30,000 mile maintence

Did you show the service writer the maintenance item list for 30K and say, "do this stuff"? or did you say, "gimme yer 30K service"?

 

I'm sorry buddy but you can't just give them your car and say do a 30k service. You gotta specify what you want done. At 30k you should have just said do an oil change. the only thing extra you should have to pay for is maybe an air filter if you never changed it before.

 

You need to read the owners manual and only do the things in there to keep your warranty valid. There really is no reason to do more than oil changes/ tire rotations/ air filters untill 100,000 miles.

Also if they damage your car they should fix it for free. You should post the dealers name in here so others can know where you went.

 

Are you serious? I did not see orange high voltage cables near the wheels.

 

a little bit of time spent here over the last year would have saved you almost $400.

 

I keep hearing these horror stories and am kinda relieved that I bought mine after the 2 year complementary maintenance program went into effect.

It sounds like everyone is just getting hit hard from the dealers on these maintenance appointments!

 

All dealers are scumbags.

They will rip you off on extended warranties and many other misc things you do not need when you buy the car.

When you take it into service they will rip you off even more.

I have 40,000 miles on my 2010 now. All I have had done is oil changes ($50). Soon I will have my trans fluid replaced ($100).

Never go back to that dealer.

 

If you walk into any dealer and say "I need the 30,000 mile service", you might as well say "Here is my wallet; take whatever you want." My local dealer included items on the standard service list that weren't even on a Prius. Your Prius came with a maintenance schedule. Use it.

Next time ask the dealer to do only the items on the list. I paid about $50 for my 30,000 mile service, although mine is a Gen II.

Tom

 

And all customers are liars.

I work for a dealer. I'm not a scumbag and, frankly, I resent the generalization.

 

In addition to the other comments.

In CA, they need to give you a written estimate (which you sign to acknowledge) before work is performed, and need to get approval for any work that exceeds the estimate.

Sounds like that's not the law in your state.

 

The worse trusted profession out there is a lawyer. Guess what the second one is??

It is for a reason. You can resent the statement all you want. This thread is a perfect example of why dealers are scumbags.

Here is a list of the official Toytota scheduled Maintenance for 30,000 miles or 36 months.

Check installation of driver’s floor mat
Clean cabin air filter (solar power ventilation system only)
Inspect and adjust all fluid levels
Replace cabin air filter (except solar power ventilation system)
Replace engine air filter
Replace engine oil and oil filter 1
Rotate tires

If you went to a Lube Stop they would charge the following.

Check installation of driver’s floor mat (Free)
Clean cabin air filter (solar power ventilation system only) (Free)
Inspect and adjust all fluid levels (Free)
Replace cabin air filter (except solar power ventilation system) ($24.95)
Replace engine air filter ($12.95)
Replace engine oil and oil filter 1 ($49.95)
Rotate tires ($39.95)
Total $127.80

The dealer charged 360% more. This is a scumbag move.

 

You can be sure the dealers are not charging Toyota $461 for a 10k or 20k service provided without charge on the comped plan. I recieved a coupon book from the dealer that gives me $25 off the 5/10/15/20 mile services. What a deal !!!

I would agree that people who work at dealerships aren't all scumbags. It is true,however, that the service writers and mgrs. as well as the F&I folks ACT like scumbags touting overpriced trash as needed options. That behavior in the name of profit is shameful and despicable. They would never buy that stuff for themselves or their family.

 

Hey, drpoehls,

I see you registered here a little over a year ago, so I would have thought you may have seen postings about how others have been ripped off when just asking for a "xx,000 mile service" instead of presenting the scheduled maintenance booklet & demanding the dealer stick to doing only the items specified in it. But then you have only made 5 posts in the time since you registered, so maybe you haven't spent much time on here (I bet you will spend more time now though).

I agree with others here that the cost for the 30,000 mile "scheduled service" (from the booklet) should be around $100. I do my own filters only when needed (the dealer has a coupon special price of $69.95 for the cabin air filter) because with the filter price of around $20, I'm not going to pay them $50 to change it when it only takes a few minutes. They should be able to change it in 6 minutes (unless there is a lot of junk in the glove that needs to be unpacked & repacked), so if they can do that on 10 cars in one hour, they'd be able to make $500/hr in labor charges (see what a ripoff they can do that way?).

