Dose Subaru do the post-sale customer satisfaction survey thing?
The last 2 cars I bought, Toyota and Volkswagen, the salesman and dealership really seemed overly concerned about this phone survey I would be receiving after the sale and wanted to make sure I would answer “completely satisfied” to every question I was asked. And if I wasn’t “completely satisfied” I should tell them about it now to give them every chance to rectify the situation so I would answer “completely satisfied”.
They really seemed to bend over backwards for fear of a poor response.
Go to national (Subaru of America), which you’ve already done. Also, contact your state’s DMV; let it be known that this dealership is selling cars that can’t comply with license plate laws. If you get the to the right person there the state should come down on them but good.
You are so right to be angry about the ridiculousness of the dealer’s response. This is dumb.
And for those who say car salesmen don’t know about cars, it really depends on the dealership. I worked in the car business a long time and in any of the places I worked, when a vehicle owner complained about something as simple as the lack of a front bracket, to anyone in sales or service, that employee would have gone and gotten a bracket and a screwdriver and put the damned thing on. And this was dealerships from Volvo to Chevy. Nonsense indeed and this dealership should get wise or they’ll soon get broke.
I have pointed out that there are two small (very) dimples in the bumper that I could just drive screws into to mount the plate. Well, this does not seem like an optimal solution. Especially when we just bought a $40000 car. And I would like the recommended type, size screws. I’d be guessing. The bracket includes the right size screws. Which I think should come with the car.
They would be happy to do this half assed mount by just screw the plate to the bumper, but I have to take it in. A 200 mile round trip.
Anyway, I’m guessing the two ‘dimples’ that you can drive a screw through, would get them off the hook with the DMV.
Yeah, I finally gave up a month of fighting with Honda because there was a recall… but my VIN didn’t come up for the recall. Many levels of Honda service told me “Well, apparently Honda has determined your particular vehicle does not have the problem.”
“Umm, the problem is that the headlight switch fails and your lights turn off while you’re driving at night. And mine did exactly this… so I think it’s obvious My Particular Vehicle DOES have that problem!”
“Not according to our records. Honda Corporate believes you do not have the faulty switch.”
“Sigh…”
I sort of had to pony up over $200 for a new switch if I wanted to drive after dark. Which this time of year is “on the way home from work”…
So I too have to let it go, let it goooo…
Yep. Done. Part will arrive at my UPS PMB tomorrow. Then, at least I can put it on my Wife’s car Friday after work. I’m gone all weekend and wanted to get this taken care of.
When I lived in Philadelphia (late 80s) a guy was unhappy about a new car he’d purchased and the dealership did nothing to help. So, he leased space right across the road from the dealership and parked his car there. Oh, and he hot glued dozens of lemons to the vehicle and posted a sign reading I BOUGHT THIS LEMON FROM DEALERSHIP NAME.
The dealership tried various legal maneuvers, but the unhappy customer won each step and got newspaper coverage each time.
Doesn’t your area have one of those “consumer crusaders” on a local TV channel (usually on the news crew). They live for stories like this. The dealership will wish they never incorporated.
I live 100 miles away from the dealership. I don’t use or regularly get local news for the area the dealership is in. I suppose there is a local news channel.
Could I find it? Maybe.
Perhaps I have made a small dent by bitching to them. I don’t know. I do know that I will avoid them from here on out.
My Wife would like me to drop it. And it is ‘her’ car.
Years ago I bought a car from a large, busy dealership. They allowed me to drive it away still owing them the downpayment (contract was signed, of course). I brought in the downpayment the next day…and I couldn’t get ANYONE’S attention. I was young and not well dressed, and if anyone recognized me they knew they’d already closed the deal – not worth their time at this point. I stood in the dealership’s common area for a looooong time, trying to get anyone to take the cash, while they ignored me and sucked up to wealthy-looking customers in nice suits.
So I raised the handful of bills over my head and loudly announced, “I bought a car here yesterday and I have TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS for the first person who will stop ignoring me and help me!”
Heads turned all over the room, and I was immediately assisted.
Want to thank everyone for the support and suggestions. I’ve cooled down about it a bit. While it’s always nice to win a battle against greed and stupidity, sometimes it’s just not worth wasting your ammunition on.
A slightly less drastic way of going all in would be to threaten to return the car. I assume your state has lemon laws, and selling you a car that was illegal to drive in your state would seem to satisfy to require them to either fix the problem at heir expense or allow you to return the car for a full refund. I bet that would get their attention.
Still probably more trouble than its worth so I’m thinking you did the right thing.
I was mad enough about this stupidity at one point to suggest that. Thing is, I would have to drive 100 miles, I’d get there and they would just screw the plate to the bumper sans bracket. Tada, it’s now legal to drive.
Don’t think my Wife would have been too thrilled with the idea. :eek: