Gobsmacked at Nissan dealer!

Submitted: Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 13:31
ThreadID: 98623 Views:5443 Replies:7 FollowUps:19
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Hi everyone
We own (My partner and I) a Nissan Patrol 3.0 litre CRD 4 speed auto and as I had some time on my hands I decided to install a Tekonsha P3 brake controller...I ran the blue cable along the drivers side (Under the plastic sill tread plates) behind the side/rear quarter panel, removed the big rubber drain bung under the jack storage area and fitted a wiring grommet in its place...I couldn't believe how thin the wires are to the Nissan 7 pin plug socket, talk about cost cutting!!...I beefed up the white earth wire in the process and then went along to the front end of the vehicle to fit the supply cable to the 30 amp circuit breaker..The Nissan dealer had fitted the spot lamps and taken the wires for the switch through the bonnet cable grommet, or should I say to the side of it against the sharp metal edge of the hole...Unreal!!!!!...I fitted a wiring grommet in place and ran the +ve supply cable to the brake controller, (Through the grommet) alongside the bonnet cable...All was good but however in the process of removing the rear quarter/side panel I broke a couple of clips and my Nissan dealer didn't have any!!!...They gave some b/s story that there were non in WA, said it would take a couple of days to get some in and that they'd be in the region of $6.00 each, so I told 'em to forget it and went along to Supercheap Auto instead for a pack of 5 at a fraction of the cost!!!...So it would seem, that if a mechanic breaks a clip or two in the process of fixing your vehicle, you would either have to wait 2 days for replacement clips to be shipped over or the car would be reassembled minus the clips!!...I must ad to this story, that the same dealer quoted me a price over the phone for a fuel filter and were selling the same fuel filter on FleaBay for around $27.00 less!!...When I rang back to ask them about it, I was told to print off the FleaBay offer and present it and then within 20 minutes, they upped the FleaBay price!!!!!
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Reply By: Ross M - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 15:39

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 15:39
It is good you found a Nissan dealer with high integrity, morals and ability.

If you hadn't found out all those things and the Fleabay price remained the same, then that would be surprising because what you have mentioned is absolutely normal practice.

PS. They would never try to tell you a B/S story, that would be deceiving you and they would never do that to a customer.
AnswerID: 496918

Follow Up By: Bazooka - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 17:32

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 17:32
Are you seriously questioning a dealer's integrity and "morals" based on one anonymous web post Ross, or have I misinterpreted your comment?
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FollowupID: 772656

Follow Up By: Bopman - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 17:59

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 17:59
The parts guy reckoned FleaBay puts people out of work which to a point I'm in agreement with, but the bottom line is, nobody likes being "ripped off" and paying through the nose for spare parts is just not on!!..I believe I paid $5.00 plus for a copper crush washer a while back for my Nissan...Why wouldn't you pay $10.00 inclusive of postage from the US for 10 of them on FleaBay?...The poor souls selling the stuff in the US must be on a bowl of rice a day at those prices!!!..Having your vehicle serviced with a free wash and detail might cut the mustard with some people but I'm not one of them but I guess someone has to pay for the fancy Renault/Nissan signs and the tea/coffee vending machine in the customer waiting area!....I'm now off in search of a dealership with high integrity, morals and ability!! ;o))
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FollowupID: 772659

Follow Up By: Bopman - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 18:28

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 18:28
On the subject of the anonymous web post Bazooka, I'm not sure why that is, but I'll be joining up as an ExplorerOz member very soon!...It's a great site with some great info and I promise that I won't make a habit of whinging anymore than I have to, even though I am a POM
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FollowupID: 772662

Reply By: Bazooka - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 17:30

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 17:30
Hold on a minute, let me get this right. You're suggesting that a dealer deliberately lied to you about a part availability? Why would anyone do such a thing? Here's a possible explanation for a few of your complaints: (1) the dealer had the spot lamps wired by an auto electrician - quite a common practice. A shoddy effort either way. (2) the dealer checked the online stock numbers for your clips and the software showed zero in stock in WA (quite possible, or alternatively another dealer has some but hasn't updated their inventory); (3) the Ebay price on the fuel filter was incorrect or hadn't been updated so when you pointed it out they immediately corrected it. In any case you can check when the Ebay page was last updated and hold them to that price if it wasn't an obvious misprint. Why anyone buys filters from dealers is beyond me unless they are your only source.

