People who think they know their stuff are sometimes victim to being jerks. I'm guilty of it sometimes and I'm in IT support. I don't believe I've done it while actually helping customers though. But stories in the backroom happen. I don't defend it, in fact I wish I was better. Mazda is the first time I've actually used dealership shops. For the most part my experience was pretty good. I even put alot of pressure on them to get me a fuel pump replacement ASAP. They weren't half bad. My parents had service done by Mercedes Benz dealers, damn they are polite and patient - guess you get what you pay for.
Is this normal service?
Hey guys,
I love my new 3, but last week I had the infamous P0128 code pop up. The dealership took care of it, I just have to ask if this is how dealerships work these days.
I asked them if the seat belt minder could be turned off while they had it hooked up to the computer and they belittled me saying 'no way, that's a safety thing, blah blah blah.' Implying only a moron would ask them to do that, I swear they were actually snickering about it. I also don't like the way they insulate the customer from the mechanic, I prefer to talk to the guy that fixed the thing, not some guy out front that acts like he'd be more at home bouncing tables at the local honky-tonk.
I've repaired office equipment for 13 years, and I would expect a call from my service manager if I made a customer feel this way.
Or is it just me? I'd like to hear from some people about how their dealership handles service for comparison.
(BTW- I DO ALWAYS wear my seat belt, so please don't turn this into another "you are a moron for wanting it off" thread, it just drives me crazy in parking lots and drive thru's)
I love my new 3, but last week I had the infamous P0128 code pop up. The dealership took care of it, I just have to ask if this is how dealerships work these days.
I asked them if the seat belt minder could be turned off while they had it hooked up to the computer and they belittled me saying 'no way, that's a safety thing, blah blah blah.' Implying only a moron would ask them to do that, I swear they were actually snickering about it. I also don't like the way they insulate the customer from the mechanic, I prefer to talk to the guy that fixed the thing, not some guy out front that acts like he'd be more at home bouncing tables at the local honky-tonk.
I've repaired office equipment for 13 years, and I would expect a call from my service manager if I made a customer feel this way.
Or is it just me? I'd like to hear from some people about how their dealership handles service for comparison.
(BTW- I DO ALWAYS wear my seat belt, so please don't turn this into another "you are a moron for wanting it off" thread, it just drives me crazy in parking lots and drive thru's)
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I've had different experiences from car make to car make. The worse was Isuzu. I had a ton of issues with my cursed '98 Rodeo and everytime I took it in it was a different guy and each time it was like a don't-call-us-we'll-call-you type of situation. I hated having to go there. :x They treated me very much like the treatment you received.
Best experience was from/is the Lexus dealer. They often took care of me when I needed it and felt like the attention was always one on one. Plus they had free sodas, popcorn, loaner (usually another RX300), etc. But price for servicing was typically a premium.
As for my Mazda dealership, I went to them yesterday with a 1,000 miles on my 3 thinking I needed to get the oil changed. I made the appointment got there and went to the waiting area. I barely sat down when the service advisor walked in and said I didn't need the oil change. He said my first oil change wasn't due til 4,000 miles or so and that doing it early was unnecessary. I appreciated his honesty since he could've just taken the money and no one would've known better. So I thought that was a good first impression. I hope it lasts.
Best experience was from/is the Lexus dealer. They often took care of me when I needed it and felt like the attention was always one on one. Plus they had free sodas, popcorn, loaner (usually another RX300), etc. But price for servicing was typically a premium.
As for my Mazda dealership, I went to them yesterday with a 1,000 miles on my 3 thinking I needed to get the oil changed. I made the appointment got there and went to the waiting area. I barely sat down when the service advisor walked in and said I didn't need the oil change. He said my first oil change wasn't due til 4,000 miles or so and that doing it early was unnecessary. I appreciated his honesty since he could've just taken the money and no one would've known better. So I thought that was a good first impression. I hope it lasts.
I had a good impression of my dealership's service department. Took it in at 8:15, out by 9:45, with a cargo net and wheel locks installed, as well as a quick rinse. All in all, not bad. Oh, and it was free since they comped me the first service. I wonder how the next appointment will be.
Good customer service is a lost art.
At the Honda dealer that I really like, the mechanic that worked on my car always comes out when I am picking up the car to go over what he has done. He would be drying his hands after washing grease off with that orange pumice stuff.
At the Honda dealer that I really like, the mechanic that worked on my car always comes out when I am picking up the car to go over what he has done. He would be drying his hands after washing grease off with that orange pumice stuff.
My dealer has been really good on service too; I can walk around in the garage anytime I want (I stayed in there to look at the mechanic doing my first oil change and swapping my winter wheels out; we chatted and had quite a bit of fun, actually), and they're friendly and quite knowledgeable.
They also have free loaners (150 Protegés for now) if your visit has to last more that 3 hours, or they offer you a ride home if its less than that. I received a follow-up call the next day.
They also have free loaners (150 Protegés for now) if your visit has to last more that 3 hours, or they offer you a ride home if its less than that. I received a follow-up call the next day.
"I asked them if the seat belt minder could be turned off while they had it hooked up to the computer and they belittled me saying 'no way, that's a safety thing, blah blah blah.' Implying only a moron would ask them to do that, I swear they were actually snickering about it. I also don't like the way they insulate the customer from the mechanic, I prefer to talk to the guy that fixed the thing, not some guy out front that acts like he'd be more at home bouncing tables at the local honky-tonk. "
Well being a computer tech I know I absolutely hated talking to the owners of the equipment I was servicing unless I had to. Not only are they a great way to waste time but they can be maddening as well. Just think, some other yokel comes in and wastes 20 minutes of the mechanic's time, in the meanwhile he could have been fixing your car rather than talking to billy bob.
