lmark
06-09-2010, 01:41 PM
Hi All,
First of all my apologies for double posting. I've recently had a horrible experience with the Service Department at Avante Mazda and just wanted your opinion if my thoughts of them trying to scam me is justified or not...
I scheduled an appointment to have my car certified and e-tested as I had interested buyer who (depending on the results) was looking to purchase and have the ownership transferred that day. I probably shouldn't have told the dealership that I needed the results before the MTO closed (12pm on Sat). Anyways, a short while later I received a call that there was number of things that needed to be done (totaling upwards of $1500!) before I could sell the vehicle that day and the only way I could sell it was to agree to have them perform the work. The first item didn't seem strange, however when the service manager informed me that all 4 tires needed to be replaced ($200+ each!) , alarm bells went off - the car only has 45k on it. Needless to say I stopped him his tracks and asked for them to put my car back together, and that I was seeking a second opinion.
We scrambled and was fortunate enough to have a local CT (normally i avoid but only due to time constraints) examine it and the results were shockingly different. NONE of the dubious requirements that Avante Mazda cited (except the replacement of a license plate bulb) were required even though I specifically asked CT about them. The tires had about only 35-40% wear and sidewalls were fine. Total repair cost at CT = $2.99 for the bulb. Strange...I thought so.
We decided to have a third shop (Active G&R) look at the car. The results... the car passed with no work required.
How is this possible that the results can vary so dramatically? Could it be coincidence that the one shop that knew I was in a rush to have it certified so that I could sell that day also had the highest quote? And specifically informed me that I could NOT sell the vehicle until they performed the work which coincidentally could be completed "just" in time for me catch the MTO...
Thoughts?
L
First of all my apologies for double posting. I've recently had a horrible experience with the Service Department at Avante Mazda and just wanted your opinion if my thoughts of them trying to scam me is justified or not...
I scheduled an appointment to have my car certified and e-tested as I had interested buyer who (depending on the results) was looking to purchase and have the ownership transferred that day. I probably shouldn't have told the dealership that I needed the results before the MTO closed (12pm on Sat). Anyways, a short while later I received a call that there was number of things that needed to be done (totaling upwards of $1500!) before I could sell the vehicle that day and the only way I could sell it was to agree to have them perform the work. The first item didn't seem strange, however when the service manager informed me that all 4 tires needed to be replaced ($200+ each!) , alarm bells went off - the car only has 45k on it. Needless to say I stopped him his tracks and asked for them to put my car back together, and that I was seeking a second opinion.
We scrambled and was fortunate enough to have a local CT (normally i avoid but only due to time constraints) examine it and the results were shockingly different. NONE of the dubious requirements that Avante Mazda cited (except the replacement of a license plate bulb) were required even though I specifically asked CT about them. The tires had about only 35-40% wear and sidewalls were fine. Total repair cost at CT = $2.99 for the bulb. Strange...I thought so.
We decided to have a third shop (Active G&R) look at the car. The results... the car passed with no work required.
How is this possible that the results can vary so dramatically? Could it be coincidence that the one shop that knew I was in a rush to have it certified so that I could sell that day also had the highest quote? And specifically informed me that I could NOT sell the vehicle until they performed the work which coincidentally could be completed "just" in time for me catch the MTO...
Thoughts?
L