Service Fraud
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 381
Likes: 2
From: The Plateau
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,574
Likes: 265
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
That's why I stay with my car, as much a possible or feasible, while it is being serviced....even more so if I had an expensive high-powered car like that. Just too much temptation for potential joy-riders.
And $700 for what is (presumably) a routine transmission fluid-and filter service? No wonder M-B service-departments have the reputation they do for being money-pits.
And $700 for what is (presumably) a routine transmission fluid-and filter service? No wonder M-B service-departments have the reputation they do for being money-pits.
Interesting ZH article.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...at-it-recorded
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...at-it-recorded
Not really my friend who owns his own shop has worked at 12 different dealerships and there have been instances of this or worse happening at all of the dealerships its a really common occurence. The techs do not care its not there car and the chances of them being caught are slim to none. My friends brother outran the cops in a customers car and did not get fired, another tech at a different dealership was told to go do a burnout to even out the tires on a customers car.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,997
Likes: 248
From: California
Not really my friend who owns his own shop has worked at 12 different dealerships and there have been instances of this or worse happening at all of the dealerships its a really common occurence. The techs do not care its not there car and the chances of them being caught are slim to none. My friends brother outran the cops in a customers car and did not get fired, another tech at a different dealership was told to go do a burnout to even out the tires on a customers car.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 920
Likes: 11
From: TX
I'm surprised that the dealership or MB Canada didn't make a deal with the car owner. Even taking his car for trade in and giving him a new S63 would have made the problem go away. $200k is better than bad publicity in the long run.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,582
Likes: 392
From: PA
I saw that video b4, some of the responses (like it's not a new AMG), and I even know exactly where that dealership is in Mississauga. There are two Costcos that I know of in Mississauga, and they are totally different, even though both are in Mississauga. Trying to paint a picture, well, this MB dealership would be like servicing your Lexus in White Plains, v. Mt. Kisco, NY. Location does matter, as to me, it affects the mentality, the treatment, etc. Think it doesn't matter, well, the BMW dealership broke my car, I used them for 3 years because it's "near my work." Until I knocked them down to C- on their BBB rating, they completely denied breaking my car. After the BBB? "What can we do to make this right, this wasn't handled properly."
It would be like saying, "I took my Maxima to the automall, and got ripped off!" There's your problem right then and there.
Should it happen? No. Does it happen? Yes. Exactly why nobody is allowed to do oil changes on any of our cars, except me, or my wife. And she has never changed oil on a car.
p.s. just thought of this. I used to be down in VA regularly, AND IT DROVE ME ABSOLUTELY NUTS TO SEE ALL THE MB TECHS OUT WITH CUSTOMER CARS AT LUNCH, in Alex******. What gives them the right to use them at lunch time?
It would be like saying, "I took my Maxima to the automall, and got ripped off!" There's your problem right then and there.
Should it happen? No. Does it happen? Yes. Exactly why nobody is allowed to do oil changes on any of our cars, except me, or my wife. And she has never changed oil on a car.
p.s. just thought of this. I used to be down in VA regularly, AND IT DROVE ME ABSOLUTELY NUTS TO SEE ALL THE MB TECHS OUT WITH CUSTOMER CARS AT LUNCH, in Alex******. What gives them the right to use them at lunch time?
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,582
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From: PA
I have to admit if given a E63s AMG wagon, I'd probably cave in.
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,354
Likes: 555
From: fl
I saw the same video posted on Twitter yesterday- I never got around to posting it here. Makes me want to consider putting in a dash cam. 9 times out of 10 I wait on my car but when it needs something more serious I take a loaner. You just never know what's happening. Not sure the video pointed it out, but the article I read stated they never performed the transmission service yet charged him for it anyway. If that video gets enough hits I imagine MB will do something to the dealer.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,582
Likes: 392
From: PA
I saw the same video posted on Twitter yesterday- I never got around to posting it here. Makes me want to consider putting in a dash cam. 9 times out of 10 I wait on my car but when it needs something more serious I take a loaner. You just never know what's happening. Not sure the video pointed it out, but the article I read stated they never performed the transmission service yet charged him for it anyway. If that video gets enough hits I imagine MB will do something to the dealer.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,514
Likes: 392
From: ON/NY
I agree. However, I would like to hear MB side of the story. It is very easy to jump to conclusions based on this video. Where is the work order? MB show us the service bay cameras if you are disputing this?
So what 's the possible scenario for MB's side of this story?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,582
Likes: 392
From: PA
There was seemingly no abuse of the vehicle. It gets dicey with the so-called drain/fill v. flush etc. Much of the complaint is how little time the vehicle spent on the lift.
There's no footage on what's happening underneath the vehicle. So if we pulled your vehicle in to do a microcabin fitler change @ $160, and we gave the car back to you in 4.5 min., the dash cam may show that it took me 4 min. to do the service, and the rest of the time your car was sitting, idling, or parked. Really depends.
There's no footage on what's happening underneath the vehicle. So if we pulled your vehicle in to do a microcabin fitler change @ $160, and we gave the car back to you in 4.5 min., the dash cam may show that it took me 4 min. to do the service, and the rest of the time your car was sitting, idling, or parked. Really depends.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,514
Likes: 392
From: ON/NY
Where is the evidence that the car was for legit services? How do we know that this not a disgruntled former service employee? Was the video unedited? (Cant see the small numbers on the video).
I would like to know what MB has to say.
I would like to know what MB has to say.