Dealership Charges For Large Tires and Winch??

[GladGreg]

As some indicated. You are getting screwed. Plane and simple. Price wise… Then again, some agreements among others here, mods factor towards repair time setbacks. Shouldn’t be though to really stop you or help you out the door by losing your business. I think we are all missing that part.

I’d say do two things: 1) call Stellantis and complaint to corporate about it 2) leave some google and yelp reviews. Target DealerRater Reviews site too. Apply both the service manager and advisor names. Double back at some point again for review. This does tend to shift economics and factors of how Stellantis (CDJR) does business and work with dealerships, forcing them to shift business tactics or explore change on their end.

If you were in California at mine. I’d slide this under the rug or minimum if there were pinned prices to be made for “installed mods removal” for my techs; a reasonable fee + discount on entire service at least... As trying to rob you and play it as your fault when that Gladiator isn’t even that modded compared to stock sold units is just wild and maddening.

Anyways, status update?

Not much of an update. I told the service advisor that I thought the charges were unreasonable and asked to speak to the service manager. The manager was supposed to call me yesterday and didn't. I called my advisor again today and he told me he would transfer my call to the manager. I was on hold for 40 minutes before the call just hung up. I'm about to the call the general manager.

In the meantime, I called three other dealership who all said the charges for oversized tires (37's) and aftermarket bumper with winch are totally unreasonable and they would not charge that. They're also willing to do the warranty work. Additionally, as some people on here have mentioned, the other dealers confirmed that the repairs (replace camshafts, lifters, rockers, valve cover gaskets) do not require removal of the bumper or winch and that if the vehicle is sitting too high to do the work, they would simply put the truck on a lift, remove the tires, and lower it down.

If my current dealer doesn't budge on the issue (if I ever get ahold of them) I will take the truck to one of the other other dealers. This makes me wonder if the current dealer will try to stick me with the diagnosis/inspection fee. ?

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[RubiconDONN]

They shouldn’t. Really can’t if it’s also warranty work and they are not trying to come to terms within reasonable approach.

Again, calling Stellantis does wonders for such scenarios with warranty and recalls, and putting “managers” in place. CDJR under Stellantis are here to serve; albeit make money, but it’s based on a customer service experience for retention and growth.

 

[Dickster]

Not much of an update. I told the service advisor that I thought the charges were unreasonable and asked to speak to the service manager. The manager was supposed to call me yesterday and didn't. I called my advisor again today and he told me he would transfer my call to the manager. I was on hold for 40 minutes before the call just hung up. I'm about to the call the general manager.

In the meantime, I called three other dealership who all said the charges for oversized tires (37's) and aftermarket bumper with winch are totally unreasonable and they would not charge that. They're also willing to do the warranty work. Additionally, as some people on here have mentioned, the other dealers confirmed that the repairs (replace camshafts, lifters, rockers, valve cover gaskets) do not require removal of the bumper or winch and that if the vehicle is sitting too high to do the work, they would simply put the truck on a lift, remove the tires, and lower it down.

If my current dealer doesn't budge on the issue (if I ever get ahold of them) I will take the truck to one of the other other dealers. This makes me wonder if the current dealer will try to stick me with the diagnosis/inspection fee. ?

there you go tell them to pound sand and go to another dealer. which at this point i would just for the fact they tried to pull one over on you already.

 

[jeepers29]

Yet another dealership story that makes me so Happy I have a great one. Good luck op. I would go to one of the other dealers. Not sure I would want the original dealer working on my jeep even if they waived the charges.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yeah the average consumer plays dumb when it comes to the operational cost of running a business; most don't understand how many line items there are with insurance alone IE workman's comp, health, property, liability and so on.

So $181 hr - $45 hr for the Tech only leaves the shop with $136.............. Go ahead and research how much it cost to either lease commercial C2 property or even build; that's a huge amount of overhead before a single wrench is turned.

I've worked as a tech and at the operational level.

A couple of years ago the dealership we've bought our last 3 Jeeps was undergoing a major facelift inside and out. The sales manager told me that it was Jeep that said that they had to meet certain design standards - the interior layout was changed a lot, the outside was changed a lot in appearance and he said - Jeep said "do it, at your own expense".
How much of that was true, I can't say - but just the time and materials and equipment involved, wow.
We owned a retail store (and I also managed buildings and grounds for a health care facility) - it's crazy how much there was as far as business regulations, insurance regulations, safety, fire inspections and safety (they inspect, tell you what more is needed, you pay - can be costly at times). If the drop ceiling was imperfect, you had to fix it - it was a plenum area in our store. . Unemployment insurance, our side of the SS and medicare stuff, holy cow. Then you pay to take credit cards - a percentage each month. That was a huge bill. It's how these CC companies get to give you "cash back!" and brag about how much you get back. it's not them being nice - it comes from the businesses that pay those fees. Imagine and customer coming in and paying a $6,000 transmission repair bill by credit card - the CC company gets a chunk of that. (we were in line behind a customer picking up her car after having it worked on and paid with credit card and I thought to myself - yeah, the dealership gets about 5800 of that if my math was correct based on what we used to pay) And business banking fees, lawyers, you name it. I bet insurance on an auto business isn't very cheap.

