9291150

Can they be any worse? My last service; not even a smile, a coffee, a good magazine, a place to sit (all full), a toilet seat without **** on it...

Here is a contrast, for comparisons sake. My BMW dealer (Budds), where I bought a motorcycle, hosts free service seminars for do it yourselfers, 1st class instruction, finger foods, the whole 9 yards. They do the best demo days, the best new model intro., etc. And every year they draw for a customer bikes to be the demo bike at the service seminars. Guess who won the last draw ? ME!! A free 10000km service to boot with pick up (over $500 value)

Meanwhile, spend twice the money, buy a $40000 car (Canadian) and get treated like a schmuck. Does ANYBODY get outstanding service from Mazda?????

BunnyGirl

The dealership I am getting my car at (Ron Tonkin) is where my mom gets her car serviced. They have a waiting room with cable TV, magazines, newspaper (most of the time), and a computer with games and internet access on it for customer use. Their coffee machine in the halls gives free small coffee of three different varieties and free hot chocolate. Occasionally the lady at the service counter shares potato chips with the customers. They have snack machines with pretty reasonable prices. They also have a free video arcade by the finance offices and break room, but I have never been in it. I have yet to be there when all the chairs were filled since they have about 12 seats available.

If you're bored there is a huge fabric store next door, a bar/strip club across the street, a few restaurants, a sporting goods store a little over a block away. I think a library is also right near there but I'm not positive.

Go48

Sure, there are some poor dealerships, but my experience with the dealerships I have dealt with here in the US for service and parts has been nothing but positive. The small dealership where I have most of my work done is very professional, they don't question or insult my intelligence, they complete all work quickly and correctly, so what more can I ask? If it matters, they have free coffee, a water cooler, TV, a clean rest room, comfortable seating, magazines, newspapers, and they'll voluntarily provide a loaner car if necessary.

Maybe you should try another dealership if that's possible, 'cause it sounds like you are dealing with a loser.

Edit: BTW, it's apparent to me that Mazda corporate is working very hard to improve the dealership experience. I always get a phone call from the dealership to make sure everything went well, and usually that is followed up by a survey in the mail from MNAO. You should pass on your bad dealership experiences to the Mazda corporate office for Canada (not sure it's MNAO).

labutler

Bunny...my dealership is great as well. Nice place to hang out, watch TV (they even leave the remote out so you can change the channel), super clean showroom and bathrooms....and, the greatest thing they always do for me, they offer me a car to go run around wherever regardless of what I'm having done - even an oil change!!

9291150

...now thats service!

You guys may be right, I need another dealer.

fray

iTrader: (1)

My opinion.. find a good dealership and stick with them. If they cause problems, there is always another one more then happy to help you.

I started with one Jeep dealership, and after being screwed by them on a couple of service calls, I switched.. no complaints with the other.

When I went to buy my Mazda, one (highly recommended) didn't want to give me the time of day... went (later) to another dealer and I was treated like a king. Which do you think got my money, including all of my service visits!

KAtC10

When I bought my car from Westcott Mazda in San Diego, I arived at the dealer knowing what I wanted, was greeted by a saleswoman who barely even spoke to me and didn't know jack **** about the car. She just handed me the keys and told me where to turn for my test drive (around the block cause there was no gas in the car). We eventually ended up testdriving and talking to the finance guy, cause he owns an 8. He was ok, still not very knowledgable about the car, but I can excuse that cause it's not his job to know it. All in all, very DIS-satisfied with this dealership for sales. Service seems ok though.

BunnyGirl

The sales people at Ron Tonkin seem pretty good, unless you call on the phone. Then they are retarded. I think they have a different phone staff as opposed to actual "sales people" you see when you go in person. Their receptionist isn't too bright either.

I love the service department. The parts/accessories department is great, too. Most of the sales people are pretty good. The salesmanager I went through to do my order was totally wonderful and helpful. However, they transferred him last month to another dealership within the autogroup. I tracked him down to find out further updates on my car and he gave me his personal cell phone number in case I had any questions or problems. When I was setting up my insurance so I will be covered when I pick my car up, the insurance agent wanted some information that I didn't currently have so she called this man and he took care of everything!!! That man is so great he deserve one awfully big raise or bonus!!! I can only assume he is this great with everyone, too.

The new man handling my car now is also pretty nice and personable. I don't think I like him as well as the first guy, but I have only dealt with this guy over the course of one phone call. All in all, I am very happy with this dealership for everything.

fredw1

I have set my expectations for service low, and so far they have been met. I no longer have them wash my car since they leave hard-water spots, and I don't let them wash my windows because they leave streaks. I decline all favors and have them do ony what I ask. Their frills end up causing me more work.

Papapump51

My dealer in Clearwater Florida , Russell Mazda is great, service is outstanding everyone is real nice, I just had mine in for a rattle in the back window, they refused to give it back until that rattle was gone, After taking out the back seats, deck lid and allot of plastic, they found 2 set screws that were about 1 turn loose. That is fixed and they did some other work on my car... ever in Florida and your 8 needs service, see Russell Mazda on US 19 see Brian tell him Jason sent ya his way

glassetcher

For those of you who haven't read any of my posts, I'm a 50+ RX-8 owner who is in love with his car and I'm VERY paticular about who works on it. Not that I have any particular insight into where the best service depatrment is, but maybe 30+ years of experience counts for something. (at least it does in my own mind. And outside of that, who cares!!!)

Anyway, I have never been a big fan of automobile dealers. I have always thought of dealer service departments as over priced ($350 5000MI check up to "change the oil, check fluid levels, tire wear and pressure, belt condition, break pad wear, and if your rear window needs to be cleaned!), often incompetent (if you didn't have a real problem when you came in, you would when they were through with you!), and "oh, buy the way, this $780 repair is NOT covered by the warranty!! ". Yeah, pretty cynical, but a few years of experience can do that to you!!

So, after I got my '8 i did a little research and asked a few ?s online and had some good recommendations about a dealer in my area. Even got a couple names of the service writers in particular that were good. Also, one responder gave me the name of the RX-8 mechanic specialist in the service dept. and said I should request that he is the guy I want to work on my '8.

Well, long story short (OK, I know, it's already long) so far I am very happy with the service at my dealer in Milwaukee. The service writer has been very responsive. I've been able to bring it in usually the same day I call. They've offered a loaner car for overnight warranty work. The mechanic is very accessible (and a former '7 and current '8 owner) All in all, so far so good. (I'm still holding my breath for the big let down) But, just maybe, some dealer service departments have actually learned that customers are not there to be abused, but to treat with respect to get loyalty and future business.

I still don't know if I believe that, but time will tell....

Zoom, Zoom!

srm858

The only thing worse than a Mazda dealer is a KIA dealer.