Dealer courtesies

Today I took my Prius to the dealer for the (non-urgent) steering
column recall which is under way. It took about 2 hours, during
which time I lounged around their comfy reception area, swigged
their rather good machine-made coffee and read a fun book. IOW,
no real pain.

When the job was done, they said it was their habit to recompense
for the hassle: (a) a bottle of champagne (75cl, with Toyota (GB)
Ltd tag, but no Toyota Part Number); (b) top up the petrol tank;
and (c) vacuum the interior and wash the exterior.

Sadly: (a) I'm not a big fan of champagne; (b) I filled the tank
just 22 miles earlier, expecting to run dry on the way there; and
(c) the car wasn't too dirty and they made the windscreen smeary
whereas it had been nice and shiny.

However, all were pleasant and well-intended courtesies. What of
dealers elsewhere?
--
Andrew Stephenson

On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:53:55 +0000, Andrew Stephenson wrote:
[color=blue]
> Today I took my Prius to the dealer for the (non-urgent) steering
> column recall which is under way. It took about 2 hours, during
> which time I lounged around their comfy reception area, swigged
> their rather good machine-made coffee and read a fun book. IOW,
> no real pain.
>
> When the job was done, they said it was their habit to recompense
> for the hassle: (a) a bottle of champagne (75cl, with Toyota (GB)
> Ltd tag, but no Toyota Part Number); (b) top up the petrol tank;
> and (c) vacuum the interior and wash the exterior.
>
> Sadly: (a) I'm not a big fan of champagne; (b) I filled the tank
> just 22 miles earlier, expecting to run dry on the way there; and
> (c) the car wasn't too dirty and they made the windscreen smeary
> whereas it had been nice and shiny.
>
> However, all were pleasant and well-intended courtesies. What of
> dealers elsewhere?[/color]


Are you kidding? ;)

In article <QIdTg.14$vT1.11@trndny03> [email]Trueno@ae86.gts[/email] "Hachiroku" writes:
[color=blue]
> On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:53:55 +0000, Andrew Stephenson wrote:
>[color=green]
> > Today I took my Prius to the dealer for the (non-urgent) steering
> > column recall which is under way. [...]
> >
> > However, all were pleasant and well-intended courtesies. What of
> > dealers elsewhere?[/color]
>
> Are you kidding? ;)[/color]

Not a word is false. Truly. I was somewhat surprised. The only
other recall I've experienced, the dealer was sociable but hardly
overwhelming with the niceness. I thought this might be a Toyota
or *.jp cultural thing. They also supplied two letters with fine
grovelling apologies for their shortcomings (my paraphrase).
--
Andrew Stephenson

Makes me want a recall. Somehow I don't think I'd get the same treatment
in Florida..

On Sat, 30 Sep 2006 01:28:09 GMT, [email]ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk[/email] (Andrew
Stephenson) wrote:[color=blue]
>In article <QIdTg.14$vT1.11@trndny03> [email]Trueno@ae86.gts[/email] "Hachiroku" writes:[color=green]
>> On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:53:55 +0000, Andrew Stephenson wrote:[/color][/color]
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>> > Today I took my Prius to the dealer for the (non-urgent) steering
>> > column recall which is under way. [...]
>> >
>> > However, all were pleasant and well-intended courtesies. What of
>> > dealers elsewhere?[/color]
>>
>> Are you kidding? ;)[/color]
>
>Not a word is false. Truly. I was somewhat surprised. The only
>other recall I've experienced, the dealer was sociable but hardly
>overwhelming with the niceness. I thought this might be a Toyota
>or *.jp cultural thing. They also supplied two letters with fine
>grovelling apologies for their shortcomings (my paraphrase).[/color]

Andrew, I don't believe he was accusing you of any falsehoods... As
a matter of fact, I'm rather certain.

It was a comment on the American Toyota dealers - they will gladly
do the recall work (since they are getting reimbursed for it), but
unless Toyota Corporate was springing for the perks like the Champagne
and free fuel fills, most USA'n dealers are not going to go that far.

Exceptions being those dealers who think it very likely you'll come
in again soon and drop a lot of money to buy a new car - then they'll
lay it on notably rather thick (well into the "kiss-up" range) trying
to leave a good impression. Or the owner of the dealership just
happens to also own vineyards and/or a winery...

Lexus dealers might be more inclined to spend the extra money on
some of those perks themselves, because they're aiming for a more
upscale market - people who are more interested in cachet.