 

[Minty JL]

A couple of years ago the dealership we've bought our last 3 Jeeps was undergoing a major facelift inside and out. The sales manager told me that it was Jeep that said that they had to meet certain design standards - the interior layout was changed a lot, the outside was changed a lot in appearance and he said - Jeep said "do it, at your own expense".
How much of that was true, I can't say - but just the time and materials and equipment involved, wow.
We owned a retail store (and I also managed buildings and grounds for a health care facility) - it's crazy how much there was as far as business regulations, insurance regulations, safety, fire inspections and safety (they inspect, tell you what more is needed, you pay - can be costly at times). If the drop ceiling was imperfect, you had to fix it - it was a plenum area in our store. . Unemployment insurance, our side of the SS and medicare stuff, holy cow. Then you pay to take credit cards - a percentage each month. That was a huge bill. It's how these CC companies get to give you "cash back!" and brag about how much you get back. it's not them being nice - it comes from the businesses that pay those fees. Imagine and customer coming in and paying a $6,000 transmission repair bill by credit card - the CC company gets a chunk of that. (we were in line behind a customer picking up her car after having it worked on and paid with credit card and I thought to myself - yeah, the dealership gets about 5800 of that if my math was correct based on what we used to pay) And business banking fees, lawyers, you name it. I bet insurance on an auto business isn't very cheap.

LOL, 99+% people do not even know what plenum area is

 

[Minty JL]

most people that never owned a company have no idea what the financial burden is, and no one works for free. You own a company to make money not just own a company.

No Joke i pay the highest workers comp rate on the market for my guy. workers comp $40k a year, Liability insurance with umbrella is $70k a year. auto/building insurance $25,000 a year. I am just a small podunk sheet metal operation as well.

Yup, and this is why I try to support small business as much as I can.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

LOL, 99+% people do not even know what plenum area is

oops, yeah, right......
Then we can forget about why not to use certain wiring up there, or caulking the areas that pipes and conduits go through in certain walls with special caulk?

Yup, and this is why I try to support small business as much as I can.

Absolutely.

 

[CrazyCooter]

A couple of years ago the dealership we've bought our last 3 Jeeps was undergoing a major facelift inside and out. The sales manager told me that it was Jeep that said that they had to meet certain design standards - the interior layout was changed a lot, the outside was changed a lot in appearance and he said - Jeep said "do it, at your own expense".
How much of that was true, I can't say - but just the time and materials and equipment involved, wow.
We owned a retail store (and I also managed buildings and grounds for a health care facility) - it's crazy how much there was as far as business regulations, insurance regulations, safety, fire inspections and safety (they inspect, tell you what more is needed, you pay - can be costly at times). If the drop ceiling was imperfect, you had to fix it - it was a plenum area in our store. . Unemployment insurance, our side of the SS and medicare stuff, holy cow. Then you pay to take credit cards - a percentage each month. That was a huge bill. It's how these CC companies get to give you "cash back!" and brag about how much you get back. it's not them being nice - it comes from the businesses that pay those fees. Imagine and customer coming in and paying a $6,000 transmission repair bill by credit card - the CC company gets a chunk of that. (we were in line behind a customer picking up her car after having it worked on and paid with credit card and I thought to myself - yeah, the dealership gets about 5800 of that if my math was correct based on what we used to pay) And business banking fees, lawyers, you name it. I bet insurance on an auto business isn't very cheap.

There are fees and costs everywhere you look and it all has to be passed down to the client or there isn't enough to stay open the next month. 22 years in business for myself and I know what it takes to have some left over for retirement savings and open the following year. This doesn't even take into account what I'm not doing legally just because there is so much regulation that I can't keep up with the changes year over year.

I remember one time I did this huge job for a guy on a motorhome that was like $16,000, wanted the senior citizen discount, and he then paid with a Discover card bragging about the rewards he was getting......That transaction cost me almost $500 alone or the equivalent of working 6.3 hours (at that time) for free! This when I was new in business and watching every penny because I was undercharging for my services and on the verge of going out of business month to month. Things have changed and I have learned to adjust based on expenses instead of trying to me low bidder to get every job.

 

[GladGreg]

UPDATE: After not receiving a call back from anyone in the service department, I called and left a voicemail with the general manager. He called me back an hour later and is going to take care of the $410 "fee" for the tires and bumper. Although, he did stand by their "policy" to charge customers in instances when the service techs have to "work around" certain modifications that may prolong their repairs. He cited examples of this, one being a bumper with a large stinger, which mine obviously does not have.

