Why we call them Stealers.

[ken]

The other day I took my Vibe in to have the tail light checked because it keeps blowing the fuse the instant I put a new one on. Apparently, it was diagnosed that there were coins in the CD player that was causing the short. Granted, the CD player works, but it blows the tail light fuse, not it's own....very weird but true. What really pi$$ed me off was that they voided my warranty. And to make things even worse they wanted a whopping $600 to replace the radio or $250 to "attempt to remove coins". I explained to them that the radio should already be deemed replaceable because I was going to bring it in anyway for the "static sound" problem I was experiencing.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... ad?id=179I told them that they must have replaced a couple of radios with that problem by now. The three service guys (service rep, tech, and service manager) all played dumb as if it were the first time they were hearing of this. I went to the operations manager and while he admitted that he is aware of the CD problems (hmm... wonder who he heard that from?) he cannot help me because he can't send the radio with coins in it back to A/C Delco. OK, so I requested they leave the radio on the seat. I've seen these radios on eBay ...and if I was going to spend $600 for that piece of crap, I would buy a satellite radio, add a power amp and replace all the speakers instead.When I got home, I used a screwdriver to quickly snap off the faceplate and shaked off the two coins ....all $.15 cents of it...took no more than two minutes. Popped the radio back in and reconnected it, turned on the tail lamps and no more blown fuse. I also warned my 2yr old not to slip coins in there again...yea right So there you go folks. Why are dealers always looking to rip people off??? They could have took the two minutes to attempt to shake those coins off like I did instead of quickly voiding my warranty....or replace the radio based on the other problems I reported that they are well aware of...or heck at least come up with a figure that's more reasonable. What worries me is that there are people out there that would fall for their crap. Given, this is a dealer that prides itself in honesty and integrity. If that sounds too good to be true, come in they say. No thanks. Can't wait for my Vibe to reach 36K so I can bid dealers goodbye. I just sent in my Service Satisfaction Survey that came in the mail. Glad I held on to it for a couple of days

[joatmon]

That's outrageous behavior for a dealer, but I've had similar encounters. Luckily I haven't had to take my Vibe in yet.The wholesale price for a Vibe single Cd stock radio is about $60, and as you found out they're easy to remove/replace. $600 is way too much markup. Is this the dealer that you bought the car from? You'd think that they'd be a little more appreciative.Isn't that fusebox fun? Still have the static?

[slbpsi63]

They see little easy fixes as a way to make a huge profit. I'm glad you didn't give in and was able to fix it on your own. Good luck with your two tear old thinking the radio is his personal piggy bank, lol.

[scherry2]

How sadI don't think they can void your warranty just like that but you never know now adays.....and they wonder why we work on our own carshope you don't have anyother problemsdoes your radio still make the funny noise?there is a 1-800 # for pontiac central office for complaints about dealers I'll see if i can find it

[MA-VIBE-FAN]

1)They didn't "void" your warranty. They determined that the repair was not covered under warranty. 2)They could not send a radio with a problem back on the exchange for the CD arm noise repair radio. Therefore they couldn't do the repair you hadn't brought the car in for yet.3) The CD radio problem is more often described as a grinding sound while cornering, not a static sound. That could be why the tech & advisor didn't think of it.4) The AM/FM CD RDS radio in a 2003 Grand Am (very simular to Vibe) lists between $742.80 and $841.81 depending on speaker package.5) GM Dealers send radios out to regional repair centers which have very high minimum charges for repairs. Since the dealer was unsure of the amount of repairs the radio would require, $250 was a play it safe estimate.6) What would you have done if they broke part of the faceplate, while just snapping it off? Made them send it out for a $250 repair or make them replace it at $800?Hope you chance at venting, plus these insights make you feel better.6)

[ken]

