Ladies Ignorance about Cars...Unfair thoughts
I was shocked when the staff at the garage reception of my car company handed me the paper where the specified amount to be paid for at 20,000 km.check-up was morethan Qat.Riyal 1600. Whilst before i leave my car for them for checkup, i asked how much would it possibly cost me. And i was told that it is around 550 Q.R. and if there are any defective parts we are going to inform you,so i left my car with the thoughts that it might cost me more or lessthan a couple of hundreds more. At night that day, i was informed that there are parts like, brake pad, filter, gasket,spark plug, genuine oil,element sub-assy,pad kit front, and rubber wiper(eventhough, i've just changed it a week ago)to be changed. And the hard thing was, i was ask if i wanted the battery to be replaced there or in Industrial.I asked what is the difference if in Industrial or in their branch near the Mall.It was explained to me that i will get it cheapper from Industrial by 60%.I refused to change the battery because i doubt if it really need to be changed at 20,000kms run. And it is starting smoothly, my car is landcruiser and never use the cooler, or even tried to turn it on. I seldom go out at night where lights are needed in short, it is likely that battery is being used only as starter. This is my first car in this company, buti have other cars which are all company maintained. What i wonder alot was this is the only company that charge alot of money, and change alot of consumable parts every check up. Since the first 5oookm. check i made in this company, they take much charges i don't even see. Could anyone out there, especially kabayans help me clear my doubt of being over charged? Do this management in this company thought that because i am a lady, i know nothing about cars but cosmetics? I have more expensive car than this and have a less expensive one too,and believe me, this less expensive car that i have is a darling, (i am not endorsing) but,the company had the brake pad changed only once just recently. I also do the regular 5000km. check but i pay only for the filter and filter oil or assy oil.Spark plug was changed only once in two years, and it's for free. Does this Toyota Co. management in Mall roundabout branch doing fair or some sort of abuse to an ignorant lady like me who seem doesn't understand about cars.
It definitely sounds fishy they way they have charged you. Even if you already paid, you should take up the matter with some higher-ups in the company.
and they changed her battery without asking her... thats very odd for Toyota... but anyways they returned the old one so no damage done..
I was under the impression she meant when she went to collect the car, however, they have to give back the parts they changed asthis belongs to the service.
However, we women have to be careful with this kind of thing right!!
They have called her and asked her if they should do the changes...
In her own words," At night that day, i was informed that there are parts like, brake pad, filter, gasket,spark plug, genuine oil,element sub-assy,pad kit front, and rubber wiper(eventhough, i've just changed it a week ago)to be changed."
At that point, she should have just told them what to change and what not to... at 20000km, there is a list of parts which will be reccomended to be changed... you have to be very rich and be very finicky if you want to do everything by the company's service reccomendation. Regardless though, the mechanic has to stick by the book and offer you to change those parts, its his job...
I know about my car and even if I want to get something put in such as a CD player a siren etc. never mind the maintanence I know how and where they can place such things.
The brake pads you can feel if they are finished, depends how you use the brakes.
The mian point is they should call and tell her before they do any manjor changes (this is service) and one more thing they should give here back the used spare parts so she can see what it was they replaced.
According to her own statement above she knows what she is doing.
mariam-mar
I hate to be cheated myself so I can understand how you feel and many think that we women don't know anything about cars - their mistake.
If they changed the battery without your permission and against your will, you need to lodge a complain...
If you do check your battery frequently, 20000km is too less for the battery to get damaged...
I told many times that i am going to change the battery in Industrial and still they change it. But i insisted to return back the old battery, and so they return it back because i told them i will not pay for it. I check the battery regularly as once every other week, i fill it with battery water and i use the car regularly, everyday. I have some knowledge on basic maintenance such as how to check the oil, the battery, the brake oil, the water cooler. I am just thankful that the battery didn't totally drain, so i charged it for one hour,( i leave the engine run).Thanks Guys,
What i can say is don't judge a book by it's cover; A good car is not really from it's origin,or where it is made of, the way it is handled and maintained matters alot, most cars , like clothes and accessories, when it is expensive, we are paying of the brand name.
I have a car for sale, anyone?????? lol
Seriously, i am selling one of my car, if anyone interested, pls PM me, TY
she was told to change brake pad, filter, gasket, spark plug, genuine oil,element sub-assy, pad kit front... thats pretty normal for 20000kms... its not because she is a female, this is probably the Toyota process, it would be the same if she were a guy...
The most expensive component there are the brake pads which alone would have cost half of the estimate which she got... most mechanics will reccomend changing the brake pad at 20000km or even less, you either change it or you use your judgement (see if the brakes are giving a noise)
So its pretty much up to the owner to decide what to change and what not to...
The only thing out of the normal is the battery change... that I think was probably because she may not have checked the battery water, so she would be well served if she goes for a maintenance free dry battery...
So what I am saying in short is, mariam hasn't been taken for a ride. She has to use her better judgement to decide what to change and what not to if she wants to save money. But she may need to pay attention to her battery....
this thing is common, specially to toyota service center. they would try to sell parts to you so that they can earn a commission from it. now if you would be a real pain to them by asking why would they replace it and show you on the maintenance manual of your car that it really needs a replacement at that time or mileage or ask them about the manhours that they have consumed, then they would back down and would be honest with you about the true cost of your service
The battery is not the point nor the main issue - they should inform her about necessary spare part changes and why and why would she need a new battery after 20,000 kms beats me.
I have to take my car for service to and I have just changed the wipers - although the car had several service and is six years old they neve once changed the wipers. I still have the original battery.
what you should have done was to not agree to let them do the changes before you see the whole work and decide for yourself.
They will not mind if you dont do the work over there.
They would just write a note that the customer refused the work.
Or you could ask them to do what you think was needed.
If you do not check your battery water level regularly, it is possible that the water may have run out and your battery may have got spoilt. This kind of damage is not covered by warranty either...
You can avoid this is if you use a 'maintenance free' dry cell battery... but I dunno if you had a dry cell battery to begin with...
Why did you not contest and not pay and did they give you the parts back that they changed out for you. This is the right way for them to do it.