Date:         Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:06:45 -0400
Reply-To:     Billy Hirt <zbillman@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Billy Hirt <zbillman@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: What a real VW mech @ the dealer has to says about a vanagons
In-Reply-To:  <20070910220610.CC9C11165C3@hamburg.alientech.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I don't know that I believe that VW mechanics or mechanics as a whole are
dishonest or "suck".  I believe that over the years the newer generation of
mechanics have learned there diagnostic skills by what a little plug in
scanner tells them.  If that scanner doesn't work with the vehicle than they
just don't know.  Then comes the guessing game and the big expense on the
wallet.  The true dishonesty lies in that they just don't say " I don't know
whats wrong with it" or "I don't know how to fix that" etc....  There are
scheisters out for sure but I would like to believe that the bigger part is
the lose of training and learning proper diagnostic skills.  That is the
beauty of this list.  There are so many great people with a ton of skills
and experience that as long as we keep learning from one another and passing
it on.  Then generations of people like us can continue to own, drive, fix
and love their VW's.

Billy Hirt

On 9/10/07, Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com> wrote:
>
> At 05:22 PM 9/10/2007, Scott Daniel - Shazam wrote...
> >Dealers are independent businesses of course - free to work on
> >anything, or
> >not work on anything.
>
> Ay, there's the rub.
>
> It's part of why VW dealers, on the whole, suck. If a business is
> allowed to represent the VW marque, they should be required to service
> any vehicle bearing wearing a VW badge. They're not (or shouldn't be)
> independent if they represent the manufacturer to the buying public.
> They should be held to a minimum standard of quality and competency.
>
> VW has had a run going since the NB intro, almost 10 years ago. They've
> now taught a new generation of buyers what "customer hostile" dealer
> service is all about. I predict that for the next 10 years or so,
> they'll be on hard times in North America. Then they'll be able to milk
> a new generation of suckers.
>
> If VW wants consistent, long term success, they really need to crack
> down with serious dealer service requirements. Unfortunately, the
> opportunity to do so occurred a few years ago (2001 was the most recent
> peak sales year). With sales on the downturn, they won't have another
> opportunity for another 10 years or so.
>