AnswerID: 496923

Follow Up By: Bopman - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 18:14

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 18:14
I'm not suggesting the dealer lied about the clips (2 types)..I'm trying to say that I find it amazing that something as common place as these clips were not stocked!...On a previous occasion I required 2 white plastic clips that clip the panel under the steering column above the footwell as they had left them off after a previous repair!!...They said they'd have to order them from Sydney and would ring me. (I'm still waiting!!)...Fortunately I had a couple, would you believe found under the seat after having an aftermarket cruise control fitted on my earlier 2005 Patrol. (It's nice that people have such high pride in their workmanship, don't you think?)...As for the use of genuine filters, I'm not prepared to take the chance on fitting a non genuine fuel filter on a Common Rail ZD30...On the wife's Hyundai yes, on the Patrol NO!!
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FollowupID: 772661

Follow Up By: Member - Josh - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 20:07

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 20:07
Bopman, you say "They said they'd have to order them from Sydney and would ring me. (I'm still waiting!!)..."
but in in the original post you told them to forget it so why should they ring you
"They gave some b/s story that there were non in WA, said it would take a couple of days to get some in and that they'd be in the region of $6.00 each, so I told 'em to forget it"
I don't see why they would ring you if you told them not to bother??

Josh
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FollowupID: 772665

Follow Up By: Bopman - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 20:32

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 20:32
Sorry Josh!...I should explain that the clips that I am referring to (Regards a phone call) are to a previous time when my Nissan was in at the same dealership to replace a bubbled dashtop 6 months ago (Different clips)...Funnily enough, I saw the service manager yesterday and reminded him..He looked at me blankly as if he had forgotten and then he remembered, but since he was with a customer, I thought I'd do the right thing and not pursue it!!...When you pay big bucks for a vehicle, albeit Nissan, Toyota, Land Rover, etc., the least one should expect is to be viewed as a valued customer!...I will also add that Nissan did do the right thing in replacing the bubbled dash top, not just in my case but for other owners too!!...In some cases outside of the 100,000kms/ 3 year warranty period.
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FollowupID: 772671

Reply By: bazz - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 19:30

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 19:30
I found Nissan parts expensive as well , like 90 dollars for a drivers mirror, my towing mirriors with strap on door type were cheaper.... i've now got to the stage of trying to do all mechanical work myself as i'm sick of being screwed... cheers Barry
AnswerID: 496927

Follow Up By: Shaker - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 20:23

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 20:23
What vehicle? $90.00 sounds cheap!
Not fair to compare genuine parts with strap on after market, most likely Chinese, mirrors.

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FollowupID: 772668

Follow Up By: Bopman - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 20:49

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 20:49
I'm with you Barry!...I don't blame people doing their own servicing as long as they do it safely and responsibly without taking shortcuts...I recently repaired a friends BCM on his VZ Commodore for 120 bucks all up (Common fault)..The dealer wanted over 900 bucks for a new module and 2 keys, plus the labour to install it!!...Mechanics these days have to sit at a PC reading up on microprocessor's, data lines and firmware updates as well as draining oil and changing oil filters!..Great for the man designing it on a computer, but not good for the mere mortals who have to fix it!...Let's face it, if it hasn't got a blue LED somewhere, then it's not technologically advanced!! ;o))
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FollowupID: 772673

Follow Up By: Steve D1 - Friday, Oct 19, 2012 at 07:40

Friday, Oct 19, 2012 at 07:40
G'day Bazz
try owning a new corollla or yaris. $900.00 for a new mirror. Then take into account that a camry one is $120. Effectively the same thing. Now thats a rip off, courtesy of Mr Yota
Steve
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FollowupID: 772689

Follow Up By: Member - Scott M (NSW) - Friday, Oct 19, 2012 at 11:15

Friday, Oct 19, 2012 at 11:15
Was going to say the same thing .... $90 - cheap !!

Try replacing the side mirror on an 80 series GXL..... I reckon the whole door would be cheaper
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FollowupID: 772697

Follow Up By: Grumblebum and the Dragon - Friday, Oct 19, 2012 at 16:34

Friday, Oct 19, 2012 at 16:34
For broken mirrors go to mirrorsforcars.com. provide model and year and they will sell you just the mirror glass and glue plus instructions on how to instal - $50

John
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FollowupID: 772718

Follow Up By: landed eagle - Friday, Oct 19, 2012 at 21:52

Friday, Oct 19, 2012 at 21:52
Or go to your local glazier with a cardboard template and get him to cut one for you. non acid silicone to the existing backing if it still is in the mirror head. done hundreds of them for relieved customers over the last 30+ yrs.
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FollowupID: 772734

Follow Up By: landed eagle - Friday, Oct 19, 2012 at 21:53

Friday, Oct 19, 2012 at 21:53
ps: a lot cheaper than 50 bucks too but cant do wide angle types
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FollowupID: 772735

Reply By: SDG - Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 22:55

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 at 22:55
When I break one, which is easy to do, I just go to the local smash repairer and they give me a couple for free. They got boxes of them suitable for anything that comes in.
AnswerID: 496942

Reply By: lancie49 - Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 09:40

Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 09:40
For anyone who can't understand why a Nissan dealer doesn't have your particular clip in stock, ask yourself how many different design retainer clips are in each model vehicle, and in how many colours ?

