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Originally Posted by Gumpster
You should have asked the finance guy what the different levels of treatment offered by the service department were. Then asked why all customers were not treated with the same level of service. That would just piss me off if a car dealers service department would treat me differently just because I did or did not pay an extra "service level fee".
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It was pretty basic and no-cost courtesy stuff, like going to the front of the line, not having to wait. It was not better service in that they use premium fluids or parts or anything like that. And then earning "points" for having the (higher priced of course) maintenance work done by Honda rather than the shade tree machanic, points which can be traded in for discount on price of next car. It is really mickey mouse, this club membership and as I said I'd ordinarily never buy it. Dontcha know, Honda would not be selling it if it was not a money maker for THEM (not us). But once I had recovered most of my money I was emotionallly exhausted and decided to let it go. I meant it, that I can be a real pill if need be, and I WILL BE if they don't treat me like royalty when I go in for my first oil change.
But really, at the time I made the foolish purchases I was in a pretty wiped mind condition. The sales people have us all psyched out, particularly when a vehicle is in such high demand as the Fit. Following a 4-month wait I arrived at the dealer and "met" my car for the first time. (This was only the second Fit I saw up close). Sales guy hands me the keys, I immediately jump into this beautiful new car and take a test drive in the city (I'm a country mouse) and instantly my adrenalin is all pumped up just from surviving on the highway in a brand new car that isn't even exactly mine. I was not capable of thinking straight at all when the finance guy shoved the papers under my nose. (and they know this, they do!)
In contrast, when I bought the old Ford Ranger in '94 (the last new vehicle I bought) there were plenty to choose from, many vehicles on many different lots. I gleefully and mercilessly played the dealerships against each other to work the price down. When I brought them to their knees on price I did the same thing with interest rate on financing. Got a real good deal, and enjoyed the heck out of playing their game back on them.
But with the Fit, you know and I know there are a dozen people who will snatch it right up (and maybe even pay more than msrp), so the pressure is on bigtime. The customer does not have much to bargain with.
I hope that others will benefit from my experience, as it is entirely possible to do all the research ahead of time and be totally prepared to counter any overpriced HondaCare offers.
Thanks Jonas for the donut idea. You are so right about making friends with the worker bees. I have found that tipping well more than pays for itself, and if there is one thing this world needs more of today, it is spreading goodwill.