--<< Bruce >>--

In article <1159545235snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk>, Andrew Stephenson
<ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Today I took my Prius to the dealer for the (non-urgent) steering
> column recall which is under way. It took about 2 hours, during
> which time I lounged around their comfy reception area, swigged
> their rather good machine-made coffee and read a fun book. IOW,
> no real pain.
>
> When the job was done, they said it was their habit to recompense
> for the hassle: (a) a bottle of champagne (75cl, with Toyota (GB)
> Ltd tag, but no Toyota Part Number); (b) top up the petrol tank;
> and (c) vacuum the interior and wash the exterior.[/color]

I had the same recall done today by my original dealer's shop. Yes,
about two hours -- the first time. The mechanic reassembled the shaft
with the steering wheel about ten degrees anti-clockwise off-center and
got grease on the passenger's seat. They delivered it to me in that
condition. I had them fix things, but the wheel is still a few degrees
off, this time in the opposite sense. The next alignment will set it
right, they said. Nonsense. It was right when I brought the car to
them.

And to my consternation a chap from the parts dep't sauntered into the
customers' lounge, scooped up most of the complimentary pastries and
took them back to his desk.

They gave me a certificate for a free LOF, but they'll never see me
again.
[color=blue]
> However, all were pleasant and well-intended courtesies. What of
> dealers elsewhere?[/color]

You have a gem. So did I until today. I've been driving 100KM to this
dealer, but I'm confident I can find shoddy service closer to home.

Still, the time wasn't wholly wasted: I made progress in G. K.
Chesterton's autobiography. I commend it to your attention.

--
Lady Purse-Wader
YahooUK disallows hyphens

In article <giorh2p2e0u9hr69lvh711ud911jtvvr9h@4ax.com>
[email]blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.inva[/email]lid "Bruce L. Bergman" writes:
[color=blue]
> [something][/color]

Bruce, I am really sorry; but your posting got snipped by my kill
fill setup. Problem is, in another NG a dumb-prat has been using
ax4.com as his ISP of main choice and spewing a load of dumb-prat
gibberish, whilst varying his From: lines. My kill file setup is
simpleminded and doesn't let me include anyone excluded by any of
the rules. So this clobbers you and other normal folkses who use
that ISP. (Sadly there's something about it that also appeals to
the dumb-prats -- a bit the way Google Groups gets abused.) :-(
--
Andrew Stephenson

In article <300920060011429946%Masked@mm.m>
[email]Lady_Purse-Wader@yahoo.co.uk[/email] "Masked" writes:
[color=blue]
> I had the same recall done today by my original dealer's shop.
> [tale of churlishness by the dealer's employees][/color]

You drew the short straw there. Sorry to hear it. IMHO you'd be
entitled to complain to Toyota, as the dealer is carrying out the
work for them (and -- I'm guessing -- sending them the bill). If
the dealer fouls the job, both you and Toyota are being gypped.

I assume you took it to the senior person at the dealers and gave
him/her a bollocking? (Well, maybe not if it's a "her". <g>)
[color=blue]
> Still, the time wasn't wholly wasted: I made progress in G. K.
> Chesterton's autobiography. I commend it to your attention.[/color]

People keep recommending that to me, every few decades. One of
these lifetimes... (I was reading Terry Pratchett's "Thud!".)
--
Andrew Stephenson

Andrew Stephenson wrote:
[color=blue]
> In article <giorh2p2e0u9hr69lvh711ud911jtvvr9h@4ax.com>
> [email]blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.inva[/email]lid "Bruce L. Bergman" writes:
>[color=green]
>> [something][/color]
>
> Bruce, I am really sorry; but your posting got snipped by my kill
> fill setup. Problem is, in another NG a dumb-prat has been using
> ax4.com as his ISP of main choice and spewing a load of dumb-prat
> gibberish, whilst varying his From: lines. My kill file setup is
> simpleminded and doesn't let me include anyone excluded by any of
> the rules. So this clobbers you and other normal folkses who use
> that ISP. (Sadly there's something about it that also appeals to
> the dumb-prats -- a bit the way Google Groups gets abused.) :-([/color]

If you actually meant 4ax.com, it is a non-existent ISP. It is tacked onto
the end of message IDs of posts made using Forte's Agent newsreader which is
popular among many posters, good and bad.

