Rant

[imdusty]

I bought a used pick up about 2 weeks ago with a new engine and a 1 year warranty on the engine.
Last week on the way to work the damned thing decided to dump all it's oil out on the interstate. I called the dealership and they came to get it and fixed it. But first they called me to ask who had worked on the truck, as this would void the warranty. It seems the oil lines were duct taped together. I assured them I had not crawled under it, and nobody had worked on it since their mechanics had put in the "new" engine.
They called me on Thursday last week to tell me the truck was fixed. I drove out there after work to pick it up. The thing started really hard and I made a comment to that effect. I drove the truck home (about 2 miles) and parked it for the night. Next morning I got up to go to work and the darned thing wouldn't start, rolls over but no fire. I called them up again to explain my dilema and they tell me the manager is out, but he will call me back later in the day. No call. I call them Saturday and get the same. No call. I go there Sunday and they can't for the life of them figure out why I'm so p****d off. Manager isn't in but checks in from time to time on weekends and will call me back. No call.
I'm thinking about taking out an ad in the local newpaper.
"Ask me about my experience with so-and-so auto dealership"
Then calling the dealership to let them know what I have done and that the response I give people will be up to them.
What do you think?
Rant over.

[ozwinner]

Dont you just hate it when you buy something and the thing doesnt work, or blows up minutes after you get it?

I spent A$65,000 on a new Ford F250 3 years ago, the motor blew up after only 25,000 Kms.
They fixed it on warranty, but thats not the point.

Al

[bennylaird]

Had the Calais serviced, 60,000 km, $1820. Had a knock in the suspension so they replaced the castors. Got the car back with the same noise, sway bar rubbers........
$100 to drain, flush, and refill the power steering fluid etc etc., and thats a Holden dealership so guess who wont be going back.

[oges]

Bad news about the truck, but I would be worried about being sued for defamation, people seem pretty keen on law suits these days, especially in your neck of the woods

[E. maculata]

Sorry to hear about the ute Dusty, just goes to show there are dodgy salespeople all over the globe, If it was I, I'd ring them and outline your plan just before you place the ad, but then again we have fairly extensive consumer protection laws here for these situations, maybe there is an agency you can turn to.

[Daddles]

The duct tape on the oil lines is a bit of a give away. Here we've got a mob called Consumer Affairs - the government department supposed to go in to bat for the customer. Go straight to them ... though I suggest you ring your local version rather than ours

Have a merry christmas despite the dramas - you could always have a few beers and dream about a ute shaped bon fire:eek:

Richard

[woodbe]

I'd take the thing to a third party. Do you have motoring clubs over there?

Here, we can get an expert inspection by the club which you can then ram down the stealer's throat.

1 year on a new engine sounds reasonable, but is it really new? If it's new, the argument should be with the engine supplier not with the stealer, in which case, you have to ask yourself why they are making life difficult for you - unfortunately the answer is probably that they ripped you off, and the engine isn't quite the one that you paid for.

Sometimes, you have to decide if it's all worth the candle. How many points on the blood pressure scale is a beater pick-up worth? How do you value your time when you spend lots of it fighting the morons at the car lot, and what would you rather be doing?

Hate to admit it, but I have sometimes made the judgement that even though I'm right, I can't trust the (insert idiot retailer here) to do the right thing, and so I pull the object and my time back, fix it properly on my own money and write it up to experience. Sure, they 'get away' with it, but you are never going to win that fight on your own anyway. Report them to the authorities, with copies of correspondance and invoices to prove what you say.

HTH

Michael

[imdusty]

I'm new to this state and don't have a grasp on the protection available here yet. I'm checking in out, though. Yesterday I call and they tell me the manager is out sick, he's the only one who can make a decision. Meanwhile my truck sits outside unable to be used for what I bought it for.

[Daddles]

Hmm, when all else fails, I understand that the Hell's Angels offer a compassionate and understanding service to address issues like this - just ask for Chainsaw or Ballbearing

Seriously, there's got to be something like Consumer Affairs to have a chat with these gits ... doesn't there?:confused:

Richard

[imdusty]

I finally get hold of the manager yesterday while I was on break at work. He tells me they will pick up the truck when I can get the keys to him. I tell him the keys are in the console. He asks if that's a good idea with car theives and such lurking around. I tell him nobody can steal the damned thing anyway, it never runs! When I got home from work the truck is gone. I guess they either picked it up or it was stolen. Keep your fingers crossed, I have insurance if it was stolen.

[bennylaird]

Hmm, when all else fails, I understand that the Hell's Angels offer a compassionate and understanding service to address issues like this - just ask for Chainsaw or Ballbearing

Richard

Is Ballbearing still around? I haven't seen him for years, has some great stories to tell, lol.