PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Don't ever go to the dealer for service!!

joe p · #11 02-22-2003, 12:49 PM

Well, in some cases the dealer is a good place to get your car fixed. I remembver many a time sorting out cars in the dealer enviroment that others had beat on attempting to repair. Generally step one was undoing previous attempts then getting to the source of the probelm.

However, this is not always the case. Yes, dealers are mostly more expensive than indys and certianly more expensive than DIY. However, there comes a time when the dealer is the only source for either a repair or a part. It just dosen't have to be the local one. Shopping is always a good place to start. I figure 9999 out of 1000 repairs can be handled by either the indy or by DIY but, there are simple some things the dealer has the market cornered on either by training or by viture of seriously overpriced test equipment. And once again, getting the correct diagnosis and only the needed part replaced is the key to a cost effective repair. Once again I refer to the number of times I've seen good money after bad throw into a car attempting a repair based on either a faulty diagnosis or on lack of product knowledge.

That being said as a indy I will tell you this much, unless I know you and know your ability to diagnosis your own complaint I will not blindly accept your diagnosis before perform a repair. Reason being is simple, I have followed these diagnosis's in the past only to have the repair not solve the problem. Then when informed the client would get angry and expect the problem fixed for free, even tho' I didn't do the diagnosis. Personally I'd rather lose the repair money than deal with the bull**** that comes into these situations. It simply is not efficient use of time and resources.

Odds are you'll find most dealers are the same way. Finding one to do a repair without doing at least a general recheck of the problem might be kinda tough. The dealer you refer to in Cary just happens to be manned by several of my ex-coworkers of whom several have my respect as damn good techs. Is the place expensive, hell yeah, are parts costs outragous, oh yeah. Is the work good? In most cases yes. Nope, I'm not blowing smoke up your ass, just giving you another angle of perspective.

As is well known here, I firmly beleive in educated clients and endorse DIY repairs, I think its great that people know their cars and know 'em well. This does nothing but make my job easier and being a basiclly lazy human appeals to me. (afterall knowledge is king) Would I rather have your service and repair business over recomending the dealer? Yep. I do however see both the need and the service dealer service departments perform.

Joe