Went to get a car wash at dealership "x" on Saturday, when I got home and parked in the garage, I noticed the rear bumper was scratched. It was a pretty small scratch, looked as though someone had backed my car up into another cars license plate and the caused the scratch, unfortunately it was deep and even with touch-up paint it will be noticeable. My car has pretty much 0 dents and scratches on it, so might be no biggie to someone, but it was to me. I'm the person who parks way out there and never valet my car or park in a place i deem unsafe.

I brought it up to the dealership and although they touched it up for me they insisted it didn't happen at the dealership. I am 99% sure that it did happen there and i told them that and also told them the reason I came in was to make a point and not really for the touch up, i could have done that myself easily and saved myself 30 minutes time.

So the conclusion to this rant is that although they touched it up for me, they made me feel as if i was a nagger and that it didn't happen there. They did not say, "i'm sorry for the inconvenience or I'm sorry this happened" As far as i'm concerned that is two strikes for these guys. One more and I will switch dealerships. End vent, lol I just had to get this out there, anyone else experience anything similar? Maybe its because I'm a business major and I took so many management classes that I expect too much of these businesses?

 

It happened to me too. But in my case the passanger door was scratched. Fortunately they fixed it as courtesy since the car was only 3 weeks old. I gotta say the dealer did a great job, like it never happened

 

Depending on the dealership and the person you are dealing with the resolution can go either way. Usually in body damage situation they can deny it and say it was already there as they did in your situation.

I have seen porters mishandle cars on various occasions that if I do go to the dealership for a wash that I try to keep an eye on the car.

It is really unfortunate that someone that takes so much pride to keep their car flawless has this happen.

You might want to try writing a letter to the general manager stating that you are the one that goes out of his way to park etc.

 

this is why you dont use the car wash at dealerships, do it yourself!

 

Which is usually the case, but I was there for something else anyway so I thought i would kill two birds with one stone

 

some of the Lexus dealers such as Woodfield don't offer free car washes

 

Happened to me as well at the dealer. Also, my brand new IS250 had the rear of the drivers seat scratched badly when they did the seat squeak TSB. I did not notice till a month later. No one ever sat in the back of that car.

 

yea that sucks, makes me want to fix my seat squeak myself

 

It was a lesson learned for me. I simply do a once over the car prior to even leaving dealers now.

 

Yes that is good, but what keeps them from saying "that scratch was there already" The dealership should do what car rental places do, walk around the car with that sheet and mark down any dents/scratches that are already on the car.

 

it's probably better if the owner of a mint car do that before handing over the car ... having the dealer note it as well

 

dealerships are prepared to this kind of situation and they will always deny all accusations pertaining to that kind of problems,they will not admit because once they admit it,its over to them plus the factor that every single client car that they washed noticed a scratch will always make a complain even though it happens prior carwashing their car.my dealership offered free carwash in every vehicle that they sold,gotta admit that sometimes i noticed after they washed my car scratched on my left front rim (g spider) but now i have a little bit expensive rim,i just washed it by my self to prevent headaches.

 

Well yea i usually wash mine by myself also, but I was in the area and needed a wash, and go figure this happens the first time I ever go in there. I have the seat squeak now also, but i'm just fixing that on my own, i'm not taking my car anywhere unless it is 110% necessary.

 

Hmm - surprising. They do wash the car pretty decent when I take it for oil changes. Of course for what the oil change costs, the wash hardly seems "free."