Alexandria (VA) Hyundai - Criminal predatory practices

[Bill in Alexandria]

...so I dropped my G80 to get minor warranty work and get it Virginia State inspected. (Usually there's a $20-$30 fee at most local service stations, but is "complimentary" there at the stealership.)

I received a call from the service manager who informed me the air filter was dirty along with the cabin filter, and the wipers needed to be replaced. I bought the car earlier in the week with less than 30k miles on it (one owner lease return) and was disappointed that the used car dump I bought it from didn't even check the air filter. (So much for CPO.)

Since the inspection is complimentary, I thought I'd throw 'em a bone and let them handle the service. (A typical air filter is around $15 online, so I assumed they'd double it.)

When I went to pick up the car, the bill was TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS for the 2 filters and wiper blade replacement. I was speechless. What a scam. I looked over the printout thinking there HAS to be a typo or mistake. Nope. Just good ole American Corporate screwing. And they're holding my car hostage, so what can I do but grudgingly pay the bill and accept the fact that it was partially my fault for not asking what the total would be when I was on the phone with the service manager.

CAVEAT EMPTOR. And that goes for ALL stealerships. Learned my lesson. Don't be a sucker.

 

[PMCErnie]

Maybe you should have asked the service mgr “How much?”

 

[BadTrainDriver]

I bet the bill looked something like this:

$40 air filter, .2hrs labor to install(labor rate is $120 per hr.) $24
$40 cabin filter, .2hrs labor to install $24
$20 per wiper blade($40), .2hrs to install $24

Parts equal $120
Labor equals $72
Add on a little sales tax...you have a $200 bill.

I don't see this pricing as unreasonable at all. If I see anything unreasonable, it's that the service advisor did not "line item" what your charges would be before approving the work. I don't fault you as much as I fault him/her. That's just bad practice, which can easily come back as a complaint...as in this case right here.

Something WE(this forum) need to understand is that WE are the exception to the majority of car owners(not just Genesis). I'm willing to bet there is a very small amount of US that couldn't change an air filter or wiper blades. BUT, the majority of car owners either don't know how, or don't care to do it themselves. Charging for this service is not a predatory practice. I like to use my "steak" example: I can go to Whole Foods and get a dry aged Ribeye for about $30. I can bring it home and grill it for free, not counting the cost of charcoal or my time. BUT, if I go to Ruth's Chris, this same steak is going to cost me $80 when all said and done. Do I complain that I could have had the same steak at home for $30? It's the same thing, just a different service.

 

[Speeder]

I just had my 30K Service done and here are the services they recommended be done @ $175/hr Labor Rate. Guess which ones I had done!

 

[EdP]

...so I dropped my G80 to get minor warranty work and get it Virginia State inspected. (Usually there's a $20-$30 fee at most local service stations, but is "complimentary" there at the stealership.)

I received a call from the service manager who informed me the air filter was dirty along with the cabin filter, and the wipers needed to be replaced. I bought the car earlier in the week with less than 30k miles on it (one owner lease return) and was disappointed that the used car dump I bought it from didn't even check the air filter. (So much for CPO.)

Since the inspection is complimentary, I thought I'd throw 'em a bone and let them handle the service. (A typical air filter is around $15 online, so I assumed they'd double it.)

When I went to pick up the car, the bill was TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS for the 2 filters and wiper blade replacement. I was speechless. What a scam. I looked over the printout thinking there HAS to be a typo or mistake. Nope. Just good ole American Corporate screwing. And they're holding my car hostage, so what can I do but grudgingly pay the bill and accept the fact that it was partially my fault for not asking what the total would be when I was on the phone with the service manager.

CAVEAT EMPTOR. And that goes for ALL stealerships. Learned my lesson. Don't be a sucker.

State inspections are a joke anyway, just an opportunity for shops to make a few bucks selling something, needed or not.
Maybe predatory but I don't see anything criminal.

 

[Andyj]

Let me guess. You declined all 4 services and did them all yourself or by a local shop for about 10 percent of the quoted stealer cost.

 

[HawaiiPD]

I just DIY on those three jobs, two filters from Auto Zone = $35.00 and wiper blades =$12.00 from Rock Auto. so $47.00 in parts free
labor. See You Tube for How to Do it. And I'm in Honolulu where everything is higher priced. The filter changes were simple, but the
wiper arms need to be set in the "Service Position" first. To do that, start car, turn it off, and immediately push the wiper selector to the "mist" for 10 seconds and the arms will move to the vertical and stop to be replaced. Genesis uses the common "J" hook design and the new blades just slip on.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

I just had my 30K Service done and here are the services they recommended be done @ $175/hr Labor Rate. Guess which ones I had done!

View attachment 32120

$225 for tire balance? wow the Hyundai dealer I use rotates and balances my tires per my request every oil service, they charge $12.50 per tire. flat rate.

 

[Bill in Alexandria]

Maybe you should have asked the service mgr “How much?”

