Alex Bruene Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 After several run-ins with the warranty clerk at my new dealership... I have to rant. They call her "The Debit Queen". She is set in her ways and debits at will. Not (necessarily) because Ford kicks back a claim, but more so if she wants to. 2 weeks ago, she debited me for using 12651D for diagnosing a manual climate control problem. I've been using this operation for years for various electrical problems, never an issue. I asked her who says I can't use it... Her reply: "I do. They pay me to keep the warranty down, so what I say goes". No big deal. When I get debited for an unjustified reason, I take it back 5 times (one way or another). I always win. Today, it happened again. Another manual climate control issue. Another BCE diagnosis... Another (attempted) debit. Her reply: "Technician X doesn't use that operation, so why should you?"... To which I responded: "Okay, but when I start guessing at what's wrong, and replacing parts until something works to fix it, who will be responsible for all the unnecessarily replaced parts?"... Her reply: "You". I'm looking forward to replacing lots of SJBs to see how far I can take this. Thanks. Rant over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchan68 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Try coming to work at MY dealership. 'Nuff said!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 They pay me to keep the warranty down Right there is the problem. Let me guess, this warranty clerk is NOT employed by your dealership? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickster42 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Careful Alex - you are arguing with a woman... there is no win - best you can hope for is a tie...hehe I tried to win with our warranty clerk ONCE... didn`t go well. couple of days later she cuts me off hard, on the way to work in the morning. A couple of hours later at work i kindly ask her why she was driving in the bus diamond lane - during rush hour ( no cars allowed in diamond lane except to turn into next immediate turnoff) she tells me i`m wrong? ok i`ll bite - i print off the local road laws from the highways site (the road is plastered with signs...) and send it to her printer...hehe i`m still wrong? she sends someone outside to take a picture of one of the signs? then and only then does she somewhat begrudingly admit that she didn`t know??? but still mostly my fault.. The worst thing I did was tell her "just because you say the same thing 5x - doesn`t make it the truth". I now have "bad attitude" hehe. My warranty times have been slightly underpaid lately - and i have to go see her often to correct them. Lesson learned - rick don`t take the bait...ever... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy57 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I do understand a dealer wants to avoid the scrutiny of a warranty audit, especially if they think things aren't cool. BUT, if you as a tech went into parts dept and grabbed a couple of $100 batteries to put in your own truck with no intention of paying they'd fire you. A warranty clerk that fails to submit for what is rightfully owed you and the dealer is allowed to do that. What is the difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Right there is the problem. Let me guess, this warranty clerk is NOT employed by your dealership? Actually, she does work for the dealership. I don't know if she is on any kind of bonus for keeping it down, I don't really care. I am certified in everything. There is not a single SLTS operation that I am not allowed to use. I have been doing this long enough to know how and where to get every last 0.1 I can find, and I will, and I do. If I check voltage, or grounds, I expect to be paid. Keeping in mind if it were a retail repair, hitting a blower motor with a hammer to diagnose it does not warrant a 1.0 diag charge. If it's warranty, and I have to get my meter out and figure out why that blower motor does not work, and have to fill out my story with results of PPT J1 and so on, I want my diag time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I do understand a dealer wants to avoid the scrutiny of a warranty audit, especially if they think things aren't cool. BUT, if you as a tech went into parts dept and grabbed a couple of $100 batteries to put in your own truck with no intention of paying they'd fire you. A warranty clerk that fails to submit for what is rightfully owed you and the dealer is allowed to do that. What is the difference? Not to mention that if the clerk is shorting YOU she is also shorting the DEALERSHIP on money you both rightfully should be getting paid. I think even Ford would agree that as long as you are following the warranty guidelines and the repair is legit you can use all applicable op codes. Ii am ware of the warranty n umber game. I don't agree with trimming claims just to keep reports where some zone manager thinks they should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 The simple solution.... ALL brands of dealerships across the Republic of Alberta are hiring. While we were languishing in our temporary digs in Westlock, I was informed that the local Ford dealer had but 2 techs and they were looking. (Our DP, bless his heart, made sure we had no desire to go looking). There are a few tough to work for dealers here.... but if you remember that you can catch more flies with sugar than you can with vinegar - you should do well. I fell into a dealership that suits me.... makes me a poor candidate for this next statement - while they are interviewing you for the job... you should be interviewing the job for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted June 4, 2011 Author Share Posted June 4, 2011 I did ask all the questions necessary. I made sure to ask about the warranty situation, and the person responsible. I can't help but think I was told what I wanted to hear. No problem. Let the games begin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchan68 Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 I did ask all the questions necessary. I made sure to ask about the warranty situation, and the person responsible. I can't help but think I was told what I wanted to hear. No problem. Let the games begin!And what exactly is new about this? Isn't this the same game played by everyone on the management level, promise the world and deliver on NOTHING? I get that a lot at my store. I just let it go in one ear, and out the