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service at dealer other than where purchased

mike146

mike146

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Just wondering how everyone has done having their truck serviced at the dealer if not purchased there? I know many people here do all on own as much as possible, but for the people that purchased out of state and now need service...maintenance or warranty...did you feel treated differently for not purchasing local?
 
It should be fine, especially in this day of age where people have to sometimes travel a bit to find a new vehicle that meets their needs, but service at a closer one.

Also, at least until Covid, in a normal market, the biggest profit center for a dealership is the service and parts department, with new sales a distant 3rd. In some cases, new vehicles sales hardly brings in much profit.

For a dealership, it's a big positive to gain an outside sales customer for service, they don't really lose out on the new sale, but gain on the service work.
 
I bought it from Mark Dodge and my Ram is serviced at the local dealer in PA. I have had no issues.
 
My selling dealer (Costco program) is an hour away, I'll use the dealer that is local to me for service. I've never bought a vehicle from them. The service department, like the parts department or the body shop, are all separate profit centers. I think if the sales and service were one, we would get better service. It is said, the sales department makes the first sale, it is the service department that makes the following sales.
 
Most dealers don’t care even if you bought the car from them if you service it there. I work at the dealer and customers all the time bring in a car that they bought somewhere else. They’re treated no differently than a person that lives down the street that bought the car from us. The only real time somebody is treated a little differently is when they buy a used car from somewhere else and then bring it in and start demanding a bunch of free stuff.
 
I've never had any issues personally. Especially with CDJR dealers.

My aunt has had issues with her local Chevy dealer and getting warranty work done because she didn't buy her car from them. But they are a small town dealer. I actually had to get my wife's Traverse services at that specific dealer when on a family vacation as the alternator went out during our trip. They were great with us, squeaked us in while being a tech short, and got our car fixed and back in the road in three hours. But we were out of town people, and they didn't know I was related to anyone in town
 
Thanks for the feedback. What I assumed..but since this forum is such a great resource...why not ask.

Thanks again.👍
 
I have had issues in the past. If you buy from the dealer, you usually get more from the service department. They will give you free car washes with a service (I always say "no" to that anyways) and many dealers only offer loaner cars to service customers if you bought the car from that dealer. The loaner car is the biggest issue that I've seen.
 
The dealerships are independently owned so can make many of their own rules for the most part. Many of them do not offer loaners (not required by FCA) but FCA will reimburse them the cost so I don't know why they don't do it (that includes commercial rentals if they don't have a loaner fleet).

I bought my truck 120 miles away as it was the only truck on the lot that I wanted in a 500 mile radius. I have it serviced at a dealership closer to me and have had no issues. Money is money and FCA pays them for the the warranty work so they do no matter where the truck was bought at. The service department is usually the cash cow for the dealership.

As scottmoyer mentioned you can get some perks if you go to one dealership as a "one-stop-shop". Free oil changes, parts vouchers, car washes, service loaners (even for oil changes), and the like are all things I've seen offered by dealerships to try and get you to do everything with them so they get your money from the get-go and possibly generate a repeat customer. A couple of freebies/swag is a cheap investment if they can get you be a "regular" with them.
 
The dealer I purchased from is 2hrs away and take it to a local dealer with no problem. Now with my ventilated seat issue I tried a different local dealer which was a headache and I did go back to my dealer to get it actually fixed. Service Dept is where they make their money.
 
It took 1 oil change and 1 minor warranty issue at the dealer I bought the truck from to drive me away and never go back.

1. They offered 3 years “preferred customer benefits” discounts(no charge for program) for services, free car wash, etc. Then refused to honor it 6 months later.

2. they would text you the status of your srrvice(if waiting). Customer sat in the lounge waiting for oil change 3 hrs. When she finally went into service the Service Writer said we texted you 2 hrs ago stating it was complete. Customer said she never got it. After customer left, service writer stated he never bothered to text her. This all went down while I was standing with the next service writer. Great customer service.

Since then, the only time I don’t do my own work is for Warranty or Recalls and j use a dealer that is a little closer. No issues.
 
That's why I drive 25 miles to take my truck for service even though there's a dealership 2 miles from me.

Out of the 6 dealerships in my reasonable area (within 40 miles) there's only 1 that I will take my truck to (family-owned for 3 generations). If you are not happy at one then try another. You might have to drive a bit but it's worth it IMO if you can find better customer service.
 
brian42 said:
That's why I drive 25 miles to take my truck for service even though there's a dealership 2 miles from me.

Out of the 6 dealerships in my reasonable area (within 40 miles) there's only 1 that I will take my truck to (family-owned for 3 generations). If you are not happy at one then try another. You might have to drive a bit but it's worth it IMO if you can find better customer service.
Click to expand...

Yup, I will be joining you at that one dealership you mentioned, once I need something beyond an oil change. I don't want to set foot in the ones right by my house.
 
I went to three local dealers because my truck was purchased at MD

1) very opportunistic experience overall, said that loaners were only for customers who had purchased from them

2) more opportunistic

3) a class act

so, I’d say that your experience will vary and would not base it on where the truck was purchased.
 
Never had issues with my local dealer. I have bought my last 5 Rams, Pacificas for wife, Charger for my son all out of town and they get the service. However the last time I was looking GM asked why I do t ever buy local. He said he wants my business next time. So did all my shopping and found my best deal again and he beat it by $1500 and additional $1000 on my trade. He said he’d never do that again and AFTER I bought I said I won’t buy here again either then. Best deal gets my deal.


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