PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

dmorrison · #15 08-12-2003, 02:23 PM

Well, with 23 years of owning Mercedes. I've seen it all.

The first story is from my Father-in-law. His friend and boss, who is very well off, He has created and owned 11 companies. Went into a Mercedes dealer on a Friday after fishing on his boat all day, so you can pretty much figure out how he looked and smelled. It was a 52' cabin cruiser, not a dingy. He was looking for 11 cars for the executives of his companies. Mercedes ignored him. He went across the street to the Cadilac dealer. The first sales person he met ignored him. He asked the receptioninst who the newest salesman was and talked to him. He bought 11 Eldorado convertibles from him. Don't judge a book by its cover.

While a junior in college I went to the Mercedes dealer in Raleigh NC. Can't remember there name. I went there quite a few times to drule over the cars. This is 1974. I finally asked one of the salesmen, who I had talked to quite a bit, about a test drive. He took me and my freind out in a 240D. He had the right attitude. He new I could not afford it now But I might in the futrue. And he treated me with respect.

Move forward in time. IN 1980 I bought my first Mercedes a 1970 220D. The dealer in Fayettville NC treated me well, But a 220D doesn't go to the dealer very often. Additionally I was flying to Germany in the AF reserves and would buy my parts from the dealer in Darmstat on layover. 1/3 the cost of US prices for the same part.

I have been going to ******** in Plano, Texas since 1981. Actually they have built and moved through 3 buildings and locations since I started going to them. I have over the time built a good relationship with 3 of the service advisors there and they know I work on the cars and know Mercedes. Robert Schnieder is their top and best service rep there. The parts department has always "taken care of me" For years I have had an "account" with them that gives me a discount on parts. The Manager there has known me since 81 and knows I have 2-4 Mercedes at a time.
I have always been happy with ********. The few screwups that have accured have always been taken care of and I can only recall 3 screwups in all those years of service. Teh special " account " was good until I found 1. Caliber Motors and the MBCA discount. and 2, Fastlane now that the cars are older I can get parts aftermarket.

Since 1996 or so I have been going to Beck imports in the mid-cities of the DFW area. They are now Park Place mid-cities. Its been quite an experience. Their service advisors have been good and bad. I got to know the shop forman, a good guy, and learned who the most knowledgable advisor is. Actually had one of their long time advisors ask if my 300TD was a gas or diesel. To the uninformed, the 300TD Station Wagon, with the 5MPH bumpers which tells you its a US model not an import, has never been imported as a gas model, never. I may be old fashion, but I feel a service advisor at a dealer should know the Mercedes models. I think It expreses 2 items. 1. The dealers don't see the older models--maybe due to the dealer rates, or 2. This particular service advisor doesn't do his homework, and doesn't know the Mercedes line.
The one event I love was buying the new 99 E300 in the summer of 99. I had a female salesperson. I knew more about the Mercedes line than she did. Not just a little, A lot more, She really did not know the product line. I wanted and expected a price lower than sticker. We started negotiating and I offered $100 above invoice. She wouln't even take it to the manager. I finally made her do it. I explained that I could fly to Germany and get a discount. ( I fly for American Airlines) But they would not budge off sticker. So I said I would buy it somewhere else. Its easy I can fly anywhere in the country on American. She informed me that I could not do that, I had to buy it form them. That really floored me. I looked at her puzzled. I they asked her when we had become a comunistic state. She looked puzzled. As far as I know we are not a police state and can buy any thing, thats legal, anywhere we want at any time we want. My wife and I walked out of the dealer.
We bought the 99 E300 for Garlyn-Shelton Mercedes in Temple Texas. They were great. I found, bought and payed for the car all on the phone. We drove down to pick it up and they treated us great, even though I have never been back.
Over the last couple of years I have had Park Place do the service on the 560SL and E300. Finally 2 years ago I left and only go back for an occasional part that I need while im the middle of a job, you know that seal that you need, that you didn't' order because you didn't know about it etc.
My service will be at a place right next to the dealer. Its call Zims, an independent service center for German cars. I have had a few contacts with them and I like what I see. I also have recieved high recommendations from a couple of pilots who use them.
By the way I had the E300 at the dealer, to get a part, and the female salesman remembered me and asked if I was still interested in a car. I pointed to the E300 and said, " you loose, I got it at Garlyn-Shelton in Temple. She was not happy. But I didn't care.

Ive seen quite a deterioration in service over the last 23 years of ownership and 26 years of contact with Mercedes. they need to clean house or the profit and growth potential with be very poor.

Dave