What should I do?

[IcedTea]

I was at the dealership waiting for my car after they changed out the diff fluid and replaced my clutch. Apparently they gave my an un solicited free car wash. I looked in the detailing lot and saw them using sqweegees on the paint. I knew it would be bad.

I walk up to my car when they were done. The boot lid is scrated like they use cat claw on it. There is also a deep scratch on the door. and micro swirls all over the car. I am soooo upset and I dont know what to do.

[CieraSL]

Re: What should I do?

If it's really bad, talk to the service manager (or whoever is in charge) and see if they will either pay to have it taken to a reputable and qualified detailer (not some hack) and have the car buffed and polished, or if you are going to do it yourself, see if they will compensate you for your products and time spent.

[Eddie6th]

Re: What should I do?

Very sorry to hear that.

Did you take this up with the manager of the dealership?

Apart from the fact,that they did a terrible job,probably most of it could be fixed by you,but you mentioned a deep scratch on the door.This might not be easily fixed.

I would check with the dealership first,to see if they will compensate you,by offering to rectify this free of charge.

[Tuck91]

Re: What should I do?

If it's really bad, talk to the service manager (or whoever is in charge) and see if they will either pay to have it taken to a reputable and qualified detailer (not some hack) and have the car buffed and polished,

Well, odds are if you take that route then the dealership/service manager will find the cheapeast detailer he can get, and then you will more than likely have an inexperienced detailer going over the car with a rotary and making things even worse than they are.

All I am saying is I wouldnt let them touch it again if I were you.

[IcedTea]

Re: What should I do?

Yea, when I saw them using the sqweegees I spoke with the manager. He said to bring it in moday as the detailing shop is closed on the weekends. I dont think I will let them touch the car though. I will speak to him about having some of my freinds detail my car and he pays the expenses for them. My car is the one thing next to familey that I hate to be "messed with"... and my family is flying in from Mexico tomarrow.

[Tuck91]

Re: What should I do?

Yea, when I saw them using the sqweegees I spoke with the manager. He said to bring it in moday as the detailing shop is closed on the weekends. I dont think I will let them touch the car though. I will speak to him about having some of my freinds detail my car and he pays the expenses for them. My car is the one thing next to familey that I hate to be "messed with"... and my family is flying in from Mexico tomarrow.

If your not gonna do it yourself, then whoever does do it should tell you what products, techniques and type of machines they will be using.

If necessary, report back here and we can help to further assist you.

[CieraSL]

Re: What should I do?

If necessary, report back here and we can help to further assist you.

That made me laugh. I don't know why, but it sounds like something a sergeant would say. "Report back here."

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: What should I do?

Sorry to hear this happened. See what the service manager can do. Keep on going up the chain of command to you get a satisfactory answer.

Next time make some signs. "please do not wash vehicle". Tell the service writer, the tech, so this will not happen again.

[Eddie6th]

Re: What should I do?

Yea, when I saw them using the sqweegees I spoke with the manager. He said to bring it in moday as the detailing shop is closed on the weekends. I dont think I will let them touch the car though. I will speak to him about having some of my freinds detail my car and he pays the expenses for them. My car is the one thing next to familey that I hate to be "messed with"... and my family is flying in from Mexico tomarrow.

What kind of detailing shop? It is a concern that they will make matters worse.Apart from that deep scratch you mentioned on the door,it sounds like a job you and your friends can do.

Can you post a pic of this scratch to see how bad it is?

[Eddie6th]

Re: What should I do?

That made me laugh. I don't know why, but it sounds like something a sergeant would say. "Report back here."

[IcedTea]

Re: What should I do?

Here is a picture, I rubbed some UC over the spot and the scratch faded, this is whats left.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9061/scatcher.jpg

[Eddie6th]

Re: What should I do?

Thanks for the link. It's hard to tell. The pic is a bit blurred. From what i can see,it looks as if it's right through to the primer.Can you try another pic which is clearer? I think you might have went to close.

If that is the case,it can't be corrected by using any abrasive compound.

If that was made by the worker at the dealership,you'll have to speak to them and get it repaired at their expense.You might have a bit of an argument with them as they will probably deny it.

As for the rest of the car,as mentioned earlier,I think you and your friends will do a better job and take more time and care.

[StoneRaizer]

Re: What should I do?

While this won't help your current situation, if you liked the service they did to your car other than the "free" car wash, I'd leave them a note in writing to only do what you're paying them to do. Politely ask them not to wash your car and sign and date the note.

[IcedTea]

Re: What should I do?

They gave me a paint pen for the door scratch but said that he wont compensate my friends and I for doing the swirls because "everyone has swirls in their paint" It makes me mad because I spent HOURS using swirlX and scratchX to get pristine paint and this guy goes and ruins it, and wont even pay for his wrong doing.

[JoeDirt]

Re: What should I do?

While I would have probably phrased it ias "having an outside party repair the scratches on my car for an agreed upon price" rather than something like "have my friends work on it" or something that doesn't sound too professional, I would talk to the owner of the dealership directly. I would politely tell him that the inability of the service manager or whomever you're dealing with to recognize, let alone deal with a concern is just an example of why many consumers are apprehensive to trust a dealership with their probable second largest investment in life. Whether or not "everyone" has swirls in their paint is irrelevant. You're talking about your car, and if they cannot respect your property and return it in the same condition it was in previously or accept responsibility for scratching it up- and worse yet- ridicule you for raising the concern, you will no longer be using their services, and will make sure that anyone you know that may use their services will hear about your experiences with their lack of respect to your car and yourself as a paying customer.

In short- go over his head if it does bother you- which it should. He's blowing you off. That attitude is exactly why people have problems with dealerships. A paint pen? Come on... That's ridiculous.