No dealer could or should carry them all.
Get it from the distributor when needed.
That's common practice in all other fields, why should the Auto industry be any different ?

If you can't wait a coupla days for a plastic clip there is something wrong.
AnswerID: 497007

Follow Up By: Bopman - Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 11:05

Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 11:05
Just for your information lancie49, the clips are standard on numerous other Nissan models too!!..And I might also add to this further by telling you that I phoned another Nissan parts department at another dealership and they thought it rather strange that I was told that there were non in WA when there clearly was!!!

I'm sure you'd just love to drive around with your interior door panel or quarter panel hanging off for a couple of days whilst using your vehicle on a daily basis just for the sake of a plastic clip or two!!

Maybe you'd be happy at the thought of your NEW car going into the dealer workshop, being pulled apart and reassembled (Minus a clip or two)

But of course, you'd never know, would you?

Maybe you think that close on 6 bucks is a reasonable price to pay per clip?

I don't recall saying that dealers should carry them all, but in this case they didn't and still don't carry the clips that hold the panel above the drivers side foot well (Thats why it's missing from when they removed the panel 6 months ago) and they don't appear to carry the all too common retaining clips for the rear quarter panel either!!!

I could have reassembled it and not put them back as no one but me would know about and that is clearly what happens in the workshop since you can't replace what you don't have!!

Interior panel retaining clips are things that break every day, no matter how careful you are!!

We're looking at something as common as these for goodness sake>> Door clips






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FollowupID: 772752

Follow Up By: lancie49 - Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 11:27

Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 11:27
Fair enough, but just for your information Bopman, I was in Datsun?Nissan spare parts for almost 25yrs.
I have a reasonable understanding of how an Automotive spare parts inventory should operate. Not much differently to any other industry.
If you don't sell it, you don't stock it. If they were a common sale item that dealer would have had it in stock.

Another dealer may well have the clip in stock, but I'm not sure dealers can interact to check stock in other stores these days, perhaps they can. We certainly couldn't when I was doing spares. Yep, we could ring around, but so could the customer.

$6 for a clip expensive ?
Try buying a similar item for your fridge.



But of course, you'd never know, would you?



But of course, you'd never know, would you?
HaHaHaHa
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FollowupID: 772754

Follow Up By: Bopman - Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 13:21

Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 13:21
I used to repair on average 50 - 60 televisions a week and yes I didn't always have a particular integrated circuit or obscure part, but I always carried a good "common all garden" (And still do) stock of resistors, capacitors, diodes, zener diodes to carry out a good and effective repair whenever possible.

If you sell cars and trucks, then at least carry a stock of "common all garden" every day replaceable items, ie. common clips, filters and lubricants.

As for white goods, I've fixed more than my fair share of those too!

And yes, we get ripped off on the price of parts for white goods, because we live in an age where everybody accepts what we're told!....Stories like, "Sorry sir, that part is no longer available".

Maybe in the case of my Nissan...."You have to replace the whole vehicle to get to the clip, it's simply not economical sir!"

I'm sure as hell not going fall out with someone on a forum over the subject of a damned clip/clips!!

I'll drive a further 20kms to another Nissan dealership, who aren't advertising the sale of a common rail diesel filter on FleaBay cheaper than their quote over the phone!

**END OF SUBJECT**


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FollowupID: 772760

Reply By: coonick - Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 12:28

Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 12:28
when I still had my GU i needed a new rubber seal for the air filter box.
A simple request.......
No simple answer though......from nissan....
We dont sell the seal seperately sir !!!!!
You HAVE to buy the whole upper assembly for $ 300 !!!!!!!
$5 for a seal from clarke rubber fixed the requirement .......
AnswerID: 497018

Follow Up By: lancie49 - Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 13:34

Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 13:34
That's a common problem in many areas now coonick.
eg. Tail light lenses are not supplied separate any more, complete assys only.

Similar instances arise in most fields of production parts these days I'm afraid, not only in the motor industry.
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FollowupID: 772761

Follow Up By: Bopman - Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 13:34

Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 at 13:34
Soundz like a good fix and if I keep my Nissan long enough, one I'll remember!! ;0))
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FollowupID: 772762

Reply By: fisho64 - Sunday, Oct 21, 2012 at 10:19

Sunday, Oct 21, 2012 at 10:19
why do you call it fleabay?
AnswerID: 497060

Follow Up By: Bopman - Sunday, Oct 21, 2012 at 11:30

Sunday, Oct 21, 2012 at 11:30
A bit like:>>>
Facebook / Stalkbook, Kronenbourg / A pint of numbers, Marks & Spencer / Marks & Sparks, NatWest / NatWorst, Microsoft / Billysoft,
EasyJet / Squeezy-Jet

Ebay/FleaBay

Am I going to get hauled over the coals for using fleaBay now instead of eBay?

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FollowupID: 772816

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