Bumping the thread to share frustration with my local stealership. Brought my car in for 30,000 mile oil change/tire rotation yesterday. I drive in and tell the adviser that I am there for an oil change and tire rotation. Adviser then asks me for the mileage and I turn on the key and tell him 30,059. He then goes into his pitch that in addition to the oil change and tire rotation that they recommend that I replace the brake fluid, differential fluids and a bunch of other stuff and hands me this dealership "Preferred Maintenance Guide" that has dealership recommended maintenance in 6,000 mile increments.
In addition to an oil change and tire rotation it recommends things like install premium engine protection, replace engine air filter, replace brake fluid, replace transmission fluid (non-CVT), install fuel system cleaner, add cooling system conditioner, replace differential fluids and replace PCV valve. So I retrieve the maintenance manual from the glovebox and the manufacturer's require maintenance is only an oil change, tire rotation and replace the air filter. I small a rat. For giggles, I ask him how much this 30,000 mile service package is and he says $499... I choked (actually I did... I started laughing and choked a bit).
I tell him that I'll just take the oil change and tire rotation and that I had previously done the engine air filter (which are the only require maintenance for 30,000 miles). And then I handed him a discount coupon that I printed off from their website which saved me $20 off their outrageous prices so my total was only about $80.
I also told him that I was put off by them pitching these additional services as "recommended" ... they are not recommended by the manufacturer but rather are recommended by the dealership.... and I wanted to talk with the service manager... he agreed but I never saw the guy... can you imagine that?
As I was checking out I told him that I just wanted to be clear that I only needed to do what the manufacturer's manual requires to keep in good standing for the bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties and he said yes, but that those other recommended services were "good for the car".... I said perhaps, but they are even better for the service department's bottom line.
I can easily see my mom or DW or DD falling for the pitch and it makes me
Then today I got the customary email asking me how my service visit was and my response would not fit in the text box so I sent them an email.