Everything is Perfect!

No, not really.

I got the phone call yesterday morning from the dealership. Apparently the passenger's side airbag needed to be replaced for some reason. They he told me that there IS a safety warranty, but it's only up to 60,000 miles. Which our truck is way past (just a little under 80,000). SOOOO, it is going to cost $265 to replace that airbag (no charge for labor) and $23 for freight and because airbags are considered hazmat, they wouldn't be able to get it there any sooner than next Monday.

NEXT MONDAY!!!

Uncool. Very very uncool.

I got off the phone and boiled for a bit. I called the dealership and asked to speak to the sales manager who was trying to help me get through all this. He was on the phone, so I didn't get to speak to him. I left a message to have him call me back.

A few minutes later, the service manager called me. He said "What can I do to make this right?"

I told him, "I'm not sure there is anything you can do at this point! I'm so sick and tired of this crap. You guys can't get my truck done, you keep charging me more money. I'm not saying you're doing anything dishonest but this is the stereotypical auto shop horror story!"

He then tells me that he's going to see what he can do to get me a discount on the airbag. This offers me little consolation.

"Discount?? You know what? I hesitate to say this because this is NOT how I am. I DO NOT believe it trying to get things out of people for free. I am NOT about shorting you money. BUT, if I have to pay for that airbag, then forget it! Give me my truck and we'll call it done. I'll take my truck AND MY BUSINESS elsewhere!"

He tells me that he'll look into it and see what he can do and call me back.

Then I ask about the sales manager. I figured that since it was the sales manager I had called for, that I ought to get to speak to him. Apparently he's sitting across from the service manager for this call. I ask to speak to him.

I basically repeat everything I said to the service manager. I let him have it about how frustrated I am and how I just can't fathom the fact that they put this vehicle through all kinds of tests to make sure it was safe for the road and that I haven't even had the truck for 3 months and the airbag needs to be replaced. I exclaim how furious I am that the extended warranty I purchased since this vehicle was sold to me "as is" didn't cover something as critical as airbags. It's not as if the vehicle was in an accident...THEY JUST STOPPED BEING OK!

I repeated my comment about taking my truck elsewhere. I told him to figure out what he had to figure out, but that if I have to pay for the airbags then I'm done. I have absolutely had it and I would rather take my business elsewhere.

"Woah, wait a minute," he says, "You don't have to pay for the airbag. It's covered by your warranty."

I told him that's not what the person told me earlier. I told him he'd better get his story straight because I was specifically told that it was NOT covered and that I was going to have to pay an additional $300 to get it done.

He says he'll look into it and call me back.

Apparently, I finally got their attention.

I got a call less than 5 minutes later. The service manager called and simply said, "Your airbag is NOT covered under the warranty, but don't worry about it. We'll take care of it for you at no charge."

I thank him. I apologize for getting rude and explain that I'd just been pushed beyond my limits. He says he understands and can't blame me. He then says, "Well, I hope this doesn't ruin our chances of doing business together again in the future."

I told him, "To be perfectly honest with you, IT DOES! BUT because you're taking care of me now, MAYBE there's still a chance we'll do business again in the future.

So, there you have it. I had to blow up at them to get their attention. It's sad, really, because I hate being that way.