Community Forums

mojoracing · 01-17-2014, 10:39 AM

The used vehicle department at any dealership is one of the largest profit producers for the dealers service department. When the service department does a UVI (used vehicle inspection) on a trade in, they are trying to find all the problems they can. It behooves them to do so. The more they find the more the service department can charge the used vehicle department. Think of a dealer as many separate stores or profit centers under one roof. They then take the list to whoever is in charge of the used inventory. Here is where things can go awry. The person then will either choose to fix everything the service department came up with or pick and choose maybe some of the major issues and leave out a couple minor things. Its a balancing act. Obviously, safety items are handled but due to cost maybe a cosmetic item may not be repaired. When it comes to a xxx point inspection, there are minimum specs that things such as tires and brake pads have to fall within. Obviously if a dealer is not taking care of safety items, it is probably one you want to avoid.

Heisenberg · 01-21-2014, 10:59 PM

Here's how the safety inspection went on the coach I recently bought....

Salesman: We do a thorough inspection on the entire coach, including a safety inspection. Anything we find will be replaced at our own expense so that the coach is safe and in perfect operating order. That's just how we do business sir.

Me: Oh, good, so that means you'll be replacing the right rear tires that are 12 years old, correct?

Salesman: Oh, umm, you can get a few more miles out of those, RV's dont get driven much, and there's a lot of tread left.

The walk through inspection at delivery revealed: a non functioning furnace, automatic steps that had to be pulled out by hand, a squealing serpentine belt on the engine, a burnt out reverse light, and a right turn signal that didn't work, and a hood catch on the engine hood that was broken off.

Their inspection is 100% BS, they even skipped the $5 hood catch which they would have noticed if they opened the hood

doc · 01-22-2014, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scenic route

Your right, it was embarrassing. But with a wife, child and trying to get through school in a bad job market, ya do what is necessary.

So are you saying you would lie to a customer? Shows a lot of character.

sadrand · 01-22-2014, 07:42 AM

"The dealership hereby certifies that the said rv is in perfect condition and we will repair at no cost anything found wrong with the rv for 30 days." Write that out and ask the dealer to sign it. Then watch him backtrack!

scenic route · 01-22-2014, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc

So are you saying you would lie to a customer? Shows a lot of character.

The 'customer' was the dealership. I did the inspections on used cars that were traded in or were bought at auction. I reported to the service manager and he to the used car department. The tech has no say on what gets fixed. Could be why I did not make it a career...has nothing to do with 'character', but thanks anyway.

mojoracing · 01-23-2014, 05:49 AM

Scenic route, this is exactly what I was talking about. Service dept recommends fixing everything that they find wrong with a coach (because they get paid for it from the used dept.) . The management then says " fix this and that but don't fix this". That is where the problem lies. Due to cost factors they don't fix certain things. At any reputable dealer, safety items will be fixed first, other stuff may or may not be fixed. Reputable? maybe not. If you find things wrong, use them as negotiating points. They're just not going to catch everything and I have had a unit that passes the inspection fine and then you go start it up a couple days later to show a customer and there is a check engine light on that wasn't there a couple days earlier. If there is some huge list of things wrong, I would look elsewhere. There are a lot of dealers out there that want your business. I tell my guys "fix it, its easier to sell something that i don't have to make excuses for".

wildmandmc · 01-23-2014, 05:56 AM

the salesman forgets to tell ya that the 121 pt inspection was done by a blind person, with no mechanical experience. or the inspector pointed at 121 different spots.

greatlakes · 01-23-2014, 08:44 AM

In reference to their"extended warranties”. I always respond with; if its a good vehicle that passed your inspection then you should warranty it for 30 days at your cost. Just like selling a home. Sellers offer a home warranty often to give that piece of mind. If not and they push the warranty makes me feel its suspect.