Dealer ownership change - Service issue

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Apr 29, 2020 | 10:35 AM

#16

rdgdawg

Pole Position

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 2,794

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From: Lake Country, WI

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenscap2

.... But I also don't like dealer license plate frames and wouldn't put one on no matter what.

Sounds like there may be some concession, good luck there... and the first thing I ALWAYS do when I get home is get ride of that plate frame and the dealership lettering taped to the rear deck... NO FREE ADVERTISING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apr 29, 2020 | 11:02 AM

#17

Toys4RJill

Lexus Fanatic

Joined: Nov 2011

Posts: 35,459

Likes: 380

From: ON/NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmarshall

Second, you can leak the story to your local TV station...they often have reporters on the lookout for business practices that screw longtime customers, and are happy to air them on the daily news for all to see.
.

This is to the extreme. The key is for the customer, for the customer to be willing to move on If the dealer senses the customer will leave, they may do something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenscap2

Thanks for the dialogue, folks. Someone from the dealer called me as a standard follow up and I mentioned my concern. She agreed with me and said they should start charging new winter tire customers, but grandfather in previous customers, and would raise the issue up the chain. I still don't think anything will come of it, though.

A few replies to earlier comments: The 2009 IS 350 was not offered in AWD, only the 250 was. In fact, my car was a special order as the 350s were rare in my area. Also, this is the longest I have ever kept a car. I have a very short work commute and we use my wife's car most of the time, so no real need to get a new car at the moment. Finally, my family has bought 10 Lexus models since the 1990s, all new: 3 LSs, 3 GSs, 2 ESs, 1 IS and 1 NX.

Another quirk with the new ownership group: They will only allow you to use their car wash if your car has a Fields (the ownership group) license plate frame. This doesn't affect me as I don't use the car wash since it has huge brushes that seem to scratch the paint. But I also don't like dealer license plate frames and wouldn't put one on no matter what.

Nice update. I think they will grandfather you in for tires. (grandfathering you in is the right wording) Car wash, probably not.

Apr 29, 2020 | 11:38 AM

#18

mmarshall

Lexus Fanatic

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 94,460

Likes: 251

From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs

Quote:

Originally Posted by SW17LS

Local news is also not going to be interested in the story about something so minor during these times. This sort of thing doesn't rise to that level.

Not sure I agree. I've seen a number of similar stories aired on ABC-7's "On Your-Side", of local people having to deal with questionable business practices....although you're probably correct that the OP's story would be borderline at best.

Quote:

And as we have argued many times before, AWD doesn't negate the benefit of winter tires in a place like Chicago.

If that were the case, the public probably wouldn't be converting to AWD crossovers at the huge rate they are. Many sedans don't offer it.

Quote:

Just speak with your wallet and take your business elsewhere

I agree it's the easiest course, but is it the best?

...that's what we are all basically discussing in this thread. I'm kind of on the borderline if it is the best course or not.

Apr 29, 2020 | 05:47 PM

#19

SW17LS

Lexus Fanatic

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 68,730

Likes: 4,073

From: Maryland

Not going to get into the winter tire debate again, you've been confronted with data from many many sources and refuse to accept that winter tires give you a huge margin of safety in cold climates. To everybody else out there reading this, do your own research its obvious once you do.

As for the OP, sounds like this new dealer chain is a pain.My dealer recently changed chain hands and so far everything is okay, but we will see.

Apr 29, 2020 | 06:03 PM

#20

mmarshall

Lexus Fanatic

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 94,460

Likes: 251

From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs

Quote:

Originally Posted by SW17LS

Not going to get into the winter tire debate again, you've been confronted with data from many many sources and refuse to accept that winter tires give you a huge margin of safety in cold climates.

LOL. I never said winter tires weren't better than all-seasons win the snow. I (correctly) said that AWD, in many cases, makes them unnecessary.

Quote:

As for the OP, sounds like this new dealer chain is a pain.My dealer recently changed chain hands and so far everything is okay, but we will see.

One thing, IMO, that would help is if more companies today had strict franchise-requirements on how their dealerships were run. Saturn and Scion were two good examples....they went out of business not because of those requirements, but because their parent corporations mismanaged the products that they actually sold.