Maintenance Rip-Off?

Free inspections are repair estimates.

“Homie don’t play dat”- Homie Da Clown (In Living Color)

 

Sadly, that's likely right.

 

The manufacturer is very limited what they can do TO a nonperforming dealership, they mostly just quit doing things FOR dealerships that do not perform up to par.

 

There a saying for that:

"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with BS."

 

Your opinion.
I quite assure you that there ARE completely honest dealers out there........although finding them can be very hard sometimes.

 

My dealer (Kirk Toyota in Grenada MS) has even come to me and said, this air filter is not that dirty, can we look at it again in 10,000 miles and change it then? They not only do not upsell, they discourage me from 'uneeded' service (like ATF WS changes) and recommend delaying scheduled service.

Sadly anecdotes are not always trends.

 

i have read stories about honest dealerships. or maybe it was a dream...

 

I don't know what maintenance your vehicle may or may not need. But if you brought it in for a recall, oil change and an inspection, that's what you should get.
My first reaction is, if they didn't do an inspection how do they know all the things they are saying you need,- you need?

I find it hard to believe a vehicle with only 20,000 miles on it, is in such bad shape that it just wouldn't pass an inspection in totality.

Pretty much just because I don't like that response, I'd go to a different service center.
There's nothing wrong with an HONEST inspection, there's nothing wrong with really needed maintenance. But don't tell me you didn't inspect the vehicle BUT I need a whole lot of maintenance.

 

not really my opinion since I’ve worked at a Toyota dealership before. They have a quota to hit per month because that’s what the GM wants. All service writers have to make a Certain quota to get a bonus pay. I know some service writer don’t push to up sell but then they don’t get a high bonus check like the ones who do up sell.

if you come in as a customer and know what you want, they won’t push you on upsell, but if they’re going to inspect or service your vehicle, they will recommend things that you need or don’t need.

 

Sounds like you are lacking a basic understanding here.
The extensive experience that you had at ONE SINGLE dealership does NOT mean that is the way it works at every OTHER one.

Just taking a wild guess: There are 50 states and maybe 10 dealers per state so there are a minimum of 500 dealers in the US. Probably a lot more. For your statement to be valid, you would have to have intimate knowledge of EVERY one of them.......and I'm pretty sure that is NOT the case.

 

And yet we always read about these types of thread where people get upsell at the dealerships for services that they don’t need. That is fact and not opinionated.

 

my guess: 95% dishonest

 

no, they don't look at the fan first, that's 99% of the job

same for the cabin filter

alignment: should notice uneven wear on the tires, or pulling to one side

tranny fluid? they used to tell customers it was lifetime. i guess they found a new profit center

 

With regard to the cabin filter. Will they skip filter inspection/replacement if so instructed. I just installed a K&N reusable filter and applied the "STOP" sticker instructing not to discard. I'll be cleaning the filter myself IAW warranty.

 

I do not know which dealership you use, but it will depend on the dealership. No one can guess what 'they' will do.

 

Yeah. The simple answer is usually the correct one: Ask the dealer. Thanx.

 

No it is not "always".
And you are taking a few facts and then representing your CONCLUSION as fact.......when it really isn't......or might not be.

 

just tell them you already did it. they have no right to do anything without your approval.

 

Unless you’re an hourly Mechanic, I don’t know why someone that works flat rate don’t recommend to upsell services because that’s their bread and butter.

Let me ask you this question, have you worked as a mechanic before? If not, then you don’t know how the flat rate and hourly pay works, if you are, then why wouldn’t you be recommending all these upsell services to make money for your flat rate pay?