On Sat, 30 Sep 2006 03:51:34 +0000, Bruce L. Bergman wrote:
[color=blue]
> On Sat, 30 Sep 2006 01:28:09 GMT, [email]ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk[/email] (Andrew
> Stephenson) wrote:[color=green]
>>In article <QIdTg.14$vT1.11@trndny03> [email]Trueno@ae86.gts[/email] "Hachiroku" writes:[color=darkred]
>>> On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:53:55 +0000, Andrew Stephenson wrote:[/color][/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
>>> > Today I took my Prius to the dealer for the (non-urgent) steering
>>> > column recall which is under way. [...]
>>> >
>>> > However, all were pleasant and well-intended courtesies. What of
>>> > dealers elsewhere?
>>>
>>> Are you kidding? ;)[/color]
>>
>>Not a word is false. Truly. I was somewhat surprised. The only
>>other recall I've experienced, the dealer was sociable but hardly
>>overwhelming with the niceness. I thought this might be a Toyota
>>or *.jp cultural thing. They also supplied two letters with fine
>>grovelling apologies for their shortcomings (my paraphrase).[/color]
>
> Andrew, I don't believe he was accusing you of any falsehoods... As
> a matter of fact, I'm rather certain.
>
> It was a comment on the American Toyota dealers - they will gladly
> do the recall work (since they are getting reimbursed for it), but
> unless Toyota Corporate was springing for the perks like the Champagne
> and free fuel fills, most USA'n dealers are not going to go that far.
>
> Exceptions being those dealers who think it very likely you'll come
> in again soon and drop a lot of money to buy a new car - then they'll
> lay it on notably rather thick (well into the "kiss-up" range) trying
> to leave a good impression. Or the owner of the dealership just
> happens to also own vineyards and/or a winery...
>
> Lexus dealers might be more inclined to spend the extra money on
> some of those perks themselves, because they're aiming for a more
> upscale market - people who are more interested in cachet.
>
> --<< Bruce >>--[/color]


Oh, I don't believe he was fibbing! it's just that, do YOU know of any
dealers HERE that would do that? I certainly don't!

When I was selling Mazdas and Nissans I had a customer come and order an
'81 RX7 with almost all the options. I think the only one he passed on was
the AT. Wrote a check for half and said, Call me when it gets here.

We got the car, and I called him to come and make sure it was what the
wanted (he didn't even drive one of the Demos we had!) He said, You, I'll
take it, and whipped out his checkbook again. I said, Wait! I have to get
it prepped! He said he would go run errands and be bcak in an hour.

I flipped one of the drivers a few buck and said, Go get a bottle of Moet...

Put it on the passenger's seat after detailing. He was a little surprised
and said Thanks! No, THNAK YOU!!!! NO hassle over price whatsoever, and I
made a FULL commission! (remember, 1981 was NOT one of the best years for
auto sales!)

In article <1uk2oucs8wdk6$.dlg@hightech.misfit>
[email]me@privacy.net[/email] "High Tech Misfit" writes:
[color=blue]
> Andrew Stephenson wrote:
>[color=green]
> > In article <giorh2p2e0u9hr69lvh711ud911jtvvr9h@4ax.com>
> > [email]blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.inva[/email]lid "Bruce L. Bergman" writes:
> >[color=darkred]
> >> [something][/color]
> >
> > Bruce, I am really sorry; but your posting got snipped by my kill
> > fill setup. Problem is, in another NG a dumb-prat has been using
> > ax4.com [...][/color]
>
> If you actually meant 4ax.com, it is a non-existent ISP. It is
> tacked onto the end of message IDs of posts made using Forte's
> Agent newsreader which is popular among many posters, good and
> bad.[/color]

Ah, thank you. That makes the problem more interesting: how to
kill dumb prats without also killing those I want to hear from.
(I did realise the "ax4.com" appears in posts by the Good Guys.
It is the classic problem of preserving liberty despite actions
of those who abuse it to oppress the liberties of others.) :-(
--
Andrew Stephenson

In article <AdATg.608$pN.338@trndny07> [email]Trueno@ae86.gts[/email]
"Hachiroku" writes:
[color=blue]
> On Sat, 30 Sep 2006 03:51:34 +0000, Bruce L. Bergman wrote:
>[color=green]
> > Andrew, I don't believe he was accusing you of any
> > falsehoods... As a matter of fact, I'm rather certain.
> >
> > [...][/color][/color]

Ah, got your post now. (Thanks for quoting Bruce, H.) Oh, I was
sure we were just in banter mode. <g>

It's possible that Toyota (UK) are trying to ensure a glowing rep
within the UK, or amongst Prius-buyers anyhow. Someone mentioned
a new Prius is in development (rather an easy call, I'd say), for
release in 1-1.5yr. Chatting to a senior salesbod while waiting,
I described several improvements I'd like to see. Maybe that was
instrumental in raising my stock a tad. <g?>

And in the past I have provided them with user feedback answering
tricky questions a potential buyer _should_ want to ask. (Eg how
well does the car take to being parked for a month? A: Just make
sure the battery has a good charge, then park it and come back in
four weeks.)

