Car dealership ripoff: Hidden-camera investigation

Car dealership hidden-camera investigation reveals how service centres upsell you on unnecessary work.

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[CTCRZ]

Over 20 years as an auto tech and I have to say that there is so much honest work out there that there is no reason to rip people off. I always tried to treat my customers like I would want a shop to treat my mom.

[Mftater]

Been a mechanic for 6 years. Left the dealership because the only way we made money was ripping people off. I couldn’t make money because I was honest about what vehicles need. Now I work for a shop with my city doing fleet vehicles. I can now focus on upkeep and maintenance and safety, not my pocketbook

[ibleedcrimson]

And this is why we have Chris Fix, Eric the Car Guy, and Scotty

[maestrovso]

"Spark plugs basically is the brain of the vehicle" I almost fell off my chair laughing.

[bobfalfa]

This is why ppl should find a privately owned garage that is more focused on quality and honesty. I grew up in my grandfather's garage, for 40yrs he worked 6 days a week on customer's cars. He wasn't a wealthy man but he made a decent living. He stressed quality and honesty above all else. When he passed there were over 300 ppl at his funeral, most had to wait outside but all paid their respects. You don't get that level of respect and admiration by "upselling" and trying to line your pockets, you get it by helping ppl and being an honest person and providing quality work.

[omarmahli]

"Your tires are low on air, which means you need an new transmission"

[citygirl]

RULE OF THUMB: If they ask you to leave as soon as they see a camera, they're crooks.

[niveknospmoht]

Having worked for a couple of dealerships in the 80s, I can fully attest that this has been going on for decades. I ended up owning my own shops and I was crazy busy with work just by giving customers the truth and fixing their car the right way and not take short cuts.

[noneofyourbuisness]

While your car is under warranty there’s usually never an issue with it going to its dealership. But once that warranty ends ya gotta find a reputable independent technician.

[Claudio-gvlz]

my mechanic is an old guy near my house that has a small shop, his prices are so cheap, i always end up tipping him because he's an honest guy

[ClownNaround]

The only way to find an honest mechanic is to become one.

[coreysue]

for 18 years the best advice I ever gave my customers was to sit IN THE CAR and read through the entire owner's manual. And had parents bring over their new teen drivers and make them change a tire and check their own fluids under my supervision. You have to be an informed consumer!

[AristoCat]

This makes me appreciate my mechanic so much. He is an honest guy and an amazing person.

[gilesmedearis]

That man a savage “they didn’t want to chat with us on camera, let’s go inside and ask”😂😂😂

[Ryelasse]

This is shocking for me to watch.. A few months back, my dad took his car to a local garage to get new brakes because he felt that they were due for a replacement. An hour after he dropped it off, he was able to pick it up again, and the mechanic informed him, that the brakes had not been changed, as they had a lot of life left in them. He didn't even have to pay for the time it took the mechanic to inspect the brakes. That is how you create trust.

[bobbyriegert]

Car dealerships need to be held accountable for this. This video should be enough for the legal system to take care of this.

[ulogy]

"Spark Plugs are like the brain of the car."

I about died laughing.

[michaelcowan]

If the dealership is found guilty, they would be fined, but all the customers who were ripped off don't get a dime.
Not right

[ichiroudesu_.]

“Spark plug is basically the brain of the vehicle”

Oh, okay i guess the ECU is basically what ignites the fuel.

[crazymike]

As an automotive technician the problem goes all the way down to the mechanics ourselves being pressured to recommend additional services. The whole industry need to be fixed.