>1)They didn't "void" your warranty. They determined that the repair >was not covered under warranty. True. Bad wording on my part. They just saw an opportunity to turn a warranty work into a potential goldmine. Unfortunately, this sucker did not bite.>2)They could not send a radio with a problem back on the exchange >for the CD arm noise repair radio. Therefore they couldn't do the >repair you hadn't brought the car in for yet.I bought into their justification; that's why I declined repair and asked them to leave it on the seat.>3) The CD radio problem is more often described as a grinding >sound while cornering, not a static sound. That could be why the tech >& advisor didn't think of it.Oh, believe me, they knew what I was talking about.>4) The AM/FM CD RDS radio in a 2003 Grand Am (very simular to >Vibe) lists between $742.80 and $841.81 depending on speaker >package.Lists, yes. I doubt they pay anywhere close to that amount though. Those numbers are unrealistic.>5) GM Dealers send radios out to regional repair centers which have >very high minimum charges for repairs. Since the dealer was unsure >of the amount of repairs the radio would require, $250 was a play it >safe estimate.It's also called pulling a quick one on an unsuspecting customer.>6) What would you have done if they broke part of the faceplate, >while just snapping it off? Made them send it out for a $250 repair or >make them replace it at $800?Highly unlikely. There were like eight tabs to snap off. Breaking a couple would not have had any effect.I don't thrive on "feelings". That's for the weak minded. And I don't normally and when I vent.Good insights though

[joatmon]

quote:>>4) The AM/FM CD RDS radio in a 2003 Grand Am (very simular to >Vibe) lists between $742.80 and $841.81 depending on speaker >package.Lists, yes. I doubt they pay anywhere close to that amount though. Those numbers are unrealistic.I agree. For $600 you can get an impressive audio system installed. I think the stock radio is ok, but I can't imagine someone buying a non-Vibe car and paying that much to get a Vibe radio installed. Replacing it is easy. You can do it in ten minutes. Pop off the cover , four screws, undo the connectors and it's out, so I can't imagine hundreds of dollars in labor. If a Grand AM radio costs $800, then that's distressing also. Did anyone here who replaced their stock radio with an aftermarket unit pay $600 for the head unit, and if so, how does it compare to the stock radio?I guess the coins in it must have been shorting out something in the lighting circuit whcih must go to the radio because the radio brightness is controlled with the dash dimmer. If I had a problem with the tail light fuse blowing, I wouldn't suspect the radio. How much did it end up costing you to have the radio pulled and the trouble diagnosed?

[MA-VIBE-FAN]

quote:>>4) The AM/FM CD RDS radio in a 2003 Grand Am (very simular to >Vibe) lists between $742.80 and $841.81 depending on speaker >package.Lists, yes. I doubt they pay anywhere close to that amount though. Those numbers are unrealistic.I agree. For $600 you can get an impressive audio system installed. I think the stock radio is ok, but I can't imagine someone buying a non-Vibe car and paying that much to get a Vibe radio installed. If I had a problem with the tail light fuse blowing, I wouldn't suspect the radio. As far as the price of the radio goes. There are only a couple situations where one would need to buy a factory system and pay that price. Fire, theft, and accident come to mind, and it would be insurance paying. So it is just a number. Normally one would have their radio exchanged (warranty) or repaired (pay).The tail light, is often tied to something inside the car so that the driver will get a tip off that something is amiss. We raely see our own taillights, so this is why it is done.

[ragingfish]

[QUOTEThe tail light, is often tied to something inside the car so that the driver will get a tip off that something is amiss. We raely see our own taillights, so this is why it is done.[/QUOTE]They should create an idiot light for every car that tells you when a bulb blows on the tail or CHMSL...too many people drive around with burnt out tails and it's dangerous, and irritating.

[joatmon]

quote:So it is just a number. Normally one would have their radio exchanged (warranty) or repaired (pay).No wonder my insurance rates are so high. It may be just a number that is expected to be paid for by insurance companies, but we all pay for it one way or another. TNSTAAFL. At least with a radio, you have a vast range of better and less expensive aftermarket options. I feel bad for someone who, in ken's situation but without his common sense, agrees to pay that much out of pocket for a replacement.

[ragingfish]

What does TNSTAAFL mean?

[joatmon]

there's no such thing as a free lunchI think it's from the moon is a harsh mistress, by Heinleina great quote from one of his books is: A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.– Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough for Love, 1973