I shoudn’t have taken my Lexus to a Toyota Dealer
11-17-17, 01:29 PM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
We're all in agreement on that. And on my 2006 LS430, imho the indie garage knows more about it, and treats it better, than a dealership ever would. To a dealer, it's an old car. To an indie, it's my car. There's a face behind the owner, to the indie. On my BMW forum, some say you have to tip the service advisor if you want to get treated well. Um, no, I disagree.
11-17-17, 02:51 PM
#32
Lexus Fanatic
We're all in agreement on that. And on my 2006 LS430, imho the indie garage knows more about it, and treats it better, than a dealership ever would. To a dealer, it's an old car. To an indie, it's my car. There's a face behind the owner, to the indie. On my BMW forum, some say you have to tip the service advisor if you want to get treated well. Um, no, I disagree.
I get around that, though, simply by carrying bottles of Scratch-Out with me. If I like the person at the dealership well enough, if he or she has treated me very well, or if they have treated a friend or relative of mine well, they quietly (and discreetly) get a bottle of Scratch-Out slipped into their pocket.
11-17-17, 03:57 PM
#33
Lexus Champion
Depends on the senior-management, of course, but some dealerships actually won't allow that. Employees (or managers) can be disciplined or fired for taking tips.
I get around that, though, simply by carrying bottles of Scratch-Out with me. If I like the person at the dealership well enough, if he or she has treated me very well, or if they have treated a friend or relative of mine well, they quietly (and discreetly) get a bottle of Scratch-Out slipped into their pocket.
I get around that, though, simply by carrying bottles of Scratch-Out with me. If I like the person at the dealership well enough, if he or she has treated me very well, or if they have treated a friend or relative of mine well, they quietly (and discreetly) get a bottle of Scratch-Out slipped into their pocket.
11-17-17, 06:32 PM
#34
Lexus Fanatic
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-17-17 at 06:50 PM.
11-17-17, 07:36 PM
#35
First, there's nothing crappy about it....it's damn good stuff, if used correctly. Second, you can often get it for a lot less than $8....Giant Food, in the D.C. area, sells it for just over $4 a bottle. Third, you should not criticize something without first trying it (assuming that's the case). Fourth, you should not have a problem with me being generous...with all due respect, if you do, then that's on you, not me. Fifth, virtually everyone I know who has tried it likes it...so it speaks for itself.
11-17-17, 08:34 PM
#36
Lexus Fanatic
I would love to see the look on a car dealer employees face when he gets handed a bottle of Scratch Out as a tip lol
i appreciated my bottle you sent me very much, that was very nice...but I think handing them out to dealer personnel, or slipping them in their pockets...little much.
i appreciated my bottle you sent me very much, that was very nice...but I think handing them out to dealer personnel, or slipping them in their pockets...little much.
11-18-17, 07:18 AM
#39
Lexus Fanatic
Back on topic, anyone else have any experiences servicing their Lexus products at Toyota shops? This is an interesting thread, especially for what, even in Car Chat, is generally a Lexus-oriented forum.
11-18-17, 08:04 AM
#41
Lexus Fanatic
Wrong again. 
I get a lot of (double) tax-free income from Virginia municipal bonds and bond-funds, from many years of investing. Good, stable income that is relatively (though not completely 100%) safe. In fact, that is one reason why I was able to retire early. Fortunately, Congress, in the latest tax-bill, is not going to make any of that taxable. But, we're getting off topic.
I get a lot of (double) tax-free income from Virginia municipal bonds and bond-funds, from many years of investing. Good, stable income that is relatively (though not completely 100%) safe. In fact, that is one reason why I was able to retire early. Fortunately, Congress, in the latest tax-bill, is not going to make any of that taxable. But, we're getting off topic.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-18-17 at 08:08 AM.
11-18-17, 08:36 AM
#42
Lexus Fanatic
Wrong again. I get a lot of (double) tax-free income from Virginia municipal bonds and bond-funds, from many years of investing. Good, stable income that is relatively (though not completely 100%) safe. In fact, that is one reason why I was able to retire early. Fortunately, Congress, in the latest tax-bill, is not going to make any of that taxable. But, we're getting off topic.
I get a lot of (double) tax-free income from Virginia municipal bonds and bond-funds, from many years of investing. Good, stable income that is relatively (though not completely 100%) safe. In fact, that is one reason why I was able to retire early. Fortunately, Congress, in the latest tax-bill, is not going to make any of that taxable. But, we're getting off topic.Worked for you, and thats fine...but to make a blanket statement like "stocks are too risky" is uninformed and poor advice. For somebody like me, or most other people who have no pension, have children you need to school and raise and educate, and have a more expensive lifestyle there is no way I or we could invest as you have and ever be able to retire at a similar lifestyle.
BACK ON TOPIC I don't understand the issue the OP is having. Complaining about $27 in shop fees over 35,000 miles of service, 8 service visits? Even the statement "$27.95 is too much for coffee cookies and pastries" doesn't make sense. If you went out for coffee, cookies and pastries 8 times it would cost you more than $27. I don't get it
Every dealership or shop I've ever been to has charged a shop charge/environmental disposal fee.I don't blame the dealer at all for turning you away.
Last edited by SW17LS; 11-18-17 at 08:44 AM.
11-18-17, 08:51 AM
#43
Lexus Fanatic
^^^. Stock market goes up over time. It's guaranteed. Key is to understand that when it falls, you don't pull out as it will go up. The long term growth out paces any pension fund I have ever heard of. That being said, the more risk you take the higher the returns, but you can also fall harder too.
11-18-17, 08:55 AM
#44
Lexus Fanatic
Neither do I. I think the dealer did he right thing by refunding the money and telling the OP to go away. A simple email asking about the charge would suffice.
The long email mail detailing everything the OP has done makes me believe there is some pent up frustration on the OP side of things against this dealer.
The long email mail detailing everything the OP has done makes me believe there is some pent up frustration on the OP side of things against this dealer.
11-18-17, 08:58 AM
#45
Lexus Fanatic
People are just totally unreasonable. I've noticed the level of unreasonableness and the number of people with unreasonable expectations has increased dramatically over the last few years.
Businesses have to charge to stay alive. They're charging a fee that is clearly laid out on the invoice, its not hidden, and the explanation of what the fee is is very simple, yet you still have people so entitled that they feel they should be "above" being charged these fees.
Businesses have to charge to stay alive. They're charging a fee that is clearly laid out on the invoice, its not hidden, and the explanation of what the fee is is very simple, yet you still have people so entitled that they feel they should be "above" being charged these fees.