Lesson Learned... Still Not Over It..

How long was your car at the dealer for? And when you brought it in was it already clean? I'm confused why they wash cars when they are serviced. My girlfriends car is going in for recall work soon and I'm afraid this will happen. Her car is also black.
Have any pics of the damage?
 
I was there for a recall that was supposed to take 5-10 minutes and I had washed the car the day before but it was raining on the way there.

I'll post pictures tomorrow, I'm hoping for the sun to be out. Either way I'll be meeting with manager tomorrow so I'm anxious to hear what he has to say..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
 
gardnerr2 said:
So the myth is true.... I have a Lexus and I took it in for a recall. I know I don't even need to go on any farther but I will say that I asked THREE people to make sure my car wasn't going to be washed before handing them my keys.......

(I KNOW I KNOW LESSON LEARNED WAS MAKE THE DARN SIGNS)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/66855-don-t-wash-car.html

Anyways, its cloudy as all can believe and its still showing off its new DISO detail.

They offered to buff it out. I said heck no kindly. Speaking to a manager tomorrow.. What do I ask for? I don't want them touching my paint ever again. He promised to get this fixed and even mentioned the body shop.

What would you do if you were me here? I don't have a paint thickness reader but common sense is telling me I don't have too much room to play with on this car.

PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE FOR TOMORROW'S MEETING/CALL WITH MANAGER...

Im going to bring some sun shots showing a swirl free finish up close but that's all I have for "ammo" as of right now...

Sincerely,
Very Sad Detailer

PS: I really don't have the heart to take pictures of the car right now... too angry and like I said before, too cloudy. Thanks for reading :xyxthumbs::xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...


I would say whatever money it would take to get it done right by a professional detailer would be a good starting point.

Figure $75 an hour and depending on how bad it is....
 
Usually the spot where they wash the cars is open or partially open. I always wait with my car for any service, and I keep an eye on their "detailing spot" to make sure my car goes nowhere near there.

However, I'll fix almost anything possible or do any service possible at home, as long as its not a crazy PIA without a lift. Usually a recall / state inspection is something you can wait for.
 
I made the dealership pay to have it corrected by my buddy in San Antonio

They didn't put up a fight as I had specifically instructed the service manager NOT to wash it.

V_56B5.jpg


They covered all the bases:
Greasy tires
Tire grease on door
Nice job on the wheels
Water spots
Swirls

WP_20130604_007_1_.jpg


WP_20130604_001_1_.jpg


WP_20130604_002.jpg


WP_20130604_003.jpg


WP_20130604_005_1_.jpg
 
Last edited:
I am really sorry to hear about what happened to your Lexus. I would suggest going in there and explain to him very nicely all the time and hard work you put into your car. If possible walk out to your car together and show off your new DISO. Then wait and see what they will offer you. If they offer to buff it out, explain to them that this is not the type of job for a body shop. Only the finesse of a very experienced detailer would be right for your situation.
I hope everything works out for you.
 
KillaCam said:
^^ prob not a good idea posting a pic of that check.
Click to expand...

+1 there is a LOT of information on that check that should not be posted publicly.

Does anyone ever check the cars in the lot for DISO? I had thought about doing it at the dealer I ordered my car from. Guess if you're buying 'off the lot' instead of ordering you're just stuck with it? Notwithstanding used.

My neighbor just bought a brand new Jeep and I was impressed with how great it looked (other than greasy looking tires). Even took a peek when he was telling me about it and couldn't see any swirls in the sunlight. Talked to him the other day though. Lotso swirls! He was out there scrubbing some road tar off with a dry towel (kitchen towel) on dry paint with lots of elbow grease, and I know he's washed it a few times with the good ol' sponge off-the-garage floor and hose method. So, obviously, it's not a concern for most dealers. Most folks have no IDEA what swirls are or even care.

Ignorance is bliss. Too bad you guys here at Autogeeks screwed me over and gave me a bunch of work to do. A couple of months ago I'd have been just fine letting the dealer detail it, and throwing some wax on it once a month in nice little circular motions with a dirty used applicator pad!
 
swanicyouth said:
Usually the spot where they wash the cars is open or partially open. I always wait with my car for any service, and I keep an eye on their "detailing spot" to make sure my car goes nowhere near there.

However, I'll fix almost anything possible or do any service possible at home, as long as its not a crazy PIA without a lift. Usually a recall / state inspection is something you can wait for.
Click to expand...

