Warning: Seat rail stuck!

[bikerboy]

Are you saying that it is a bad thing that I read my owners' manual? Seems like thats the case from your sarcastic kudos. Hm, maybe would be better off if nobody read their manuals. I don't feel like there is any disrespect in pointing out prices which seem too high to me. At a certain point it becomes theft. If you don't like the term that I used in place of dealership, then I wont use it again, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the prices remain too high and that to me thats theft. Oh, and I didn't memorize anything... I just don't recall a warning for that particular dilemma. You don't have to make fun of me; didn't you mommy teach you thats not nice.

Just the way the system is set up. Dealerships get charged such high rent and if they don't rip people off then they go out of business and if people are willing to allow it then rent stays up and on and on and on....I'm done w/ it.

[smartSEATTLE]

I have been working in the auto industry now for close to 16 years. I have worked at both dealerships as well as private and a family owned shop.

Dealer prices are higher as the overhead is higher. Look at the computer system alone. In order for me to work on a smart vehicle useing the DAS system it cost the dealership around $30,000.00 just to purchase the setup. Now we have the cost to furnish and remodel the place. You think that the dealership did not have to purchase the furniture? Now add the people. You like your car washed and vacuumed at the dealership right, labor is not free. My parts inventory overhead is close to $75,000.00 just so I can have the part in stock when I need to get a guest back on the road. The dealer principal does not see a penny of a return until I sell that part.

People are so fast to bash on a dealership. Last time I checked there are very few businesses that list over their doors "Not for profit". As a matter of fact I would be willing to bet that no one here in this discussion works for a industry that does not perform work for a profit.

Bottom line is if you dont like the dealerships dont go to them, if I didnt like a movie I sure would not pay the $10 bucks to go sit in a theater to watch it.

Just my 2 cents.

[John_H]

Originally Posted by smartSEATTLE

Bottom line is if you dont like the dealerships dont go to them

Much appreciated and too-often ignored advice. I started using dealerships exclusively after a problem that cost me several hundred bucks back around 1990 at a local independent shop for my Tbird didn't get fixed by their work but the dealership was able to isolate the faulty $35 component relatively quickly. Bad brake computer? No - bad hydraulic switch.

I let my feet do the talking after a bad service experience at a BMW shop (unneeded service even though they had 100% of my records detailing what was done when previously) sent me to a different BMW dealership nearly the same distance away that tackled a difficult problem (rattling) with aplomb.

The unfortunate difficulty for smart owners, however, is that in some parts of this country the "next closest" dealership can be 10 hours away. For those who decided driving an extra couple hours is worth getting to a better dealership: kudos!

I'm happy that Smart Center Portland never left me wanting (so I never had reason to visit the fine folks at smartSEATTLE) and wonder if my new Smart Center will be Orlando, Tampa, or "the guy" who used to work at scOrlando.

[stressed member]

A penny for your thoughts....

[Wdhitch]

Originally Posted by John_H

I'm happy that Smart Center Portland never left me wanting (so I never had reason to visit the fine folks at smartSEATTLE) and wonder if my new Smart Center will be Orlando, Tampa, or "the guy" who used to work at scOrlando.

"The guy".... always go with "the guy" If you need further clarification PM me.