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| - Through the years, I've owned vehicles from a variety of manufacturers, both domestic and import. As such, I have experienced a wide range of service departments: From Ford & GM; to Toyota, Nissan, and Honda.
The one common denominator with all of them is "the phonecall."
You know the one: you drop your vehicle off for an oil change/service, and they call you at work an hour or two later.
This is typically where the "boning" begins. Your $100 service suddenly balloons into several hundred dollars (if they have their way) because of various things they suggest you take care of.
My worst experience came from a certain Ford dealership (hint -- I've written a review) who had already largely finished unauthorized work well beyond the oil change I had come in for.
They were calling to inform me they had effed things up during their unauthorized work, and needed more time / money. The thought of this still makes me rage.
Anyhow, my point : going in for an automotive service historically has been an unpleasant experience.
However, my visit to Calgary BMW was anything but.
This ride is a bit of a "modified for the track" car... still in street clothes, but has... ahem.... been driven hard. I guess I expected the worst.
But from the bank of representatives checking you in at sit down stations, to the open air "coffee lounge" incorporated into the showroom, to the ultra-punctual driver-for-a-lift-to-and-from-work (seriously this guy arrived at my office to the minute he said he would); the overall PROCESS of getting work done was highly efficient & professional.
Sure, I got "the phonecall" while at work. But this time, it was a representative explaining in great detail an array of things about my car, and what the status was... even though no work was required.
It wasn't a call asking permission for big ticket tear downs. It was a verbal report, and was above and beyond.
Yes, I needed some extra things done, but it was at my request when I dropped it off.
Upon return to the dealership later that day, my car sat detailed inside and out, within a covered, heated, drop off area. Nice.
Yelp's 30 Day Challenge 2012 - 3/30
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