Before I take my Prius in for service I check & replace my own filters (if necessary) & look at the booklet to see what's required. I then go in & tell the dealer to do ONLY what's in the booklet & to leave the filters alone & they then give me a written estimate for the specified work (nothing extra can be done without them coming to me or calling first). Every one of the 5,000 mile services up through the 25,000 mile one only cost me about $35. I think I paid about $54 for the 30,000 mile one (don't remember now why it was more). I know their call center tries to pad the bill when you make the appointment through them by inserting fuel injector cleaning at every 15,000 miles (NEVER let them do that or you will start to have problems) & other service items that can't be done on a Prius. I only deal directly with the service writers at the dealership & have their individual extension numbers & they are in total agreement with the scheduled maintenance booklet & don't try to add any extras like the call center does.

Since you have a 2010 (mine is a 2005) that only needs the oil changed every 10,000 miles, what did you pay for your 10,000 mile & 20,000 mile services? I bet it was around $200 or more from that same dealer of yours. Please find another dealer and/or be more proactive in the future & your maintenance won't cost as much. It only takes one time to be stung as you just were. Maybe you can go back to the dealer & complain to them about the cost (& have them itemize each thing done & its individual cost). They shouldn't charge for visual inspections (unless they have to remove parts to be able to see) & question anything that doesn't seem like it can be done on your Prius, then threaten them that you will report them to the dealer's & repairer's division of the DMV. They may then give you a partial refund or a credit towards your next service (if you still want to see them again) & make sure you see it go into their computer or have them give you something in writing.

Sorry you got burned so badly, but keep us posted of any favorable results, & definitely shop around for another dealer if they won't do anything to make things better in regards to your most recent visit or if they don't sound receptive/willing to work with you on your future visit(s).

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)

 

You stated all dealers are scumbags. This is not the case.

Was this dealer a scumbag? Perhaps. We don't know both sides of the story. But, to paint all dealers with the same wide brush is irresponsible and reckless.

 

Again they are second to lawyers for the most distrusted profession.

The dealer I bought my car was a total scumbag, he made me spend 3 hours at the dealer when I picked up my car so they can try to pressure me to buy extras. I did not buy anything.

If there was not a 2 month waiting list I would not have put up with it.

 

You are absolutely correct. There are some good and honest dealers out there. 99% of the dealers ruin it for the ones that are good.



Sorry. I couldn't resist reusing that old lawyer joke.

Tom

 

With all due respect.

While probably unfair to say "all" dealers are scumbags, given the total number of unhappy posts I've seen not only in Prius Chat but at many other automotive websites, I think it is fair to say a LOT of dealers are scumbags.

In this specific case, given as presented by the OP? I'm siding with the "scumbag" crowd. $460.00 for what should be primarily simply an Oil Change, some filter replacements and some visual inspections is ridiculous.

Having said that, I would also say however that Dealership, Independent Mechanic, or whatever...it's should always be the responsibilty of US the consumers and purchasers of the goods and services to know before hand what we are purchasing and at what cost.

Complaining after the fact? Is a waste of time. The mistake was simply dropping your vehicle off and not asking or evidently knowing how the dealership was defining 30,000 mile service, or getting at least a verbal estimate as to what it was going to cost.

In the potential dealerships defense? We do not know what actually was done or included...perhaps $460.00 dollars worth of service was performed. Unlikely but possible.

But as always, Buyer Beware...try to know what you want...and then know what you are paying....before you get to the point where you are handing them a coupon for 10% off and silently fuming about what you perceive as an over inflated charge.

 

The Electric Me I agree although I would take a different approach.

If you ever go to a lawyer or car dealer always assume the worse. Always assume their number one goal is to rip you off. With this view your guard will be up and you will ask many questions before you have anything done. You will do more research because if you do not they will take advantage of you.

A dealer charging $460 for an oil change, replacing an air filter and checking some levels is a perfect example.

Last night I was talking to a friend and he claimed he took his 3 year old car in for repair and while waiting a sales guy talked him into a new car with better MPG’s and lower payment then he is paying now. I did not saying anything but stories like this make me sick.

 

Judgless, what is your profession?

Everyone else always think they are best think they are getting screwed over by someone else

Ask question and get things in writing so you do have any surprises
and that works for everything you buy