other. Personally, I'd rather NOT be promised anything to begin with, if the the person doing the promising either has no intention, or is not capable of delivering it. As far as the warranty clerk situation goes, I just walk away whenever I hear her voice, because if I stick around for the conversation, some choice words might just come out of my mouth that I may regret later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Clyde Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I did ask all the questions necessary. I made sure to ask about the warranty situation, and the person responsible. I can't help but think I was told what I wanted to hear. No problem. Let the games begin! Classic "smoke and mirrors", got bit with that one myself. Left them stuttering when I told them; I can play the game, just tell me the rules before we start ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselD Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Today, it happened again. Another manual climate control issue. Another BCE diagnosis... Another (attempted) debit. Her reply: "Technician X doesn't use that operation, so why should you?"... To which I responded: "Okay, but when I start guessing at what's wrong, and replacing parts until something works to fix it, who will be responsible for all the unnecessarily replaced parts?"... Her reply: "You". This flips my switch everytime....They love to pull the "the other guy does not claim that op" card when you try and make every .1 you can. my response is always so who says they that the other guy is even doing his job right in the first place? Why take his example and not review what I am doing and why I am asking for more time? oh yeah I forgot cause you can not actually do your job right in the first place!!! Instant pissed off! Like you I know the SLTS book and its overlaps well and squeeze every second of time I can out of it. It seems dealers really forget that if your doing your job right looking up times your making THEM MORE money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted June 13, 2011 Author Share Posted June 13, 2011 Today's run-in... I charged to machine a set of rotors AND replaced them on the same RO, as they machined undersize. Her response (the best one of heard of yet)... "When Ford looks at the training you have, they'll say you should have been able to tell the rotors would have machined undersize by looking at them". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchan68 Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 "When Ford looks at the training you have, they'll say you should have been able to tell the rotors would have machined undersize by looking at them".Aw c'mon now Alex, what happened to your "eyeometer"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 Hey, Chan... I see you guys are hiring looking for a new SM... What happened to Jack? And, say hi to Bruno for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchan68 Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 Hey, Chan... I see you guys are hiring looking for a new SM... What happened to Jack?YUP. Mr. Iaboni has decided to jump ship here. He's making the move to Pine Tree. Originally Posted By: AlexBruene And, say hi to Bruno for me. Bruno's a great guy to work beside. It's actually quite refreshing to be working alongside someone who understands the bullshit with working on diesels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 Pine Tree? A.K.A "The Revolving Door of Woodbridge". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristopherH Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Our warranty clerk does in fact get a bonus to keep our 126 average at .5 or below. I feel your pain. It pisses me off to no end that they don't want to pay a fair time to R&R a component and they would like to pay nothing to diag it! We are also a Dodge dealer, and all I can say is that they have far fewer diagnostic operations that can be claimed than Ford and are much less willing to pay M time (they call it 00 time). The dodge diesel tech that works down the wall from me recently diagnosed a new cummins with a runs rough concern and to diag and replaced 1 injector total time paid 1.2 hrs! So, when I'm feeling really down about it, I thank my lucky stars that I only do Ford warranty work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristopherH Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I'm sorry that was actually 0.8 hrs to diag and replace 1 injector--that was the time they settled on after the tech and svc manager had a little meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselD Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 We do claims on cummins and cat engine in the f650s and its the same way. rapidserve pays waaaaaay worse then ford does. Yes we have it good compared to others but you have to wonder if ford looks at the competition and gets bright ideas on how to run their claims through based on what everyone else is doing? scary thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted June 19, 2011 Author Share Posted June 19, 2011 I'm glad my new dealership doesn't do Cummins. Their warranty times are really weak! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 And now for something completly different... Warranty Lady: "You can't use 6007D because the shop doesn't have a black light". Me: "I have my own black light". Warranty Lady: "Ford does not recognize using your own black light". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshbuys Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 And now for something completly different... Warranty Lady: "You can't use 6007D because the shop doesn't have a black light". Me: "I have my own black light". Warranty Lady: "Ford does not recognize using your own black light". Say whaaaat?!?! So does this mean Ford doesn't recognize using your own fuel pressure gauge, compression gauge, wrenches, sockets, etc.?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbriggs Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Looks like you wont be diaging anymore oil leaks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 And now for something completly different... Warranty Lady: "You can't use 6007D because the shop doesn't have a black light". Me: "I have my own black light". Warranty Lady: "Ford does not recognize using your own black light". Commmme onnnnnnn. You're making this up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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