$500+ 15k Miles service - drove from TN to CA to get ripped off!

[Decio]

It might be worth calling up local dealerships and asking if they use BG's Virtual Maintenance Advisor and steer clear if they do. Any platform made "for dealers to increase efficiency, productivity, and profitability" is bad news for the consumer.

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[glenng6]

I buy my PUP and filter from Amazon, take it to my dealer and they change it with a very good tech, let me watch him do it, for $35. I'll pay $35 not to crawl under my car and say a few curse words any day.

Only a few? I can't even watch a sports game, live, without my referee doll to tear apart and throw at the TV! Glenn

 

[Skye]

Any platform made "for dealers to increase efficiency, productivity, and profitability" is bad news for the consumer.

These systems have become common in my area, from local shops to the dealer.

If someone hasn't encountered these inspection and recommendation tickets yet...

I can do most general maintenance activities myself. Sometimes, a trip to the dealer or service shop is needed.

The last time I visited Toyota, they pulled my service history, which had huge voids. Without an initial discussion, I was presented with a list of maintenance totaling close to $4,000. I selected the one item I was interested in and passed on the rest. I never saw any tells anyone actually checked anything. Sad. And why I no longer go to them.

A recent action by a local shop, they had a similar system, involving physical inspection and photos. I could tell from the grease marks they'd actually checked things. The list of possibles was realistic, all but one item I already had on my list to accomplish in the coming months.

The software is for revenue generation, yes. Times past, vehicles required a lot of regular maintenance, much of which is no longer necessary or even possible. Vehicles in-general are much more reliable than they used to be.

Sometimes the need is legitimate: there are problems lurking which haven't been seen or addressed. Sometimes, it's the shop attempting to maximize their income. For those looking for someone they can trust, referrals can be helpful. Maybe push a small bit of maintenance, like an oil or filter change, to gauge the environment. If possible, a walk-by the stalls or bays themselves. If they have a steady stream of customers, what Google and BBB reviews look like.

The inspection information is often given via e-mail. Focusing only on the work at hand, unless something on the list will immediately affect the driving or safety of the vehicle, pass, then take the list and do research on that.

The maintenance schedule is probably the quickest tell if the dealer or shop is being straight. If it's listed on the schedule and you realize it hasn't been done, OK. If it's some kind of add-on, "newly discovered enhancement" or something of the sort, pass.

 

[robvas]

It takes too much time for a tech to actually look at the car and make sensible recommendations. They love pushing those high profit cleaning products.

Check the fluids, see how they all look. Check the brakes, check the suspension, look for leaks, look at belts and filters and wipers...

I understand they get paid by the job so when they are making the $15 or whatever they get for an oil change they don't have the time to go do all that stuff, even if it only takes about 10 minutes.

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