I like to think I'm a pretty reasonable person and had they told me this upfront when they saw me pull the truck into the service center, this could have been addressed before taking the engine apart and diagnosing the problem. If my truck had modifications requiring removal in order to perform necessary repairs, I would totally understand a charge for that; however, considering the tires and bumper have no impact on valvetrain repairs, it's unnecessary to charge the customer.

At the end of the day, they made it right. Now, I just hope the work done is...satisfactory. Thanks everybody for your comments/suggestions.

 

[jeepers29]

I would ask to see all the old parts. You won't get to keep them being warranty, but at least you will be able to see what was replaced, if they are honest.

 

[Lost1wing]

There are fees and costs everywhere you look and it all has to be passed down to the client or there isn't enough to stay open the next month. 22 years in business for myself and I know what it takes to have some left over for retirement savings and open the following year. This doesn't even take into account what I'm not doing legally just because there is so much regulation that I can't keep up with the changes year over year.

I remember one time I did this huge job for a guy on a motorhome that was like $16,000, wanted the senior citizen discount, and he then paid with a Discover card bragging about the rewards he was getting......That transaction cost me almost $500 alone or the equivalent of working 6.3 hours (at that time) for free! This when I was new in business and watching every penny because I was undercharging for my services and on the verge of going out of business month to month. Things have changed and I have learned to adjust based on expenses instead of trying to me low bidder to get every job.

I get it and I appreciate the hard work people put into these small businesses. But that dealer, I believe is trying to see what he can get away with.

Not mentioning names, Bergstrom Cadillac in Oshkosh, charged my in-laws $4000 to replace two fuel tank sending units. The book called for the rear axle/trans to be removed. Nobody removes the driveshaft axle or trans for that job. There is a service bulletin stating this as well. But do they show the service bulletin to my in-laws? No! $4000 later, they know how much fuel is in the tank.

That is my thought on the grill and bumper removal. Just a money maker for the dealer. I don't care how pretty the showroom floor is.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I would ask to see all the old parts. You won't get to keep them being warranty, but at least you will be able to see what was replaced, if they are honest.

I'd not for a minute doubt what gets replaced.
He's got a 2020 with the tell-tale tick. 2020's had cam/follower issues.
As long as when i picked it up there was no tick, and I didn't get charged because it's still got a drivetrain warranty, I'd not even bother looking.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Although, he did stand by their "policy" to charge customers in instances when the service techs have to "work around" certain modifications that may prolong their repairs. He cited examples of this, one being a bumper with a large stinger, which mine obviously does not have.

Yeah, he was applying that where it didn't need to be applied in that case. Man, I've worked on vehicles with "additions" to the front or rear and nothing worse than being in sync, trying to keep in that labor rate area and have to keep remembering to walk way around something on the front of the vehicle.
I recall the people walking around my JT when it was in the reception area of the dealer's shop a year ago - and I had the snow plow on it. They were SO used to "this is a Jeep, 6 steps and I'm around the front bumper" and I swear there were 2 or 3 people I thought were going to get hurt badly by the snow plow on the front.
I get it - even in my own shop when I have a car in there I get totally used to the length - you know how many steps it is from A pillar to the front corner and you make your turn - and suddenly you SMACK into something, or you have to keep walking around something.
Yours is a minor case, but mine is stock distance so it's like many Jeeps they get into the shop - UNLESS I have that plow on it then all bets are off.
I mean it was sort of funny in a way, but I really honestly cringed and was afraid someone was going to be seriously hurt. You don't expect 300 pounds of steel to be out there when you walk past the side of a JT and then expect to turn and go around it close to the bumper.

You should see people trying to walk around my JT when there's the front receiver ball mount on it!
Yeah, SMACK!! People have gotten hurt by it so I really try hard to remember to take it out after parking my trailer.
You expect here's the corner of that Jeep - all Jeeps are the same, you walk around 100 of them every day - then suddenly.......

So I get the fee, IF it's an obstruction and danger since he's explained it in that respect.
It's not a money grab - it's a true inconvenience.
Don't believe it - work in a shop where you are busy and there are hazards all around and you get used to walking around certain things - muscle memory. I can almost walk through my garage with the lights off out there - it's a mess, stuff all over, but I know where things are. So I get really unhappy when my wife decides she's going to back HER Jeep in farther than normal and I'm waking around it and run into something. Muscle memory.
It's how visually impaired people get by as well. Then someone moves a chair 6".

 

[Stan H]

If it was me I'd pay it. That's a fair amount of work to complete before the process of engine repair can be accomplished. IMHO Jeepn only covers up to 35's and if your on 37's they are over looking the extra strain on the engine etc... It would take me even more time to donit more frustration and a if I refused maybe no fix for the engine. My opinion pay the piper.
Probably unpopular opinion but sorry .

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