I have had it with the Dodge dealers in the GTA. If you don't want to hear me complain stop reading, but I have to vent or I'll blow a gasket.

I ordered winter floor mats for my truck and my wife's jeep. Did the dealer tell me it would take 6 weeks for them to come in when I ordered them? No.

Did they call me when one set finally came in? No.

Did they call me when the other set came in? No.

So I called today to see how long it would take to get a headrest DVD delivered from MOPAR for my Ram. Guy tells me they can only get it in tan cloth. Um, really? Meanwhile I'm looking at the MOPAR catalogue that says it comes color coded to match the interior. I ask the guy are you sure. Yep. Can't get it. Oh, cus I'm looking at it online right now. Nope, sorry.

So I call another dealer who confirms he can get it color coded no problem. Just what I thought. Cost is about $1500CDN.

So I call back the first dealer and say, not trying to be a pain in the *** but I'm pretty sure you can order it color coded. He checks again and says - well what do you know, we can get it. Will cost you $1900 CDN.

Ah, an extra $400 because I was lucky enough to get to call you and tell you what parts you could order for me? Sounds fair.

So I'm done with the dealer. From here on in whatever work I need done I'm going to a local business. Parts - if I have to order MOPAR parts I'm looking online. Screw it, I'll make them myself -carve them out of wood if I have to. Play-dough. Whatever.

I'm reminded of when I bought my truck and had to listen to the sales guy tell me what a great truck it was. Then when I was stuck in the manager's office doing the paperwork, all I got was the hard sell on how I needed paint protection or the paint woudl all fall off, rust protection because it would rust and fall apart, seat protection or they would disintegrate. All I could think of was how my truck went from the best vehicle in the universe to a piece of crap in about 3 minutes.

Ahhhh. That feels much better.

Dubya

 

sounds liek you have a horrible dealership near you.... i had the same issue, i finally went ot a different dealership and its a completely different story. the new one i have been going to goes out of their way to help me out with anything. i felt like i was getting the brush off at the other one. so needless to say, i now go to the new one everytime for everything. even on first name basis with the people. so it's not dodge really, just that dealership. dont lose faith bro

 

Dubya, I can sure understand your frustration. I live in Cobourg and because I wanted a Ram I ordered a 2010 Hemi 2WD from "a local dealer" sight unseen and with little haggling. Traded in a very low mileage 2005 Toyota Tacoma, got what I wanted (almost) in difference, all was good. When the truck came in I found out the hard way that 2WD Hemi's come standard with the 3.21 axle, not the 3.55 that I wanted and due to lack of salesperson knowledge I lost 2000# towing capacity. I accept some blame for not checking closely but the only place the spec is mentioned is one tiny little line in the brochure. The salesperson should have known and alerted me since we had been talking towing axle ratios the day before. Anyway, no help from the dealership.

Asked them about swapping gears, they said it couldn't be done, called a dealer in Peterborough and they said "of course it can be done", my dealer just didn't want to bother ($1800 for what would have been a $75 upgrade when ordered). Add total confusion over the brake controller wiring harness and several other annoyances and what we get is a truck that will be going to Peterborough for all but emergency service. I hope the "local dealer" checks here from time to time (fat chance).

Rick in Cobourg

 

Yeah I'd start dealing with a different dealership. Tell them straight up what a sh*tty experience you've had with the other one and they'll probably be happy to please you & earn a customer.

 

Yeah you need to shop online my friend, go to hensons motorsports online (one place to start), get the number and call Art, tell him your a member of thehemitruck.com (great site become a member). I have dealt with art on online purchases through ebay and direct, and found to get really good prices. You can also get the price online and go to dealer (maybe not in ca) and see if they will beat or match the price.

 

Well I only go for oil changes so they can't say I didn't get them done...they have the records, and warranty.

 

you dont even want to hear about my local dealership...
Ipod cable - ive been back and forth for over a year now trying to get an ipod cable to work with my REN, been through 4 cables now - one I had to wait 8 months for! Its sad when I can find out more online in 5 minutes about what parts to use than they can find out when they call the engineers in detroit, and they wont even listen to any suggestions I have! I told them its the wrong part number uconnect box but they say "no way it is definitely the right box, it came in the truck!'

Creaking seat - they did the RTT on the drivers seat, it didn't creak before but it has ever since really badly and they keep saying "can not duplicate problem" I ended up snapping infront of a whole lineup of people because the guy got smart with me and said if their tech couldn't hear it they couldn't fix it.. this is after i personally showed them the creak twice.

Vibration at 30km/h only - had it in twice now, after not being able to hear or feel it the first time they finally noticed it , its a harmonic vibe that sets up at 30km/h only and is always there, you can feel it through the floor and gas pedal as well as hear it. Second time in, they think its either a wheel bearing or rear end.. take cover off rear end - no problems so they RE-USE THE FLUID! Cheap ****s... Wheel bearings fine, so they try and blame it on a bent wheel and that i'd have to pay for a new one at $600 or something ridiculous.. If the tech had any mechanical ability whatsoever I don't know how they could even suggest a bent wheel.. seeing as I told them it was there since day 1 and the tires have been rotated twice now and no steering wheel vibe!

Warranty is completely useless with these retards, they will try and pin it on you no matter what.

 

The dealers in Canada suck at least where I am at,I have been fighting with them since I bought my truck.Chrysler Canada customer service is no better they pass the problem to the dealer and the dealers pass it onto them.After the sale is done it is like they could careless about you until it is time to buy again then they act like they are your best freind.

 

While I am not surprised, I am sorry to hear that a bunch of you have also had crappy experiences with dealers. I'm going to take Bigtexmarine and Zigggy's advice and go to another dealership and see if they want my business after I explain what I had to put up with at the first one.

I'm also going to try Hensons for parts - thanks Rolltidehemi.

To be clear, so far I have had no problems at all (knock on wood) with my truck and I absolutely love it.

What I'm worried about is - if this is how they treat me when all I want to do is buy add-on parts at a huge mark-up - how will they treat me if I have have to fix a problem like Cpelton or Hemimike!!

Luckily I have a good local garage who did a great job servicing my last truck and who is about to get a whole bunch more business from me...

For those of you in the GTA - I'm getting an alpine ceiling mount DVD player installed by a shop called "Number One Sound" (www.number1sound.com). I'll report back after it's done and let you know how it went.

Cheers -

KDubya

 

Its not just Canadian dealers that suck, some suck here too. I think less people in the states complain because most have two or three dealers within 50 miles of them. At least if one is bad you can find another and the dealers know that so they try a little harder.

I'm in a small city and there is four Chrysler/Dodge dealers withing 25 miles of me. There used to be seven before they shut them down last year. Big problem dealers are trying to get out of warranty work, GM is no better these days, these companies are operating in the red and even though the dealer would love to throw parts at cars like the old days (they get paid) the manufactures are looking closer at what gets done and clamping down. Then add on most older, experienced techs are retiring and a lot of these new guys are simply there for a paycheck and have never been able to diagnose anything in their life unless its spelled out in a book. Then add some service writers who know nothing about cars and are simply salesmen and that equals a bad service department.