Dealerships are different

[Hellwig]

Ted Britt Ford Service Department (@Chantilly ,VA) doesn't refuse a small job with factory warranty. I actually brough the vehicle to Koons Ford Sterling (@Sterling, VA) the day before, but their service representative used every possible excuse to try to convince me the loosen cowl piece is normal and there is nothing to be fixed. It turns out there was a cowl cover clip missing. I only waited for 10 minutes and then it was fixed. Professional vs. Unprofessional, obviously.

It just occurred to me, when I went to Koons Ford Sterling for the missing roof rim trim claim back to June 2024, they were reluctant to take that job too, simply because that was a warranty job as well, I believe.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

I've found that finding a great dealer is extremely important, but also extremely difficult. I now find myself driving 45 minutes one-way to go to a dealer that is good, versus the crappy dealer in town.

 

[SyndicateZ]

For any of you that live local to me. Dont bring your Ford to Danvers Ford in Danvers, MA. They do their best in avoiding any type of warranty work and will say "its a normal sound" or "your warranty wont cover it" in hopes that the customer doesnt question and moves along. They are very shady.

 

[Calidad]

All warranty work is a profit loss for 3rd party businesses ie dealers. They honestly do not want any warranty work period!! All warranty work is done at fixed auto maker rates well under market shop rates. Especially!!!! If the dealer is selling 80% of their oil changes at $450+ per hour fake servicing jobs to customers.

No seriously thats the game.

The biggest offenders are large auto group owned store fronts like a Lithia owned store front etc.

Independent locally owned dealers typically are better given they have a reputation of being fair or go out of business. They also typically pay their qualified workers better also.

 

[Hellwig]

All warranty work is a profit loss for 3rd party businesses ie dealers. They honestly do not want any warranty work period!! All warranty work is done at fixed auto maker rates well under market shop rates. Especially!!!! If the dealer is selling 80% of their oil changes at $450+ per hour fake servicing jobs to customers.

No seriously thats the game.

The biggest offenders are large auto group owned store fronts like a Lithia owned store front etc.

Independent locally owned dealers typically are better given they have a reputation of being fair or go out of business. They also typically pay their qualified workers better also.

Well, it's their contract with Ford and Ford vehicle owners. If dealerships refuse to do warranty work, then what's the purpose of their existence? Customer do not need them at all if they do not fulfill warranty claim.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Well, it's their contract with Ford and Ford vehicle owners. If dealerships refuse to do warranty work, then what's the purpose of their existence? Customer do not need them at all if they do not fulfill warranty claim.

A stealership's purpose it to sell VEHICLES, and overpriced service work, as well as make as much MONEY as they can, nothing more, nothing less..

NO, they do NOT like to do warranty work for the reasons already stated, but the good ones are smart enough to realize that if they provide high quality & honest warranty work on existing vehicles, there's a better chance of the owners coming back to them for future purchases of new(er) vehicles....

That's why it's important that once you find a good one, stick with them & develop a good relationship with them if at all possible...

I have such a relationship with a local GMC dealership, having bought 5 vehicles from them over the past 22 years, and even though the big signs in the service dept say "Labor rate - $85/hr" I have rarely paid more than $62.50/hr, and they charge me the same price or less for GM parts with lifetime warranties than most places charge for aftermarket stuff with limited or no warranties.....

just a thought

 

[SilverStealth]

A stealership's purpose it to sell VEHICLES, and overpriced service work, as well as make as much MONEY as they can, nothing more, nothing less..

NO, they do NOT like to do warranty work for the reasons already stated, but the good ones are smart enough to realize that if they provide high quality & honest warranty work on existing vehicles, there's a better chance of the owners coming back to them for future purchases of new(er) vehicles....

That's why it's important that once you find a good one, stick with them & develop a good relationship with them if at all possible...

I have such a relationship with a local GMC dealership, having bought 5 vehicles from them over the past 22 years, and even though the big signs in the service dept say "Labor rate - $85/hr" I have rarely paid more than $62.50/hr, and they charge me the same price or less for GM parts with lifetime warranties than most places charge for aftermarket stuff with limited or no warranties.....

just a thought

Wow! In Northern California, I've seen shop fees range from $110 to $185/hr! That's from independents and dealers. It's the main reason I've started doing my own wrenching... thanks to YouTube.

 

[Hellwig]

Wow! In Northern California, I've seen shop fees range from $110 to $185/hr! That's from independents and dealers. It's the main reason I've started doing my own wrenching... thanks to YouTube.

Same here. Local dealerships labor rate is $185/hr across the board.

​

 

[Calidad]

Bay Area CA shops rate at top private shops are around $180hr.
“ALL” the Auto group owned dealer store fronts pitch standard job costs around $450-$600 hr shop rate when you look up the book time.

Independent dealers all typically land in the $180-$200 hr range. I quit Toyota and Subaru given its literally Impossible to find a dealer within 140 miles thats both independent and actually quotes book time and anything remotely close to $180-$200 hr. If they can’t scam you they literally tell you “look man you don’t want to service your car here and hang up on you” because they have 10 people on hold paying $600 for a 20 minute oil change.