5 replies to this topic

[Road Racer]

Be very careful when having a car diagnosed at
Merrimack Street Volvo in Manchester NH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR any dealership!

They told me I had a faulty oil pan gasket which was sucking air and making my valves tap.
The engine would have to be lifted to change it. They also told me that I had a bad oil leak comming from my under my intake manifold. (two separate problems) Total cost for repairs would be $800.00 plus. I have it all in writing!

I took my S80 to Marks European Cars in Methuen MA. For a secound oppinion.
Mark fixed my problems for under $100.00 Turns out I had a bad oil filter gasket which was causing the oil leak and at the same time sucking air making my valves tap.
Oil Change is all I needed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merrimack Volvo like most dealers are very nice to deal with but they have perfected the art of
deception to unknown customers that think they are getting the best from a dealer. The only people that should go to dealers are peole with their cars still under warrantee, other than that, your setting yourselfs up for a royal ripping off!!

Edited by '98S70R, 23 March 2005 - 12:15 AM.

[Bay13]

If the book says repair averages 6 hours, they bill 6 hours even though the repair took 4 hours.

Thats the way it works everywhere. If the book lists 6 and it takes them 8 are you going to make up the difference, I didn't think so.

[Bay13]

Actually you are being quoted labor time in dollars, and hours shouldn't be mentioned, the Labor time Guide is for the dealer, not the customer to work themselves into a fit over. You should be told as a customer that your repair will be $320 dollars, and that is parts and labor, it's broken down as $20 for parts and $300 for labor. Thats it, not thats x amout of hours etc. it just complicates the system. You agree to X amount for the repair and thats it. You might ask then well how long will it take and you say your car should be ready in x amount of hours for pick up. I agree the shop especially dealers is keeping a lot more in their pockets than they use to. At one time the split was 50/50 now it's as bad as 25/75 for the dealer. The fact that most dealers are owned by sales people has caused this, the price or profit from cars has dropped so where do you make up the money, your right in the service department. To make it even more unfair the cars have gotten harder to work on not easier. go figure.

[Bay13]

Dealerships in general have dishonest practices that should be addressed by the courts.

There are about 330 Volvo Dealerships in the USA, Your brief encounter with one doesn't make you an expert at anything except complaining at this point.