Why all the hate? I happen to like the Honda Dealer I bought my Fit from. I know dealers are more expensive than working on your Fit yourself. I'd rather have any issue or maintenance done right the first time at the dealer. Besides the dealer repair guys can use the support these days.

 

It’s because there are a lot of crappy dealerships. If you have a good one by all means stick with them but some dealers will rip you off and lie to you just like the greasy shop on the corner that offers wallet flushes.

 

Mine is pretty good. Well so far since 2015 when I bought my EX Fit from them. Repair prices are good. They were the ones that let me know that the ignition start button issue was going to be repaired for free. I wonder how many of our Fit brothers and sisters paid for this repair at their Honda Dealers that should have been done for free?

 

I get both of mine serviced at my local dealership. They treat us very well.

 

I don't know why dealers get such a bad rap. I like going to my Honda Dealer for oil changes and issues I have with my Fit.

 

I don't hate the dealers, but I avoid them at all cost because I don't want to pay for the lounge chairs, TV, coffee, water, and all the other costly overheads. I was at the dealer because I needed some OEM parts. The stack of paper work was heavier than the part (a bit of sarcasm here). Now, go figure, who need all the papers? Well, it's for their various departments that got involved with that $2 dollar part that was packaged excessively.
Now that you got me going, I went to the dealer to make some measurements for a possible campmobile. I wanted to measure the inside dimensions of the Odyssey, CR-V and the HR-V with the 2nd row seats folded down. The sales guy made no effort to unlock the cars that were outside because I had to him I was just looking. This may be the case of that one salesman, but I blame management as well for not making sure that everyone who comes to the dealer is a potential customer who should be treated with courtesy.

 

I’ve taken ours to the dealer while under warranty (bought CPO) ... never for anything mechanical, just oil changes/ tire rotations...our local has never pressured me to do anything I felt wasn’t needed... I will get the manual gearbox oil replaced next visit, and it may be the last visit, as warranty’s up. I’m fine with the service there... the salesguy (when I was shopping for it) jerked me all kinds of round wanting to upsell me a higher level Fit...with a CVT... I told the ****** I wanted a manual... he wandered around showing me this and that, wasting my time, and as told him thanks but no thanks, he “magically “ found a 6spd...black wasn’t my first choice, but a manual was. So far am cool with the service dept... hate salespeople, but, that’s their gig, I guess... I’d suck at it, I can’t pressure folks... OK, sorry, thanks for stopping by, c’mon back

 

If you have a good dealership, stay with them. I've been told by a VW place that I needed four new power door locks, and it would only cost $2k with labor to put them in. I think they tacked a brake fluid flush onto that suggestion for only twice what it should have cost, but I just left and did all the work myself after hearing the lock figure. I've waited fifteen minutes at a Honda parts counter and walked out without anyone talking to me except the girl at the front counter saying she hoped I got everything I needed. Wife used to go to the local Mazda dealer, they only charged about 50% more than I wanted to pay. I haven't found a good one yet.

 

I have a sort of a friendly customer thing with my Honda Service Advisor. He seems to try getting service discounts whenever possible. Even with the Ignition Push Start problem I had. He let me know it was going to be replaced for FREE!!!!!!! Not all Honda Dealer repair places are bad.

 

I don't think dealers are anything special. Just like any other business, there are good ones and bad ones.
One of the differences is that it's much harder to pick and choose who works on your car at a dealer.
In a small shop, you might be able to have a specific mechanic service your car.

I've had some bad & good experiences with dealership services in the past.
My current local dealership service did well on my single visit (recall service).
Sales people were pretty bad at the same dealership, though, when I bought the Fit (new).

 

The sales part of my dealer is great. I got the best price on my Red 2015 EX stick compared to other area Honda Dealers. I feel a sense of loyalty to the service department. So far the dealer service advisor and techs have been great.

 

My local mechanic has never tried to upsell me services I didn't need. Almost every car dealer I've dealt with (I've bought 4 cars new which means I've probably visited over a dozen dealers) has been dishonest in one way or another. The dealer that sold me my first Fit (2010) was excellent, but when I went back for another (2016) I was lied to so I went to a different dealer. Who also lied- bait-and-switch (claimed the price they'd quoted on the phone was for a manual, not CVT, even though that was absolute BS).

 

My 2 ¢: Long ago, I worked at car dealerships and motorcycle dealerships, and, since then, I have periodically been a dealership customer. Some dealerships are good, some are honest, some are both. The problem (in my experience) is that too many of them are crooked or incompetent.

Example of crooked: Not too long ago, I overheard a service writer tell a lady that she needed to have the front brake pads on her Civic replaced. She had 9,000 mi. on the pads. "It's all the city driving, ma'am. They wear out faster." When he caught on that I was hearing all this, his face took on a look of shame.

Example of incompetence: I've worked at dealerships where they had seven service bays, but only one mechanic who really knew anything. Whenever something came up, the other mechanics either fudged it or waited for the good mechanic to take a look.

Example of a culture that couldn't give a s***: Ever heard of "wall service"? That's when you bring your motorcycle in for a problem, and the dealer leaves it leaned up against a wall all day, then hands you a bill when you come to pick it up. There's a good profit margin on wall service.

Fair Warning: You are reading this on the Internet. The first rule of Fight Club is Never Believe the Internet.

 

Just be very careful on dealership that offers free lifetime oil changes if you bought a car from them. Klein Honda of WA is the best example. kept on creating new google accounts to put 5star reviews for them. because they have so many 1 star review from real customers. lol Caught them not doing oil change on my first service visit.

 

I had my local dealer (Pr*me Honda - Boston) that didn't rotate my tires but charged me for the rotation. They asked why I knew - and I showed them my red clay markings on the tire (FL for front left...). The Service Manager's face went red...CAUGHT. That's why I do my own simple maintenance like oil changes, engine air filter change, cabin air, and the like. It's too easy for the lowest paid dealer employees to not do the work or break the tabs/overtighten the oil pan bolt/forget and leave the underside plastic shroud off/forget to replace the plastic bolts on these loss leader services like an oil change.

 

Never heard this term until now.

The culture among dealerships can't be all bad. I own a 2007 Honda Ruckus and a 2015 Honda Grom. Both dealer purchased and maintained. Each is worked on every time I go for routine maintenance and repairs. How do I know? The waiting area is right next to the service area. I've even gone up to the service tech while he's working on my bikes to ask questions and point out little problem areas. I've never had any "Wall Service" done to my bikes.

Oil change deals.

My Honda Dealer has an offer for 3 oil changes for about 80 to 90 dollars or there about. I'm seriously considering taking this offer since my money flow has practically grinded to a halt.