dealer rip off - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

RICO8458 · 10-31-2009, 05:25 PM

went for an oil change, next thing dealer rep telling me i need a new battery, that car wont start. so they sold me one called truestart battery and cost me $129.00 plus labor of $47.00 plus tax of $15.00. dang, that sure hurt me.

***TrailDust*** · 10-31-2009, 05:29 PM

You got hosed. I'd have told the dealership I'd bring in the battery myself and install it on the premises. A cool dealer would have let you bring in your own battery and installed it n/c. Dealer made a lot of money on that one.

GT-R · 10-31-2009, 05:44 PM

workerant · 10-31-2009, 06:01 PM

Can they give him a jump start and let him go?

johnfrisco · 10-31-2009, 06:14 PM

Dealers are no different than burglars. At least u got your battery professionally installed

GT-R · 10-31-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTM77

Can they give him a jump start and let him go?

It'll prolly cost him about the same though, you know, he has to pay for the labor to the grab the cables and the jump start time, this, and that...

ProperElite · 11-01-2009, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICO8458

went for an oil change, next thing dealer rep telling me i need a new battery, that car wont start. so they sold me one called truestart battery and cost me $129.00 plus labor of $47.00 plus tax of $15.00. dang, that sure hurt me.

Yes...you definitely got screwed my friend. However, being that your car is a 2005, it might have been time to change the battery sooner or later (within the next year or so...batteries last about 5 to 5 1/2 years), so now you don't have to worry about it.

I had a dealership that pretty much screwed me the same way with changing my transmission fluid. I brought my car in for a regular $50 oil change and tire rotation at 35,000 miles. It ended up costing me almost $300 total because the dealership called and said that my transmission fluid was dark and burned and needed to be flushed. Being stupid and not thinking, I said fine and paid for it. After the fact, I had come to find out from a trusted friend who is a mechanic that transmission fluid doesn't require attention until about 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Again, however, at least I know that my car is in good condition and I didn't wait TOO long to have it changed. Now I won't have to worry until about 80,000 miles.

I just brought my car in the other day for an oil change and quick inspection (45,000 miles). The dealership said that my car was in good shape and the only thing that will need attention within the next 10,000 miles is the rear drum brakes will need adjusting and another tire rotation.

Just always be sure to inspect your car YOURSELF to get your own opinion and then let the dealership inspect it so you can know if you are getting scammed or not.

***TrailDust*** · 11-01-2009, 01:56 AM

There's nothing more valuable in this world than a trusted private mechanic. For anybody living in the Orange County area I can recommend an excellent one.

trooplewis · 11-01-2009, 09:29 AM

Be glad you don't drive a bimmer....$300 batteries, plus labor, and there are no aftermarket one, yoiu have to go OEM.

You would have paid more if you had gone to Sears and gotten a DieHard, so don't feel so bad about how much you paid.

Redline_Me · 11-01-2009, 09:41 AM

I have to change the one on my dads car soon. But damn son, you got raped.

El Loco VG · 11-01-2009, 07:31 PM

I just bought a DieHard Platinum from sears this weekend for my Accord $190+tax

CJCride · 11-01-2009, 07:38 PM

Probably got a free cup o coffee though.

njerald · 11-01-2009, 07:48 PM

Diehards are overated and way overpriced.

***heartdisease*** · 11-01-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProperElite

Yes...you definitely got screwed my friend. However, being that your car is a 2005, it might have been time to change the battery sooner or later (within the next year or so...batteries last about 5 to 5 1/2 years), so now you don't have to worry about it.

I had a dealership that pretty much screwed me the same way with changing my transmission fluid. I brought my car in for a regular $50 oil change and tire rotation at 35,000 miles. It ended up costing me almost $300 total because the dealership called and said that my transmission fluid was dark and burned and needed to be flushed. Being stupid and not thinking, I said fine and paid for it. After the fact, I had come to find out from a trusted friend who is a mechanic that transmission fluid doesn't require attention until about 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Again, however, at least I know that my car is in good condition and I didn't wait TOO long to have it changed. Now I won't have to worry until about 80,000 miles.

I just brought my car in the other day for an oil change and quick inspection (45,000 miles). The dealership said that my car was in good shape and the only thing that will need attention within the next 10,000 miles is the rear drum brakes will need adjusting and another tire rotation.

Just always be sure to inspect your car YOURSELF to get your own opinion and then let the dealership inspect it so you can know if you are getting scammed or not.

Don't all modern vehicles adjust the rear brakes every time you put on the parking brake?

ProperElite · 11-01-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heartdisease

Don't all modern vehicles adjust the rear brakes every time you put on the parking brake?

Not sure...those were the mechanic's exact words though...that they needed to be "adjusted". I don't know everything about cars, so I couldn't tell if the mechanic was full of shit or not on that particular subject. He could probably be trying to scam me again.