Best way to complain about a dealership?

[gertlush]

I had a service done at the local dealership (1st mistake I know) a couple of months ago on my well maintained truck with 60,000km. The bill was an astronomical $1200, they replaced all the power steering, transmission fluids, machined the brakes etc. Not knowing much about cars & not getting as estimate before the work was done (mistakes #2 & #3) I swallowed and paid.

 

So now I've gone to the friendly local outfit for my latest service. They charged me $50 to change the oil and look it over and to tell me everything was fine. He was shocked & stunned that they would replace all the fluids at 60,000km and said it looked like the brakes hadn't been done at all. Basically I got the shaft I'm embarassed to admit.

 

I'm going in there tomorrow to complain & hopefully get a portion refunded. If I get no joy the only thing I could think of was contacting Ford Canada and complaining directly to them. Is there anywhere else I could make my displeasure known? I'm not an aggro kind of person but I'd like some answers or at least to make these people uncomfortable.

 

The guilty party is Sea to Sky Ford in Squamish.

 

Cheers

[No. 13 Baby]

Better Business Bureau of Mainland B.C.

Website: http://www.bbbvan.org

Email: bbbmail@bbbvan.org

Phone: (604) 682-2711

Fax: (604) 681-1544

788 Beatty Street, Suite 404

Vancouver BC V6B 2M1

 

 

[JayB]

I'd talk to Ford Canada as well.

 

While you are at it, send a letter to this guy, and ask him if this is the way he wants his brand represented in B.C.

 

Alan Mulally, CEO

Ford Motor Company

P. O. Box 1899

Dearborn, MI 48121

[gertlush]

Thanks, it's good to have stuff to 'threaten' them with. I'm also going to say that I'll write letters to all of the local papers outlining my shoddy treatment.

[fishstick]

I think threaten is the wrong way to go about it.

 

Start by being reasonable (but firm) and ask for an explanation including if the work done was normal procedure on all 60,000k checks. Get that in writing.

 

If they are unresponsive to your concerns (blow you off) and you you're certain you're being dicked around (get a second and possibly third opinion within the industry), write the Squamish Chamber of commerce and explain your position. They're all going to know one another and it's going to be a matter of embarrassment for the dealer. The line you want to take is you supported local business but they're failing to support you. Cc three of four members.

 

If going to Ford of Canada, explain (politely) that you believe in supporting the North American industry, but you're questioning why.

 

The most lethal weapon you have (to be used later) is the one you're already using - the net. By arranging your syntax on a site that links any web search for the dealer with your issue, you become a very large pain in the ass. It might not get you money, but it'll make them pretty unhappy.

 

But I stress, make ABSOLUTELY SURE you are in fact being dicked around. I've seen a bunch of strange shit that most wouldn't believe.

Edited August 10, 2007 by fishstick

[Serenity]

Best thing to do is sell your truck and buy a Toyota. Even if they don't know it, you'll have done more to harm Ford's reputation in the long run. You end up with a reliable vehicle, and pretty good customer service (although all car dealerships are various shades of snakes in the grass.

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

 

Just my .02

[Dechristo]

Tell 'em you channeled Henry Ford and he's pissed as hell about this.