And the seatbelt thing makes sense, could you imagine the lawsuit they could be getting if you got them to disable the chime, someone didn't put on their seatbelt and then got put through the windsheild?
Why do you want the chime disabled anyways? Just wear the damn belt.
Well being a computer tech I know I absolutely hated talking to the owners of the equipment I was servicing unless I had to. Not only are they a great way to waste time but they can be maddening as well. Just think, some other yokel comes in and wastes 20 minutes of the mechanic's time, in the meanwhile he could have been fixing your car rather than talking to billy bob.
And the seatbelt thing makes sense, could you imagine the lawsuit they could be getting if you got them to disable the chime, someone didn't put on their seatbelt and then got put through the windsheild?
Why do you want the chime disabled anyways? Just wear the damn belt.
Dotsun wrote:
(BTW- I DO ALWAYS wear my seat belt, so please don't turn this into another "you are a moron for wanting it off" thread, it just drives me crazy in parking lots and drive thru's)
I wonder why I put this in my message. /sigh
As to why they should waste time talking to a paying customer, or um, billy bob as you put it, I just unloaded a serious amount of money with them. I think 5 minutes of their time is not too much to ask. Personally when I service someone's equipment I never feel that they are wasting my time when I talk to them. I call that good customer service.
Dave
(BTW- I DO ALWAYS wear my seat belt, so please don't turn this into another "you are a moron for wanting it off" thread, it just drives me crazy in parking lots and drive thru's)
I wonder why I put this in my message. /sigh
As to why they should waste time talking to a paying customer, or um, billy bob as you put it, I just unloaded a serious amount of money with them. I think 5 minutes of their time is not too much to ask. Personally when I service someone's equipment I never feel that they are wasting my time when I talk to them. I call that good customer service.
Dave
I know where you're coming from, but the mechanic is a mechanic. He's been thoroughly schooled in how to talk to cars, not people. Its generally best to let them do their job, and let the guy at the counter (who's job it is to talk to you) do his. Occasionally you'll find a cool mechanic that doesn't mind talking to customers, but they probably work in the garage (and not up front) so they don't have to....Dotsun said:As to why they should waste time talking to a paying customer, or um, billy bob as you put it, I just unloaded a serious amount of money with them. I think 5 minutes of their time is not too much to ask. Personally when I service someone's equipment I never feel that they are wasting my time when I talk to them. I call that good customer service.
Dave
I would have pulled out my manual and showed them exactly where it says "To permanently turn off the seat belt reminder., take your car to an authorized Mazda dealer", then I would have asked them "as an authorized Mazda dealer, don't you think you should KNOW what the manual states you should know?"Dotsun said:I asked them if the seat belt minder could be turned off while they had it hooked up to the computer and they belittled me saying 'no way, that's a safety thing, blah blah blah.' Implying only a moron would ask them to do that, I swear they were actually snickering about it. I also don't like the way they insulate the customer from the mechanic, I prefer to talk to the guy that fixed the thing, not some guy out front that acts like he'd be more at home bouncing tables at the local honky-tonk.
I've repaired office equipment for 13 years, and I would expect a call from my service manager if I made a customer feel this way.
Or is it just me? I'd like to hear from some people about how their dealership handles service for comparison.
(BTW- I DO ALWAYS wear my seat belt, so please don't turn this into another "you are a moron for wanting it off" thread, it just drives me crazy in parking lots and drive thru's)
I think it's ridiculous that they gave you attitude like that. And you're right, this shouldn't be turned into a "you should wear your seatbelt no matter what" thread, that's old. If it's in the manual, it should be respected and they should know HOW to do it.
Really, they are in the wrong here.
the dealership should've been more professional about handling your request to remove the seatbelt reminder. Besides, it would only be a matter of time before a customer sues the dealership if they were to actually do that at the customer's request.
:roll:zephyrantes said:the dealership should've been more professional about handling your request to remove the seatbelt reminder. Besides, it would only be a matter of time before a customer sues the dealership if they were to actually do that at the customer's request.
It would not. There is no law requiring any sort of seatbelt reminder at all. The instructions for disabling are even in the manual. Jeese!
Well I was ecstatic to hear that it's in the manual about the dealer turning it off permanently. Unfortunately, I can't find it in the manual anywhere. If you can tell me where it is, I'd be grateful bro. I was going to take it in and show him the sentence I'd highlighted and demand it be turned off, with a triumphant smile. lol
Thanks for all the replies, btw.
Thanks for all the replies, btw.
It is stated on Page 2-20. It is interesting to note that it is in the paper manual but not in the pdf file from the Mazda web site.Dotsun said:Well I was ecstatic to hear that it's in the manual about the dealer turning it off permanently. Unfortunately, I can't find it in the manual anywhere. If you can tell me where it is, I'd be grateful bro. I was going to take it in and show him the sentence I'd highlighted and demand it be turned off, with a triumphant smile. lol
Thanks for all the replies, btw.
Ahha! That's why I couldn't find it, apparently the bastages changed the manual somewhere along the line and removed that part. Mine only lists the way to temporarily disable it, completely omitting the permenant solution. Thanks for the page number anyway. 
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