Friday, January 20, 2006

Crown Motors Service Dept, grade, F

I was so stressed yesterday, I lost my cool at the dealership. Ok I took my car in because the horn would not blow, It blew when I pressed the alarm but not when I pressed the horn button on the steering wheel. No big deal, I will take it in, I made the necessary appt.
Now I had not been to a shop like that in abut 12 years, I stood by my car wondering what to do next, Is this a drive up shop and they come to your car and take you order, or do you get out and go to one of the booths and hope you did the right thing. While wondering I saw another car pull up, that driver,( a man) got out and walked to the booth and he was waited on. So I did the logical thing I approached a booth and the clerk told me he woudldbe with me in a second. I said "OK", He kept conversing with the mechanic, over some price he needed. Now I wait, I wait, finally a man walks up and says do you need help.
NOTE to MAN, A woman standing by her car in an auto shop must need help.
I say "Yes and tell him the deal, horn wont blow, etc, He says, OH you were assigned to me, so now we are in the right place, got the attention of a clerk, now I wait more. I told them I would wait, and hour would give me time to unwind and plan the next stop. ( I make all my stops on one trip to town).

About one hour later, the shop clerk came in, "Your car will be ready in a few minutes, I hear the horn blowing." OK so I wait another 45 minutes, still no clerk, I walk to the windows and see no cars leaving the garage, now about 5 people came and went from the waiting room. Their cars were ready. I can accept that, theirs were easier, new air filters, draining the coolant. Numerous items I overheard. Still no car, I walk to the bays, It is huge, I do not see my car anywhere. I go to second HUGE door and still no car. I walk up to a person sitting in his booth, Eating his lunch. He typed in my name, My car is ready and the keys are in the next booth, my clerks booth, (they have about 6 seperate booths), He is on lunch I presume.
The clerk that was helping got my keys, and then my clerk walked up. He said "Oh your car is ready'". (Thanks for telling me. )
I told him I had a huge migraine and I apologized for seeming upset. He asked if I got it there from them, or because of them?. Yes I did.
Now he walks me to the cashier, NO charge but I still had to go in and sign , still no problem.
Now they hand my keys to me and say your car is in the parking lot. Where? That is a big parking lot. She said "Somewhere out there in the parking lot".
NOw as all of you know I do know something about Customer Service. I trained for 22 years in it and often went to meetings to refresh my knowledge. believe me all that has stuck in my mind. I also am aware Customers can be difficult so you deal with each on a different level.
finally I said, "Where in the Hell is my car". At that point she pointed to the general area to look.
At that poin,t she should have had someone bring it to me, but no I had to walk around looking for it. Ticked me off. I guess the migraine got to me at that point,
I had to tell me to calm down, and I made a vow, I will not do any more car repair runs to Crown Motors. Their service dept left a little to be desired. From now on David will have to drop it off, after all he is the epitomy of patience, Wish I were more like him. You would think after 42 years some of his goodness would have rubbed off.

2 comments:

Kenny said...

the days of customer service went out when the discount retailers became so big.

Anonymous said...

awww now Ken, you can't blame discount retailers, big management can still require it, but they don't.

And you know, it's ridiculous, with so much competition out there they OUGHTA give good service.