Recall is one thing but, again, why do the state inspection at the dealer? State inspections are usually 'price controlled' but aside from that, local shops are often better, nearly always cheaper, and usually never wash ANY cars. I got a state inspection done at a dealer one time, forget why. But I had to give the guy my keys, sat for well over an hour in a waiting room with some tiny TV, and just waited and waited and waited, then finally he brought me back my keys, not before I saw my car nearly bottom out because of how fast he came flying out of the shop with my car.

The local shop I go to, state inspections I'm the one who drives the car. I drive it into the shop, he tells me to turn on my blinkers and stuff like that. Then I hop out so they can jack up one wheel and inspect one brake (others states may be different, but in MO they just pick one random wheel to pull off and check the brakes). Easy! Faster too.

If I don't feel like changing my oil, believe it or not, the quick change places (like Valvoline) are better, IMO. Once again, some $10 an hour shop tech with a lead foot isn't driving my car. I am. You pull it into the booth; it doesn't even go on a lift (they have a hole in the floor and a guy is already standing under it!). You don't even have to get out of the car. 10 minutes and you're done. I much prefer that over waiting and waiting and waiting at the dealer, who is going to put it up on a lift to do it.

I took my motorcycle in for an ECU recall a couple years ago. Watched them take it down off the lift and ride it out back. Walked out back and saw a little 2 gallon bucket of suds and a grease stained, dirty shop rag being smeared all over my precious bike. I tried to be polite and say "Don't worry about it". He said "Oh no man it's no big deal", and, a little annoyed, I said "If you're using the same rag you use to wipe greasy parts down it kind of is a big deal". He just said "Oh, yeah, sorry man", and tossed me the keys. That was my worst experience! And it was odd, because while a lot of car drivers aren't 'car guys', motorcycle guys (especially Cruisers with lots of Chrome) are big into keeping their bikes looking good! They may be swirl-illiterate, but few bikers would take a greasy, stained rag to their bike.
 
geekdout said:
I am really sorry to hear about what happened to your Lexus. I would suggest going in there and explain to him very nicely all the time and hard work you put into your car. If possible walk out to your car together and show off your new DISO. Then wait and see what they will offer you. If they offer to buff it out, explain to them that this is not the type of job for a body shop. Only the finesse of a very experienced detailer would be right for your situation.
I hope everything works out for you.
Click to expand...

This is my intended approach going into tomorrow. I have the name and number of a detailer way beyond my skill level so hopefully this will all be handled in a way that doesn't leave me feeling completely miserable.

Wish me luck. I'll be sure to let everyone know what they have to say. Thanks for reading

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
 
I take mine to the dealership because I purchased it as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle which includes a warranty and free oil changes with Mobil 1.

The oil changes on an SUV are pretty pricey at around $55.

My sign worked last time I took it in.

WP_20131017_002.jpg
 
allenk4 said:
The oil changes on an SUV are pretty pricey at around $55.

WP_20131017_002.jpg
Click to expand...

I think BMW charges about $210 to do an oil change on my M Roadster. But then again, I wouldn't know for sure, because I always do it myself. They have tried to "up sell" the oil change when I'm their for state inspection.

Just to throw this out there against all the dealer hate, if you go in the showroom of Ottos BMW in West Chester PA you we see some beautifully detailed no swirl BMWs their. And no, not all new cars.

I wouldn't say their detailing is AG good, but I would say its extremely good. I still don't let them wash my car though.

It seems their policy is "do no harm" which is good.
 
zmcgovern45 said:
Updates? Are they going to pay for you to take it elsewhere?
Click to expand...

I have a meeting with a corportate guy on Wednesday. The service manager lost his cool with me the second I questioned their washing technique...He lost it.. Anyways, another gentleman came over to help and basically just told me what I wanted to hear to get me out of there. When the first manager asked me what will make it better, I responded with getting it fixed by a detailer of my choice.

He said his shop performs work on the same level as anyone around so I decided to ask five questions. Their guy in charge of detailing was there so I thought it would be a good example as to why I dont trust them working on my car.

1) What is a DA polisher?
- Did not know

2) What is the difference between wax, sealant, and coating?
- We use sealant, doesnt know what coating is or what the lifespan differences are between waxes, sealants and coatings

3) Have you ever heard of Menzerna?
- No

4) How many pads do you use in a two-step correction?
- No answer

5) How many towels do you use and what type?
- "We dont use towels. We use a microfiber and chamois"

I printed off all of my AG receipts and brought them in so they could see how much money (more than I thought...) was put into maintaining the finish that they destroyed in 10 minutes. I claimed that it would not be fair in anyway to give my car anything less than it was when I brought it in to them. I used much more expensive products and took over ten hours to detail it last time.

Im hoping for a good meeting Wednesday, its all upsetting and they show zero remorse for the swirls or what they did. The guy had the audacity to look at some rock chips on my front bumper and say I dont get why you care about these scratches when you have these awful looking chips.

