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Preferred Customer Card for maintenance

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by el723, Aug 31, 2009.

  1. el723

    el723 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2009
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    Location:
    PA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    We purchased a preferred customer card from our local dealership when we bought our 2010 Prius. The card cost $349 and covers among other things, lifetime oil changes and state mechanical inspections. Sounds like a good deal.

    Several weeks later, we received a letter from the dealership indicating that because they are required to use synthetic oil and because synthetic is more expensive, they think "the best thing to do" is to charge Prius owners an extra $20 surcharge for all oil changes.

    Has anyone come across anything like this and what if anything did you do about it? Thanks.
     
    #1 el723, Aug 31, 2009
  2. octavia

    octavia Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2009
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    Location:
    Beautiful Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Well, I'm not completely sure but I think the synthetic is quite a bit more expensive. I like the fact that your dealership is noticing the problem and addressing it. I'm sure someone here can point to the exact cost difference. Doesn't sound out of line to me though.
     
    #2 octavia, Aug 31, 2009
  3. el723

    el723 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2009
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    Location:
    PA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III

    My question is more about the agreement/contract that we have for them to do the oil changes. The dealership knew that the Prius takes synthetic oil, yet they agreed to do lifetime oil changes for what we paid. Thanks.
     
    #3 el723, Aug 31, 2009
  4. jay_man2

    jay_man2 jay_man_also

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Manassas, VA
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    Other Hybrid
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    N/A
    My dealer provides a coupon book to all new car buyers. They used to offer an oil change and tire rotation for $25 with the coupon. When I bought the Prius I noticed that that coupon now read $25 off an oil change and tire rotation.
     
    #4 jay_man2, Aug 31, 2009
  5. claridiva

    claridiva New Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2009
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    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The problem seems to be that many dealerships didn't know (and still don't) about the newly required oil as the previous generation required something different (5W20, I believe). That being said, you were mistakenly sold this "deal" and now the dealerships are stuck trying to figure out how to honor these with the add'l cost of the synthetic oil requirement. Be glad your dealership recognizes and acknowledges that there is a change!

    That being said, I don't know what your rights would be, although I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere in the contract it states "add'l cost for a different oil other than 5W20" or at least states what the standard oil choice would be. If it does (I didn't purchase this, so I am only throwing out wild guesses...dangerous, I know), then they could conceivably charge the added premium for the oil, much like Jay said happened with the $25 oil change coupon.

    Best of luck!
     
    #5 claridiva, Aug 31, 2009
  6. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2008
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    Location:
    Albany Ga.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I assume you have two choices. Ask for your money back or pay the difference. I would get my money back

    On Edit, Takes 4.4 qts at about 6 bucks a qt. Seems like 4 qts is just right though. Maybe they only pay 1 buck a quart for their regular oil? Six bucks is my price, I assume a dealer could get it for less? Either way $20 seems just a little high, should be about half that?
     
    #6 a64pilot, Aug 31, 2009
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