I feel this pain, and I think as car guys we've been in this situation at least once.
This is my list going back to when I got my license and the end of 2004, there's probably more but I don't really care to remember.
- Paint removed from the rear bumper of my first car, someone backed the car into an engine stand. The dealer had it repaired.
- On the same car, I had it in to fit a factory rear spoiler at a body shop. They lost the keys and had to have the whole ignition system replaced with two new keys and fobs. On what was supposed to be a few hundred dollar job, would have cost them $1000's to have that addressed.
- The XR6 was handed back to me with paint missing from the front bumper, noticed by me upon arriving home. The dealer again repaired it.
- I've had wheels ruined when new tyres were fitted. I was then told that I did that, so never had them repaired. Very upset over that.
- The Jaguar was in for a service, when I got it home, I noticed the hood and front quarters were covering in some sort of greasy substance, all streaky/smeary. I phoned and abused the service advisor, full Victor Meldrew style, about delivering a car back to the customer like that. He insisted I return the car, but I refused to let them touch it again, then wasted an hour getting it clean in the hot summer sun.
The thing is, people make mistakes, I get that. And in most cases, the dealer or business involved will take care of the problem. But that doesn't take into account for time and effort wasted on crap like this. Not to mention being so un-present at what you are doing to even notice the DO NOT WASH notes or cards left in the vehicle. I actually put a card and have it noted in the service requests/tasks so that the tech performing the service has it in writing in front of them.
This is the Victor Meldrew reference by the way.............................. "I'd like to speak to the manager and be quick about it"............. "does he know who's calling?".................."no he doesn't but he will shortly!"
