Rate DC Area Service Departments
12-17-2001 | 06:51 AM
#51
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
From: Washington
Herson's damged my car when it was being serviced. I am very mad. I posted this in the general forum to see what the general population thinks.
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...&threadid=39096
This is what I posted there:
Here's the situation:
1) Brought car into Herson's Honda in Rockville, MD on last Wednesday 12/12 for 7,500 mile service and clear side marker install.
2) Car has never been serviced there before. I usually go to the dealer where I purhcased my car (Jim Coleman Honda) but I went to Herson's this time because it is 5 minutes from my house, whereas JC is 35 minutes, and I was pressed for time.
3) I picked up the car (in the dark) at 7:30 pm on Wednesday evening.
4) I take public transporation to work, so I did not see the car again until Saturday morning. It sits in a garage with the nose facing towards a brick wall (this is important).
On Saturday morning I noticed that there were several very deep gouges in the nose. They are approximately 2 - 3 inches in length and very deep. In addition, both bumper plugs (for license plate) were severly gouged and the upper part of the air inlet had been scraped badly.
I immediately went to the dealer and spoke with the service manager. I remained calm (this is an accomplishment for me because usually I get psycho when someone damages my car) and explained to the service manager that I suspected the car was damaged while in the shop. He pulled the car's service papers and looked at the section where they mark off any bumps, dents, scrapes, etc. (similar to what you would find when renting a car). There were no marks, indicating that the car had no damage when it was brought it. He was quite polite and was going to follow up with me today after investigating at the dealership.
I am convinced they damaged my car. I believe it would have been unreasonable for me to have to do a full inspection when I picked it up at night. In addition, because the car is black it much easier to pick out the marks in the sunlight. The odometer clearly shows that I did not use the car, except as between my home and the dealer.
What do you think my strategy should be for getting them to take responsibility and fix the car? I am going under the assumption that they will attempt to back out of it. If they don't, no problem. Realisticaly, what can I do and how do you all suggest I approach the situation?
Thank you all very much.
HP
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...&threadid=39096
This is what I posted there:
Here's the situation:
1) Brought car into Herson's Honda in Rockville, MD on last Wednesday 12/12 for 7,500 mile service and clear side marker install.
2) Car has never been serviced there before. I usually go to the dealer where I purhcased my car (Jim Coleman Honda) but I went to Herson's this time because it is 5 minutes from my house, whereas JC is 35 minutes, and I was pressed for time.
3) I picked up the car (in the dark) at 7:30 pm on Wednesday evening.
4) I take public transporation to work, so I did not see the car again until Saturday morning. It sits in a garage with the nose facing towards a brick wall (this is important).
On Saturday morning I noticed that there were several very deep gouges in the nose. They are approximately 2 - 3 inches in length and very deep. In addition, both bumper plugs (for license plate) were severly gouged and the upper part of the air inlet had been scraped badly.
I immediately went to the dealer and spoke with the service manager. I remained calm (this is an accomplishment for me because usually I get psycho when someone damages my car) and explained to the service manager that I suspected the car was damaged while in the shop. He pulled the car's service papers and looked at the section where they mark off any bumps, dents, scrapes, etc. (similar to what you would find when renting a car). There were no marks, indicating that the car had no damage when it was brought it. He was quite polite and was going to follow up with me today after investigating at the dealership.
I am convinced they damaged my car. I believe it would have been unreasonable for me to have to do a full inspection when I picked it up at night. In addition, because the car is black it much easier to pick out the marks in the sunlight. The odometer clearly shows that I did not use the car, except as between my home and the dealer.
What do you think my strategy should be for getting them to take responsibility and fix the car? I am going under the assumption that they will attempt to back out of it. If they don't, no problem. Realisticaly, what can I do and how do you all suggest I approach the situation?
Thank you all very much.
HP
12-17-2001 | 07:26 AM
#52
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 959
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda
EJ,
Ourisman dented my car when I took it in for it's first oil change. It basically boils down to your word against theirs, and if the general manager of the service department is in a mood to sit there and argue with you about whether it happened at their shop or not. I feel your pain man. Good luck trying to get it resolved. I know I was lucky that they fixed it at no charge. Last point of recourse, depending on your insurance company, call the police non emergency line, and tell them you want to file an accident report. Informed them where it happened, an tell them the car was dropped off at the delear when it occured. Keep a copy of the paper where it states what damage it had, if any when you brought it in, and take some pictures. Heck, I'd do all this from my cell phone while standing in front of the service manager. I was about to do it at Ourisman when they backed down, and finally said they would fix it. BTW, I have Geico, and I need to have an accident report for any claim I submit.
Ourisman dented my car when I took it in for it's first oil change. It basically boils down to your word against theirs, and if the general manager of the service department is in a mood to sit there and argue with you about whether it happened at their shop or not. I feel your pain man. Good luck trying to get it resolved. I know I was lucky that they fixed it at no charge. Last point of recourse, depending on your insurance company, call the police non emergency line, and tell them you want to file an accident report. Informed them where it happened, an tell them the car was dropped off at the delear when it occured. Keep a copy of the paper where it states what damage it had, if any when you brought it in, and take some pictures. Heck, I'd do all this from my cell phone while standing in front of the service manager. I was about to do it at Ourisman when they backed down, and finally said they would fix it. BTW, I have Geico, and I need to have an accident report for any claim I submit.
12-17-2001 | 07:51 AM
#54
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 0
From: Laurel
They did it. They know they did it. Most dealer lots are so crowded that its surprising it doesn't happen more.
If they fix it without any grief, I don't guess one could hold it against them. It's impossible to control every chance to dent a car at a dealer's lot. Obviously sucks though.
I can't even muster a Coleman joke about this (which for me is saying something.) In all seriousness though, Coleman's being a rather sleepy dealer in a smaller community is another advantage. Less lot clutter.
I hear silver matches pretty well.
If they fix it without any grief, I don't guess one could hold it against them. It's impossible to control every chance to dent a car at a dealer's lot. Obviously sucks though.
I can't even muster a Coleman joke about this (which for me is saying something.) In all seriousness though, Coleman's being a rather sleepy dealer in a smaller community is another advantage. Less lot clutter.
I hear silver matches pretty well.
12-17-2001 | 06:53 PM
#56
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 0
From: Laurel
12-18-2001 | 03:32 AM
#58
Former Sponsor
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,049
Likes: 1
From: Timonium
If you take your car to Heritage in Towson, Maryland, ask that Nick Alban do the work. He's my friend who did the clear corner install at the Fall Colors Meet. He will treat your car with the respect it deserves (Nick owns 2 high-end Acuras and a Jaguar sedan, and he impeccably maintains all of them).
