To complain or not…
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As some of you know, we bought the new Honda Pilot last week. It was ostensibly through the Costco program, but a couple of things have popped up that have me wondering….
The way the program is supposed to work is that you schedule an appointment with the Internet sales manager to meet with one of the approved Costco program associates on the list. The Costco associate shows you a printout of the Costco program price for the car you want as well as a copy of the “invoice”. After you buy, you get a telephone survey fromCostco. After answering the survey, you get a coupon for up to 50% off accessories from that dealer up to $400 ($200 coupon value).
So, it turns out the associate they scheduled Karla to meet with is not an approved Costco associate. He did not show Karla an official Costco price vs invoice. He just showed her a form that said Costco Discounts by model. So during the survey, I mentioned these differences to the Costco people and they seemed a little put out. No don’t get me wrong, I am still happy with the service and the price, but I cannot help but wonder if there was a little bit more left…
Now we receive the coupon. Great. We want a a a cargo rack and mudflaps. We take it over, and I tell Karla that I believe it’s just 50% off one item. The service desk agrees. Later, I look at the coupon a little closer and it doesn’t state one accessory, it states accessories, but the coupon is only good for a single use. Now, the same dealer is giving us free service for 2 years (oil changes and the like). The difference here is roughly $50. Should I worry about it and make a fuss or just let it die? Should I also follow up with Costco to see if the pricing WAS too high?
What fo you guys think?
The Brad
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As some of you know, we bought the new Honda Pilot last week. It was ostensibly through the Costco program, but a couple of things have popped up that have me wondering….
The way the program is supposed to work is that you schedule an appointment with the Internet sales manager to meet with one of the approved Costco program associates on the list. The Costco associate shows you a printout of the Costco program price for the car you want as well as a copy of the “invoice”. After you buy, you get a telephone survey fromCostco. After answering the survey, you get a coupon for up to 50% off accessories from that dealer up to $400 ($200 coupon value).
So, it turns out the associate they scheduled Karla to meet with is not an approved Costco associate. He did not show Karla an official Costco price vs invoice. He just showed her a form that said Costco Discounts by model. So during the survey, I mentioned these differences to the Costco people and they seemed a little put out. No don’t get me wrong, I am still happy with the service and the price, but I cannot help but wonder if there was a little bit more left…
Now we receive the coupon. Great. We want a a a cargo rack and mudflaps. We take it over, and I tell Karla that I believe it’s just 50% off one item. The service desk agrees. Later, I look at the coupon a little closer and it doesn’t state one accessory, it states accessories, but the coupon is only good for a single use. Now, the same dealer is giving us free service for 2 years (oil changes and the like). The difference here is roughly $50. Should I worry about it and make a fuss or just let it die? Should I also follow up with Costco to see if the pricing WAS too high?
What fo you guys think?
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For me personally I would not let $50.00 occupy my brain with angst. Not sure what my threshold is but it’s more than 50.
@loki said in To complain or not…:
For me personally I would not let $50.00 occupy my brain with angst. Not sure what my threshold is but it’s more than 50.
Yeah, I think the issue for me is the lack of transparency on what was supposed to be a very transparent transaction…
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@loki said in To complain or not…:
For me personally I would not let $50.00 occupy my brain with angst. Not sure what my threshold is but it’s more than 50.
Yeah, I think the issue for me is the lack of transparency on what was supposed to be a very transparent transaction…
@lufins-dad said in To complain or not…:
@loki said in To complain or not…:
For me personally I would not let $50.00 occupy my brain with angst. Not sure what my threshold is but it’s more than 50.
Yeah, I think the issue for me is the lack of transparency on what was supposed to be a very transparent transaction…
I get it. I should be clearer, I would forgive Costco not to literally forgive them but to allow me to move on with my life in a happier fashion. I have become increasingly protective about who or what I allow to interfere with my day.
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As some of you know, we bought the new Honda Pilot last week. It was ostensibly through the Costco program, but a couple of things have popped up that have me wondering….
The way the program is supposed to work is that you schedule an appointment with the Internet sales manager to meet with one of the approved Costco program associates on the list. The Costco associate shows you a printout of the Costco program price for the car you want as well as a copy of the “invoice”. After you buy, you get a telephone survey fromCostco. After answering the survey, you get a coupon for up to 50% off accessories from that dealer up to $400 ($200 coupon value).
So, it turns out the associate they scheduled Karla to meet with is not an approved Costco associate. He did not show Karla an official Costco price vs invoice. He just showed her a form that said Costco Discounts by model. So during the survey, I mentioned these differences to the Costco people and they seemed a little put out. No don’t get me wrong, I am still happy with the service and the price, but I cannot help but wonder if there was a little bit more left…
Now we receive the coupon. Great. We want a a a cargo rack and mudflaps. We take it over, and I tell Karla that I believe it’s just 50% off one item. The service desk agrees. Later, I look at the coupon a little closer and it doesn’t state one accessory, it states accessories, but the coupon is only good for a single use. Now, the same dealer is giving us free service for 2 years (oil changes and the like). The difference here is roughly $50. Should I worry about it and make a fuss or just let it die? Should I also follow up with Costco to see if the pricing WAS too high?
What fo you guys think?
@lufins-dad said in To complain or not…:
Should I worry about it and make a fuss or just let it die? Should I also follow up with Costco to see if the pricing WAS too high?
What do you guys think?I'm retired
This could be my life's work.
After a few weeks, they would be begging me to take the $50
George would be all over them, for less
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I hate buying cars, they always mess you around somehow.
I wouldn't worry about anything for $50, even if I was retired. I know people who never let stuff go - I had a work-colleague who bugged a furniture store for weeks until they finally caved and replaced a sofa his kids had trashed. I reckon it took a year off his life. It took a couple of weeks off mine as I was forced to listen to his telephone calls.
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I bought a car through Costco in 2012.
Doing some research, it appeared that the Costco price is not necessarily the lowest price.
However, like CarMax, it is the easiest price. What's the hassle-factor worth?
The dealer tried to haggle on the value of my trade-in. I was going to walk until he met my price. He acceded.
Would I do Costco again? Perhaps. But I would assuredly go to CarMax for my trade-in. I'm shocked at how much they give for used vehicles.
