new 3/24/03, updated 3/24/03
Tim,
I thought I'd run this by you, as I thought that it was quite funny.
I haven't seen this kind of price gouging since going to the Hospital!
I recently took my SVT Focus in to Gillespie Ford in San Antonio, TX. One of my remotes stopped working and I figured they would simply try out the remote, see it was inoperative and simply replace it. This they did, but it took a bit.
First off they wanted me to leave the car with them for a day or so, just to find out why ONE of the remotes wasn't working!
I told them I wouldn't leave the car and then he asked for a couple of hours, again I denied, stating that testing the remote was a painfully simple process and if I can do it in the comfort of my driveway, so can they.
So he took 20 minutes, the car never moved.
After waiting around and being asked by no less than 5 different salespeople if I wanted another car I was called over to get my car back. Everything worked and I went on my way, 20 minutes later.
They told me they'd mail me the bill. When the bill came, this is what Ford got charged:
$12.80 for me telling the mechanic what was wrong ( operation 12651B)
$6.40 for "extra time" to repeat final quick test (operation 12651DX1 )
$19.20 for body chassis electrical pin point test ( again the car never moved from the service drive ) ( operation 12651D2 )
$76.80 body chassis electrical test ( with what? is Ford using telekinetics now? no machine was ever hooked up to my car! ) ( operationMT14200 )
$53.37 for the new fob ( Holy Crap!! )
Grand total charged to Ford for a 20 minute key fob replacement: $168.57 With this kind of gouging going on, I can see why Ford hates doing warranty replacements!
Just think what would happen if I was charged this!
PLEASE let everyone know to AVOID GILLESPIE FORD!!!!!
Thanks!
Damien F.
96 RM in SA TX
3/24/03
Tim,
with all due respect I wish to comment regarding Damien F.'s dealer experience. The first three operations 12651B, DX1, & D2 are required operations by Ford for the proper diagnosis of electronically controlled systems on his vehicle. They would amount to 36min. of diagnosis time and the results of the test have to be documented on the work order for the dealer to get paid. The price of the part is set by Ford and charged out at Ford rates based on the current pricing system.
I might question the MT14200 operation which is an Actual time operation excepting the fact that to claim and get paid this operation it has to be supported by documented tests and a time ticket. This means that the vehicle must have been at the dealer at least 1.2 hours. If not I think Damien should call the dealer and ask why/how there is an actual time operation on his bill and ask for an explanation before slandering the dealership. If in fact they did rip off Ford write back to Buford and let everyone know.
I know many of the members of this group are angry with Ford and rightfully so (I have a v-8 SHO and I am a Technician so I should be twice as angry), but I must say that most dealers are not ripping people off, or misleading Ford customers. We (dealer employees/owners) only work within the information and rules set out to us by Ford.
Just wanted to share with you a rare opinion from the other side.
Brad
99 Factory Blk
I do want to be fair to both sides, thanks Brad. - Buford
In response to Brad's message.....
I sold Fords, and I am aware of how the process works, I find it hard to believe that Ford would OK a 76 dollar fee for less than 20 minutes of work when NOTHING other than the service advisor and one of the techs actually touched my car. Yes, I watched the whole thing, my car NEVER LEFT THE SERVICE DRIVE. Not even test equipment was brought fourth.
I was not ripped off, but in this case, I believe Ford was, I'm sorry, I thought I was clear on that. I sent this along to all of you thinking that procedures like this and the way Ford's dealership network handles them could be a reason Ford is so unwilling to perform warranty work. Certainly Ford would be keyed into the invoices and perhaps that's just the way they do things, if that is the case, be it known that my out of warranty Fords won't ever be seen by Ford dealership service departments.
In contrast, for a mere $20.00 more, I could have my fog lights replaced, by the dealer. I have the invoice on that little repair as well, I'd be happy to quote numbers for you, but you'll have plenty of explaining to do to make me believe that fog light replacement, including the price of parts, is just a couple of movie tickets and a soda more expensive than 20 minutes and a key fob.
Another thing, I wasn't going to mention this because I thought it irrelevant but since my opinion of the dealership is in question I'll pass along a little bit of knowledge I learned from the service advisor. He was talking to me about my "SVT experience" and stated he was going to buy a Cobra as soon as this dealership goes into SVT sales. He further explained to me that when he bought it he had to be careful because he "couldn't trust any of the people he worked with to give him a fair and proper deal."
So if the employees can't trust the store or each other, why should the customer? They are all out to make a buck, no harm in that, but this invoice tells me Ford took it in the tail pipe, if I'm wrong, so be it.
Damien Franczek
96 RM in SA TX
I am no expert, but charging for services not provided is criminal fraud? - Buford