Also, he asked me what the quote was from the detailer I found and he responded to me with "You are off your freaking rocker". Thanks for the tip of going to Todd, I have a correction and coating set up with him for the 4th and 5th pending the meeting on Wednesday. His shop looks amazing from his site.
 
Rock chips are pretty hard to prevent. Stupidity and ignorance aren't. Give em hell.
 
b0b said:
I have a meeting with a corportate guy on Wednesday. The service manager lost his cool with me the second I questioned their washing technique...He lost it.. Anyways, another gentleman came over to help and basically just told me what I wanted to hear to get me out of there. When the first manager asked me what will make it better, I responded with getting it fixed by a detailer of my choice.

He said his shop performs work on the same level as anyone around so I decided to ask five questions. Their guy in charge of detailing was there so I thought it would be a good example as to why I dont trust them working on my car.

1) What is a DA polisher?
- Did not know

2) What is the difference between wax, sealant, and coating?
- We use sealant, doesnt know what coating is or what the lifespan differences are between waxes, sealants and coatings

3) Have you ever heard of Menzerna?
- No

4) How many pads do you use in a two-step correction?
- No answer

5) How many towels do you use and what type?
- "We dont use towels. We use a microfiber and chamois"

I printed off all of my AG receipts and brought them in so they could see how much money (more than I thought...) was put into maintaining the finish that they destroyed in 10 minutes. I claimed that it would not be fair in anyway to give my car anything less than it was when I brought it in to them. I used much more expensive products and took over ten hours to detail it last time.

Im hoping for a good meeting Wednesday, its all upsetting and they show zero remorse for the swirls or what they did. The guy had the audacity to look at some rock chips on my front bumper and say I dont get why you care about these scratches when you have these awful looking chips.

Also, he asked me what the quote was from the detailer I found and he responded to me with "You are off your freaking rocker". Thanks for the tip of going to Todd, I have a correction and coating set up with him for the 4th and 5th pending the meeting on Wednesday. His shop looks amazing from his site.
Click to expand...


They likely wouldn't know because most of the dealerships that I have seen their detailing dept is a production setup and SPEED is what that is all about. So I really wouldn't expect them to have any of the answers that you would want to hear.

Those people go though hundreds of cars a week usually.

So taking the time to do one car correctly would be a trade off of doing 20 cars or more. The ones I know get paid piece work so the more they do the more they get paid. They don't get paid a lot per car either.

Not exactly a setup for a perfect finish, it's not the people in the shops fault really because they are just doing what they have to do to keep their jobs and get paid.

I used to work for a dealership (Sales) years ago.....

Sad to say really, but to them one car is just like any other car to them and they really don't care as they are just piece work to them.

It's the harsh reality of how things really are.
 
b0b said:
I have a meeting with a corportate guy on Wednesday. The service manager lost his cool with me the second I questioned their washing technique...He lost it.. Anyways, another gentleman came over to help and basically just told me what I wanted to hear to get me out of there. When the first manager asked me what will make it better, I responded with getting it fixed by a detailer of my choice.

He said his shop performs work on the same level as anyone around so I decided to ask five questions. Their guy in charge of detailing was there so I thought it would be a good example as to why I dont trust them working on my car.

1) What is a DA polisher?
- Did not know

2) What is the difference between wax, sealant, and coating?
- We use sealant, doesnt know what coating is or what the lifespan differences are between waxes, sealants and coatings

3) Have you ever heard of Menzerna?
- No

4) How many pads do you use in a two-step correction?
- No answer

5) How many towels do you use and what type?
- "We dont use towels. We use a microfiber and chamois"

I printed off all of my AG receipts and brought them in so they could see how much money (more than I thought...) was put into maintaining the finish that they destroyed in 10 minutes. I claimed that it would not be fair in anyway to give my car anything less than it was when I brought it in to them. I used much more expensive products and took over ten hours to detail it last time.

Im hoping for a good meeting Wednesday, its all upsetting and they show zero remorse for the swirls or what they did. The guy had the audacity to look at some rock chips on my front bumper and say I dont get why you care about these scratches when you have these awful looking chips.

Also, he asked me what the quote was from the detailer I found and he responded to me with "You are off your freaking rocker". Thanks for the tip of going to Todd, I have a correction and coating set up with him for the 4th and 5th pending the meeting on Wednesday. His shop looks amazing from his site.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are politely informing them they are ignorant to what "real detailing" is and that they are in fact damaging vehicles.

Todd is known as one of the best in the world for a reason... your car will be in MORE than capable hands :dblthumb2:

Keep us posted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top