Or maybe they're just unusually nice people.
--
Andrew Stephenson

In article <1uk2oucs8wdk6$.dlg@hightech.misfit>
[email]me@privacy.net[/email] "High Tech Misfit" writes:
[color=blue]
> If you actually meant 4ax.com, it is a non-existent ISP. It is
> tacked onto the end of message IDs of posts made using Forte's
> Agent newsreader which is popular among many posters, good and
> bad.[/color]

According to someone in the other NG (with the dumb prat), that
default setting can be changed. Bruce, if you could do that, I
would be so happy to get your posts back. But don't ask me how
you do it. The added observation by the person suggesting this
(ie, kill if Message-ID contains "@4ax.com") was that it's sure
to kill a lot of worthless traffic. My guess is that the prats
as a whole are techno-dim and wouldn't think to change setting.
--
Andrew Stephenson

Andrew Stephenson wrote:
[color=blue]
> In article <1uk2oucs8wdk6$.dlg@hightech.misfit>
> [email]me@privacy.net[/email] "High Tech Misfit" writes:
>[color=green]
>> If you actually meant 4ax.com, it is a non-existent ISP. It is
>> tacked onto the end of message IDs of posts made using Forte's
>> Agent newsreader which is popular among many posters, good and
>> bad.[/color]
>
> According to someone in the other NG (with the dumb prat), that
> default setting can be changed. Bruce, if you could do that, I
> would be so happy to get your posts back. But don't ask me how
> you do it. The added observation by the person suggesting this
> (ie, kill if Message-ID contains "@4ax.com") was that it's sure
> to kill a lot of worthless traffic. My guess is that the prats
> as a whole are techno-dim and wouldn't think to change setting.[/color]

I haven't used Agent in years, but I believe the setting can be overridden
by toggling a setting in the agent.ini file. This setting determines
whether Agent or the user's news server generates the message ID.

On Sat, 30 Sep 2006 18:44:07 -0400, High Tech Misfit <me@privacy.net>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>Andrew Stephenson wrote:
>[color=green]
>> In article <1uk2oucs8wdk6$.dlg@hightech.misfit>
>> [email]me@privacy.net[/email] "High Tech Misfit" writes:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> If you actually meant 4ax.com, it is a non-existent ISP. It is
>>> tacked onto the end of message IDs of posts made using Forte's
>>> Agent newsreader which is popular among many posters, good and
>>> bad.[/color]
>>
>> According to someone in the other NG (with the dumb prat), that
>> default setting can be changed. Bruce, if you could do that, I
>> would be so happy to get your posts back. But don't ask me how
>> you do it. The added observation by the person suggesting this
>> (ie, kill if Message-ID contains "@4ax.com") was that it's sure
>> to kill a lot of worthless traffic. My guess is that the prats
>> as a whole are techno-dim and wouldn't think to change setting.[/color]
>
>I haven't used Agent in years, but I believe the setting can be overridden
>by toggling a setting in the agent.ini file. This setting determines
>whether Agent or the user's news server generates the message ID.[/color]

There are many other header fields you can filter against to try
killing a persistent twit, there is usually *something* in the headers
that remains constant. Some trolls have multiple names, but they
rotate through the same batch and only occasionally invent a new one.

The whole idea of having Agent hash out it's own MessageID numbers
was for true randomization - exceedingly low odds of two messages
being assigned the same MessageID.

If you do not assign a MessageID before you send off the message for
posting and let the ISP assign the MessageID, it usually has your full
and valid e-mail address in it "for security tracing purposes" either
totally in the clear or very poorly encrypted. Sorry, but that's not
an option I'm willing to use, there are enough holes in 'the net' now.

The 4ax.com domain was deliberately set up as a 'blind domain' -
they can try to harvest names and spam that domain all they want. It
is a valid and registered domain, but it does not have a mail or web
server. So try all they want, all their attempts to exploit
information in that header field are stifled before they start.

--<< Bruce >>--