80+ miles a day and I'm burning fuel at a higher rate (im in a corolla) and I don't have access to the HOV lanes any more so it's taking longer to get home and to work. Add to that i also had a EZ Pass i can't even use as it's in the Prime.

    Is it fair to ask something from the dealer for my inconvenience? If so what? mats? etc.

    Anyways missing my Prime.
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    IMHO, the mileage & longer drive time may be legitimate issues.
    You could have likely easily transferred the EZ Pass I move my Maine EZ Pass among 3 different vehicles. I think how registration occurs is up to the issuing state. I found Maine had the best refill policy for me.
     
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  3. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    Yes, absolutely! I would see what they're willing to do for your inconvenience.
     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    and make sure they don't report the accident to carafe, or whoever is responsible for that mechanism.
     
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    If the dealer is good, they will usually offer you a free oil change the next time you visit for your inconvenience.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    This is the second recent report of dealership damage, followed up by them offering to fix it. Personally, as soon as the damage was discovered, I would just get their info and a statement, and leave, file an insurance claim, choose my own body shop. You're under no obligation to have them repair the damage, on the cheap.
     
  7. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    I guess I'm more lenient. I consider racking up miles in the loaner instead of my car a perk. I would happily drive the loaners I'm given as long as possible. I used to have a 100 mile roundtrip commute. The difference in fuel costs was less than the mileage depreciation on my vehicle on a daily basis. I also returned the loaner with as little fuel as possible. I don't want the light to turn on but maybe less than a quarter remaining.
     
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  8. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    In America, previously wrecked cars have a reduced resell value.
    Also....you really don't want to have to file a claim if you do not have to.
    This is probably another area where it works a little differently here than there, but we pay higher rates when claims are made on the policy.
    I have $1000 deductibles, no up-sell coverage and pretty low rates.

    Yes....it sounds crazy, but an insurance claim will flag the vehicle as having had a previous wreck.
    It's like a social disease.....

    There ARE NO minor ones when you're the buyer......only when you're the seller.

    As far as the dealer fixing it in-house, my Spidey sense tells me that this will be done off the books......probably.
    It's like getting a shot without it appearing in your medical file.
    Since THEIR insurance rates are determined by claims as well as yours...then they have an incentive to cash-flow the repair and hide the evidence.

    As far as the "pain and suffering claim?"
    I don't let dealers EVER do oil changes for me....or anything else for that matter, so I'm the wrong person to ask.
    Personally I think that they're in the upper 10-percent of dealers for even giving you a loaner and not making you fight the damage claim.
    I'd ask nicely for a free vehicle detail VOUCHER (they should detail the car before giving it back to you anyway......) and then re-gift it to somebody that you don't like very much.

    I would DEFINITELY insist in getting a copy of Yota's in-house vehicle history in a few months, and then I would invest in a CARFAX report just to make sure that the vehicle hasn't been flagged as having been previously damaged.

    If this happens then you "might" have a diminished value claim, although you might have to file in small claims to get it.
    You're in the PRC so it's 'prime' territory for such claims since angelinos worship their carriages.

    Good Luck!!!
     
    #8 ETC(SS), Jul 6, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2017
    Mendel Leisk and geguia like this.
  9. CaliforniaPrius

    CaliforniaPrius Active Member

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    You are gonna own the dealership!
     
  10. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Who is doing the body work? Did you check out the shop?
     
  11. Nancy S

    Nancy S Member

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    My dealer has a spa on the service isle. I'd get a voucher for a free pedicure! Regarding the repairs, get a copy of the repair estimate that the dealer is using, read their fine print . Most guarantee their work for as long as you own the vehicle. Diminished value claims vary by states and often have to be submitted with a report from an appraiser at your cost. It's a tough claim to make for smaller losses with the argument being if the repairs were made properly there should be no diminished value to the vehicle. This is the argument you have if it shows up on a carfax but why would you ever sell this wonderful car?
     
  12. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    Well, there you go. Tit for tat. Tooth for tooth. Quid pro quo.

    Eat the cost of the extra fuel, offset against the mileage value.

    With respect to their practice of not reporting the damage, provide a specific review online and find another stealerhip.
     
  13. Captmiddy

    Captmiddy Active Member

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    If you are looking for an accessory then ask for it. They can always say no, but make sure you make it clear that you had loss of use and increased costs due to their mistake and you would just like to recover some of that with something for your vehicle rather than money changing hands but that you would be willing to discuss the out of pocket loss for their mistake in they would prefer. I got a free hood cover for my truck for something similar to this, although I never put it on my truck and it is still in my basement, I considered it a nice gesture from the dealership and continued to work with them.
     
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  14. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    This is the 2nd dealership that has injured a PRIME. I see a pattern here. Prime abuse needs to stop.
     
  15. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    I am scheduled to take my baby in for its 1st checkup (5000 mile) at the end of the month. Just tire rotation but with some of the horror stories about this event I feel like a dog being taken to the vet.
     
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  16. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Don't worry, over-torquing your lug nuts won't hurt a bit. Trust me.
     
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  17. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    If owners don't do the basic checks in the owner's manual, then the dealership isn't really going to hurt the car that much more.
     
  18. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    Future plans for children . . . . ? :cautious::cautious::D
     
    #18 Mark57, Aug 2, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2017
  19. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    you sound like a B, they are fixing the car and gave you a loaner.. be happy they didnt tell you to go through your insurance.. you might be losing 3 bucks a day in extra fuel so ask them for a few free oil changes.. mistakes happen and they are taking care of it.. its life move on and stop bitchin
     
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  20. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I think if I was in the OP's unenviable position, I might very calmly ask to speak to the Service Manager, and very calmly explain that as a result of their mistake..negligence, I felt I was being inconvenienced, in terms of having to deal with the whole unexpected situation, fuel costs, and extra time. I might just flat out say, I think I deserve some type of compensation.

    Then just see how they react. It's up to them. It would be interesting in the very least to see how they react or what they may offer or not offer, I don't think asking is unreasonable.

    I wouldn't escalate anything beyond calmly communicating your feelings of being unduly inconvenienced and the statement that it IS costing you more in terms of fuel costs and loss of time. If they say they agree and offer a perk? Great. If they don't? Well...I would just silently note this to myself and move on.

    You would either get a perk....or leave with the knowledge that in the future you might want to seek out a different dealership for your service needs. Either way is really a win.

    This in no way should or needs to be a confrontation, as much as a calm statement, calm request and simply seeing how they react.