Holden Dealer Gripe

[loudvtss]

Guys just a quick note to warn you above purchasing a car from a Holden dealer. I purchased my VZ SS from there 6 weeks ago. Typical salespeople. Very happy to make the sale but their quality of work and customer service has a lot to be desired. I took my car there for a service and half the problems I told them about weren't even looked at even after I asked them to give me a list of issues so I can cross reference they told me all the issues were recorded. What a load of crap. The car was there for 4 hours. Just to give you an example. My tint has bubbled up in 2 places. I told them about it and was told it will be fixed. The guy at the service department said that it wasn't going to happen because the tinters weren't in on Saturday.

Don't buy or service your car at this Holden dealer.

[Troy711]

generally car dealers do not do warrenty work on saturdays.

*insert my own bullshit theory here*
from what i have learnt on this forum (i forget who first said it) car prices have the price of a warreny built into them. if, at the end of the warenty period, the cost of repairs is less then the built in cost of the warrenty the selling dealer gets that money back.

now, my theory is that because saturdays are usually penalty rates for works, dealers do not do any sort of warrenty work because it eats into the cost too fast and thus they do not get as much money back.
*end my own bullshit theory*

can someone confirm/deny any of this? am i talking out my arse or is there actually some thruth it what i have just wrote?

[naf33n]

good theory troy but (ill use my car for an example) its was bought from Hunter holden, but very time there has been a warrenty issue(two) i take it to Mcgrath holden at sutherland. how would the payment be worked out then. would hunter holden be happy because they never see me???

[Troy711]

(from what i have read) it still gets taken off the cost. another dealer would be happy to do warrenty work because they get paid from holden to do it and holden take it out of the 'refund' for the other dealer

BTW this is total speculation and i have no facts to back this claim up. i am putting this together from information i have read from this and other sites

[loudvtss]

generally car dealers do not do warrenty work on saturdays.

WRONG....

My Holden dealer don't do any work on any day except take people's money.
They booked me in on Saturday knowing what work is required. So what's their story? They're either piss farting me around and/or are useless.

[Shortstuff]

It sounds like the person who booked you in was just tring to get you off his back, then once you were gone they forgot to book the tint guy. Seems to me that they may be feeding you BS. Could just have run out of time on the other issues though. I don't know about other dealers, but where I used to work there was only a skeleton staff on saturdays and the people who were there didn't really want to be so it was a pretty unproductive and lazy day. The mechanics I worked with only wanted to do routine servicing on saturdays.

The money side of things won't make any difference. It would be very harsh if retail labour rates went up on a saturday to cover the increase in pay for the mechanics! Generally dealerships just have to absorb this cost as it's more cost effective to do so than to shut on a saturday or not get any work in because the labour rate is higher.

Best off taking it in during the week and saying they can keep it as long as they need provided you can have a courtesy car.

If there are problems that may be difficult to pinpoint or get a satisfactory fix immediately then this will help you both out.

Any Holden dealer is obliged to address the warranty issues. They all get paid whether you bought the car from them or not. As far as I know the selling dealer wouldn't be penalised for warranty issues with the car. It should just be paid by Holden and that's the end of it. After all it's Holden that build the cars, not the dealer. Pretty unfair to financialy penalise the dealer for something that isn't their fault and is really beyond their control to prevent happening. That's how it worked with Vauxhall anyway.

One thing to keep in mind is that there may be lower mileage or time limits on the manufacturer's warranty for certain items on the car. With Vauxhall, windscreen wipers were only covered for 1250 miles, brakes 5000 miles (IIRC), battery 12 months, etc so it's worth checking to see how long each item is covered. The warranty administrator at the dealership should have a comprehensive list they can show you.

[naf33n]

its all to confusing, LOUDVTSS just try taking it to another dealer.. if there is one that isnt out of your way

[1vngal]

Troy's theory makes sense though. After all, everything comes down to greed these days, and business people will do anything to make the most money at the end of the day.

[Johnsy]

Just persist... they hope most people will give up !
Walk in demand to see the service manager and give him your list of problems
and tell him you want them fixed or you will be writing a letter to Holden Aust....
Dealerships loose funding from Holden if they get to many pissed off customers.

[loudvtss]

Guys I took my car to another dealer yesterday and what a difference. They've organised for a new diff for my car. Local Holden dealer told me they were going to put a reconditioned one. I asked for new and they said they don't have them. I can't believe the difference in service between 2 Holden dealers. Like chalk and cheese. Cheese being my Holden. Mouldy and stinky.....

[Doctor Bob]

if the diff is being replaced under warranty you will be getting the same as eveyone else, a reconditioned changeover unit.
Troy has the saturday thing mostly right, most places try to stick to service work on saturdays.
Its no excuse for booking the work in but if the salesman had anything to do with it it's completely understandable, theyre not well known for thigh IQ.lol

Rob

[loudvtss]

I was told I am getting a new one not a reconditioned changeover unit. I think the service guys told them(Holden) that as a result of my car only having 3000kms I should be getting a new one. That's what they told me.

[minux]

Ahh, you realise this could leave alot of parties open to legal action with the what you have said about this company?

You should reword how you have said some things....

That said, i have alot of dealings with that Holden dealer and i would say they are one of the better Holden dealers around.

[Lumps of cheese]

That said, i have alot of dealings with that Holden dealer and i would say they are one of the better Holden dealers around.

Absolutley, i've purchased two cars from them and found them to be very good in their service and warranty work.
The only reason i didn't buy my last car there is they didn't have what i wanted at the time.

[vtdemon]

If the workshop is open, dealerships do warranty work. Warranty work is charged to the factory/brand eg. Holden, by the service department/technicians.

[Doctor Bob]

If the workshop is open, dealerships do warranty work. Warranty work is charged to the factory/brand eg. Holden, by the service department/technicians.

at a much reduced labour rate determined by Holden.
Like i said Most places try to avoid warranty on saturdays.
Rob

[WAGON MAN]

I have purchased parts from Steve at that Holden dealer...

Excellent service Steve

[MikesVT]

My local holden dealer is hopeless for servicing. Spent $1045 on the service. They changed my rear breaks, and they still squeek REALLY loudly, they say they re-agusted my handbreak, and as soon as i drove out of the service center i could hear that rubbing sound (when the handbreak is in need of reajusting) and it hadnt been doing it before hand. They said that they couldnt replace my door handles, which i have been told you can, and no complimentry wash (which they are supposed to do)... after spending over 1000 for a service and PAYING IN CASH you'd think they would take a bit better care of you. Same sort of thing with my dads

[TI0350]

When I bought my car I asked the dealer whether I had to come there to get any warranty work done or could I go anywhere he said I could go anywhere as long as I rang them first to let them know so they could organise payment for the dealer doing the work..

[loudvtss]

Just confirmed with Holden Customer Service that a new diff will arrive at the dealer today or tomorrow. Once I get the new diff installed and the other issues sorted out at Penfold City Holden in Burnley I will be a happy chap driving my nice new car...