Amazing What Some People Consider Reasonable

[flybye023]

So, this guy calls in complaining that a dealership (which he has never been to before) is refusing to do repairs on his car. A little puzzled, (after all why would a business turn away money?) I call the shop. Turns out this guy had been in an accident one month after he bought the car which kind of totaled his front end. He had repairs done by his insurance company at a competing repair shop.

The repairs were fine and the car was in very good shape but the dealership wanted them to sign a waiver saying that the shop would not be responsible for warranty repairs to parts involved in the accident. That’s all. At no time did they state that they were refusing to fix the car. The guy didn’t think this was fair and, moreover, wanted the dealer to guarantee that he could sell his car for full value when the time came that he wanted to get rid of it and not have its resell price affected in any way by the accident. Oh, also, he’s never buying our product again and will tell everyone he knows how sucky we are because we refuse to accommodate this simple, reasonable request.

[TryNotToBeThatOne]

Um, does your state/country have Lemon Laws? Because if they do, that guy is going to have his @%% handed to him.

[LifeCarnie]

, wanted the dealer to guarantee that he could sell his car for full value when the time came that he wanted to get rid of it and not have its resell price affected in any way by the accident.

Good luck with that plan!!

Crack Cocaine....it does the body good.

[Gabrielle Proctor]

I don't think that he understands that once you drive it off of the lot, the value of the car has gone down by as little as a third of the price you've paid for it. Accident or no accident.

[chainedbarista]

also that accidents do affect resale value, even if the repairs leave it in good condition.

i'd have refused him too; no doubt he'd lay blame with the dealership if the sell didn't go his way.

[LifeCarnie]

I don't think that he understands that once you drive it off of the lot, the value of the car has gone down by as little as a third of the price you've paid for it. Accident or no accident.

I thought of that too. But, I took it as the customer wants the dealer to guarantee that the vehicle will retains it's value, despite the fact that the car was in an accident. That never happens, even if the car was repaired to an "as new" status or to the same state it was prior to the accident.

In other words, he wanted the stated blue book value guaranteed, not neccesarily the showroom value.

Blue book value is abused anyway. Most private sellers think that fair condition, or worse, means the car should be priced in the "Mint" category.


Plus, if the car was repaired by a shop that uses aftermarket repair parts (MAACO) instead of the licensed manufacturer original equipment, the dealer puts themselves in a bind with automobile manufacturer by guaranteeing what are essentially competitors products.

[flybye023]

Plus, if the car was repaired by a shop that uses aftermarket repair parts (MAACO) instead of the licensed manufacturer original equipment, the dealer puts themselves in a bind with automobile manufacturer by guaranteeing what are essentially competitors products.

This was exactly what we were facing. And your understanding of my post is correct. He basically wanted the accident to be ignored since his car was operating perfectly and had been repaired. Sorry buddy, not going to happen

[crazylegs]

Um, does your state/country have Lemon Laws?

Say what? Pray, do tell.

[Seshat]

Besides which, the resale value of a car is what the buyer is willing to pay. The dealer doesn't have any say in it. The trade-in value, however, is a dealer thing.

[tropicsgoddess]

I don't think that he understands that once you drive it off of the lot, the value of the car has gone down by as little as a third of the price you've paid for it. Accident or no accident.

That, my friends is called depreciation which is something that SC doesn't have a clue about.

[MadMike]

Say what? Pray, do tell.

There's some interesting information here.

[protege]

also that accidents do affect resale value, even if the repairs leave it in good condition.

Cars just aren't the same after they've been wrecked. Sure, you can fix the damage, but it'll never be like it was. The paint might not match 100%, the panel fit sometimes isn't as good, and sometimes the shut lines don't line up as well. Body shops do a pretty good job, but it'll never be like it was the day it left the factory.

Also, keep in mind that many OEM and aftermarket repair parts are sometimes made in the same factories. Only difference was, that one part came in a generic box, the other in a GM, Ford, or whatever box. Didn't explain the more-expensive prices on the "OEM" stuff though...especially when you consider the quality of both is the same. Years ago, that wasn't the case--some aftermarket stuff was truly shit!

[Broomjockey]

Cars just aren't the same after they've been wrecked. Sure, you can fix the damage, but it'll never be like it was.

Yep. My parents' car was in an accident years ago (loaned it to someone), and the front axle was bent. Kept the car about 3 months after that, and though it was technically sound, mom always said the car just wasn't the same.

[RichS]

Years ago, that wasn't the case--some aftermarket stuff was truly shit!

That reminded me - if any of you had a late-model Ford Escort or its variants, and had to have the rearview power mirrors replaced, and the replacements didn't work...don't blame me or my co-worker. *Company* wanted them just put together and rushed out the door to make delivery - come to think of it, that's how they treated all their product.

Kinda explains why the business was sold off a few years ago - I'm glad I never bought one of their child car seats.