It certainly was my fault for not asking. And I haven't visited a dealership in a looong time, so the prices seemed outrageous (but they're equal opportunity - not like they "scammed" me, although they could have been up front about the charges).

IF there's a way of deleting the post, I will. Don't want to unnecessarily malign a business that charges more than the average corner shop because of higher overhead, service mechanic training, expensive specialized diagnostic equipment, etc.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Kraig Wilkinson]

...so I dropped my G80 to get minor warranty work and get it Virginia State inspected. (Usually there's a $20-$30 fee at most local service stations, but is "complimentary" there at the stealership.)

I received a call from the service manager who informed me the air filter was dirty along with the cabin filter, and the wipers needed to be replaced. I bought the car earlier in the week with less than 30k miles on it (one owner lease return) and was disappointed that the used car dump I bought it from didn't even check the air filter. (So much for CPO.)

Since the inspection is complimentary, I thought I'd throw 'em a bone and let them handle the service. (A typical air filter is around $15 online, so I assumed they'd double it.)

When I went to pick up the car, the bill was TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS for the 2 filters and wiper blade replacement. I was speechless. What a scam. I looked over the printout thinking there HAS to be a typo or mistake. Nope. Just good ole American Corporate screwing. And they're holding my car hostage, so what can I do but grudgingly pay the bill and accept the fact that it was partially my fault for not asking what the total would be when I was on the phone with the service manager.

CAVEAT EMPTOR. And that goes for ALL stealerships. Learned my lesson. Don't be a sucker.

Those items should have been addressed before you purchased car. Call Hyundai/Genesis North America and start a claim. I purchased 15 5.0 cpo and all of those items were taken care of before I purchased car. Its a CPO . Thats what you pay for.

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[EdP]

Those items should have been addressed before you purchased car. Call Hyundai/Genesis North America and start a claim. I purchased 15 5.0 cpo and all of those items were taken care of before I purchased car. Its a CPO . Thats what you pay for.

That brings up another question. Was it a legitimate need to change the filters or was it just a routine 30k mile service the dealer is trying to sell? Did the service writer know it was a week old CPO or just another hunk of iron passing through the shop? Over the years I've seen that sort of thing done by various dealers, no matter the brand.

I chuckle when I see complaints about the Hyundai/Genesis dealers but fact is, it is an industry wide trait. Yes sir, it is important to dust the hub caps so the snake oil does not leak out. Only $59.95 with our special this week.

 

[cappuccinoman]

I just had my 30K Service done and here are the services they recommended be done @ $175/hr Labor Rate. Guess which ones I had done!

View attachment 32120

Holly CHIT !!!! $225 for tire balance??? none of the services is necessary at 30k or even 60k. Not even a Ford dealership would do something this crazy.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

Holly CHIT !!!! $225 for tire balance??? none of the services is necessary at 30k or even 60k. Not even a Ford dealership would do something this crazy.

but it is dealer dependent, they are private business for which Hyundai/Genesis has no control over how they operate their business outside of warranty covered services.

and yes I have seen the same or worse at Ford, Chrysler, GM, Lexus, Toyota, BMW, Audi. My wife's Camry just went in for an oil service and they told us it was $120 to change the cabin filter ONLY. I bought a 3 pack on Amazon for $30

 

[PMCErnie]

but it is dealer dependent, they are private business for which Hyundai/Genesis has no control over how they operate their business outside of warranty covered services. This could be my next business venture.

and yes I have seen the same or worse at Ford, Chrysler, GM, Lexus, Toyota, BMW, Audi. My wife's Camry just went in for an oil service and they told us it was $120 to change the cabin filter ONLY. I bought a 3 pack on Amazon for $30

It would be fun to set up a stand (or a van) just outside a dealership and sell & install such items at a big discount versus dealership prices.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

It would be fun to set up a stand (or a van) just outside a dealership and sell & install such items at a big discount versus dealership prices.

yeah been there done that, when I worked at GM and Chrysler as an ASE tech, I used to do "tech" days at my house for cool customers I knew where hard up for cash and I did it for pizza and beer. I'd get 8-10 cars lined up and knock out oil changes, filter changes, brakes, coil-overs, lowering springs, even install custom CAI's and do SMC or Diablo tunes for them. Welded in Electric cutouts for a guy one time, even swapped out the base Charger seats and interior for Charger SRT Seats and interior for one guy that found the SRT stuff on ebay. Also did the ODBII ECU updates for them (dealer charged $200 for that service).

made a BBQ/party out of it couple times a year. . My manager was cool with it to a point, only got pissy about it when I called in sick to do it. lol.


It has always bothered me how dealerships rip off people, being on both sides I know the playbook, which is why I tell everyone only use dealerships for warranty stuff. I can't stomach con or rip off artists and I have yet to come across a dealership that isn't. I get the need to make money, I don't approve of the bend over and f0ck the customer because they are naïve.