Less than Kia quality service at BMW prices. - davidloliver
Less than Kia quality service at BMW prices.
I brought my 3 series in for a scheduled, routine inspection and oil change at 2 O'clock. I ultimately decided to forgo the oil change portion for the budget price of $167, so only the inspection was required. At 2:45 I received the video report from the technician, which was reasonably fast. I approached the service desk to inquire if receipt of the inspection video meant everything was complete so that I could pay and be on my way. I was told that sometimes it takes a little bit after the video is sent before everything is ready. I waited patiently until 4:05. At that time, I noticed everything was good on my BMW app which showed that my car had been parked and locked at 3:06. I managed to find a service rep, advised them of the situation and my car was finally returned to me. It is infuriating to be kept waiting for an additional hour when nothing is actually happening. My previous experience was similar with prolonged wait, though I didn't think to check how long I waited after the service was completed.
The service prior to this I drove an hour to Raleigh to avoid this dealership, but I didn't have a free day to drive up there this time. I should have waited and drove up there instead. They had a nicer waiting area, it was well staffed, they washed and vacuumed my car, and I was in and out quickly. Audi in Carey offered a similar experience each time (they even preheated or cooled the car depending upon the weather), then I bought a BMW partly because I wanted to have access to a dealership in town. Well, it looks like I'll have to continue driving out of town to get decent service or buy a different brand of vehicle. My wife had excellent service at Bryan Honda, my daughter has done well with the Kia dealership, and Mazda has proven to be quite good for my son. Why is BMW service this bad?
Obvious issue: Insufficient staffing in the service department. There's simply not enough employees in that department to provide good service. This suggests that the ownership/ management values their profits far more than their customer's time and satisfaction. Very shortsighted business decision... I, like apparently many people, had a good purchase experience. However, I would not do business with this dealership in the future. Either another brand vehicle or I commit to driving for sales and service.
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