As some of you may remember, I bought a Jeep Compass back in September of this year. I told the salesman that I wanted a cover for the cargo compartment, what they call a tonneau cover. The salesman said he'd get one for me, but it would have to wait a few days. 3 days later, I began calling him, asking him where it was. I was given one excuse after another as to why he didn't have it for me yet. Finally, when I called the sales manager and conferenced with the salesman, the salesman said that he would have had to take it from a vehicle on the lot. I told him I didn't care where it came from, even if it was from his personal vehicle. The sales manager told me that it would cost me an additional $318 to get it. That's when I got a bit more than irritated.

When I purchased the vehicle, FCA sent me a survey to fill out. At this time, I decided to sit down with it, and explain what happened, and that I would not use the dealer for a vehicle purchase again. About 3 days later, I got a call from the Jeep Cares department of FCA. I again explained what had happened, and she made a conference call to both the salesman and sales manager, to see what they had to say about it. Surprisingly, they were honest about the whole thing, and stated that what I said was accurate.

After the call, the lady from Jeep Cares called me to tell me to go and purchase the tonneau cover at full price, and to pay for them to install it...and to FAX the receipt to them, and that they'd cut me a check that day and drop it in the mail. I made sure that they put that in writing in an email, because at this point, I trusted nobody.

Last week on Friday, I had the cover installed while they replaced the seat belt clip sensor that had failed...it kept setting off the seat belt light and chime. In yesterday's mail, a check arrived for the whole amount, plus 5 free oil changes and a free detailing at the dealership.

FCA surprised me with this, since my dealing with my Neon in 1996 basically ruined my faith in car manufacturers and dealer service departments. Those 5 free oil changes will last me a couple of years, since the service department told me that the oil change interval is around the 10K mark (I'll have it done in the 5-7K range). With the amount of driving we do, I should be able to get at least 3-4 years of free oil changes.

I found the cover on the Mopar site for around $130, and was getting ready to buy it before this happened. Look like I'll use that money for the luggage rack cross bars I want instead.

I still won't buy another vehicle from that dealership, but FCA may have roped in as a customer for awhile, unless something catastrophic happens.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I never knew a dealer could be so stupid in todays competitive environment. You get a customer you want to do everything reasonable to retain them. You do it well enough and maybe they get some of your friends and relatives business.

Exactly. Every new vehicle I've bought, I've had them sacrifice something to make me happy...usually floor mats, or luggage rack bars...something easily absorbed by the dealer, but something I want, just to make me feel as if I got something special out of the deal. As for the tonneau cover, I was actually willing to pay for it...all they had to do was add it to the price of the Compass. I even told the sales manager as much. Instead of him telling me that they'd order it and I'd have to pay for it, I was given excuses as to why they couldn't do it.

I still wont buy from this dealer again, but I will use their service department, since they're so close to my house.

In the end, I got what I wanted, and didn't have to pay for it...even though I would have. I have applied for my FFL and will use the Jeep to transport firearms and tools at times, and needed the back to be able to be covered without raising suspicions of passers by...it's for an added layer of security.

My plan is to market my gunsmithing skills to hunters in my area. They could send me a text with their GPS location, and I would come out to them and repair on site, if possible. I've been called out by my neighbor and his friends a few times in the past to come out and take a look at his guns at his hunting cabin, and make quick field repairs for him. Why not offer that service to paying customers?

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

The worst job in the car business is being a salesman or manager. The internet has made sales more competitive than ever, and often managers are set with unrealistic sales goals they will never meet. They are also not set up for success in many ways. The salesman promised something probably not realizing the cost. They probably sold the car to you at a razor thin margin.

Sales, service, and parts are treated as totally separate entities. Sales only gets a modest discount from the other departments.

My guess is the sales manager told the salesman no. The salesman probably made only $200 on your sale, and half of them make the equivalent of minimum wage if you divide the hours they work. They are not going to fork over all of their commission and then some.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!