# The customer complained **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713 "2025-04-02T15:46:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/1 "2025-04-02T15:46:22Z")
… about wind noise, and the dealership mechanic found a solution that eluded the customer. 🤣 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/3/f/3ff9b935989fe6d5a99fd54676a86bede353c121.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/2 "2025-04-02T16:07:06Z")
![IMG_2876](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/f/b/fb0352e2049affe76a02cc702b3ccbc8c07e130d.jpeg) And now ten characters ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/3 "2025-04-02T17:15:28Z")
I’ve done that. I didn’t know a rear window was open and started fiddling with the front windows. When that didn’t work, I messed with the rear windows. When the one that was down was closed, the noise went away. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/4 "2025-04-02T17:52:42Z")
Ohhh, I know us pros could write books on stuff like this.. One of my favorites was a customer heard a noise every time he turned a corner, left or right, but different pitch left or right… Found empty beer bottle under drivers seat, removed bottle, noise gone… 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/5 "2025-04-02T18:17:35Z")
Car I just got had driver window whistle. I finally saw a 12” portion of window seal was folded over. Was at top under drip mold edging. Hard to see. A little silicone spray allowed rubber to reshape. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/6 "2025-04-02T21:03:47Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > Found empty beer bottle under drivers seat, removed bottle, noise gone The guy sitting next to the driver in the drinker’s seat put it there. 😊 ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 12:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/7 "2025-04-03T00:43:41Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > > [@davesmopar](#): > > > > Found empty beer bottle under drivers seat, removed bottle, noise gone > > The guy sitting next to the driver in the drinker’s seat put it there. 😊 He said he wondered were it went… 😆 ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/8 "2025-04-03T03:24:30Z")
Just a few real-life examples I can remember: “Customer states oily fluid leaking from left rear door.” Found open bottle of power steering fluid in left rear door pocket. “Customer states A/C not blowing cold.” Found car not equipped with A/C. “Customer states power windows only work from driver’s door switch.” Found window lock-out switch turned on. “Customer states ignition switch is stuck in start position and engine is making a grinding sound.” Found ignition switch stuck in start and starter grinding from constant engagement. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 3:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/9 "2025-04-03T03:41:15Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > the dealership mechanic found a solution that eluded the customer. OK, now a serious question. What should the customer pay for this service? The screenshot you posted shows 0.00 hours spent. Obviously this is not a service that’s going to be covered by warranty. The customer (presumably) made an appointment, the service department set aside some time to inspect the car, the front counter staff spent time and resources generating a repair order, someone dispatched the work to a tech who then drove the car and determined the source of the noise. To those who say the ticket should be zeroed out and written off as goodwill, you’re right. To those who say the customer used time and resources and should pay for such, you’re also right. Is there a real answer? ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 4:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/10 "2025-04-03T04:37:32Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > OK, now a serious question. What should the customer pay for this service? I’ve gotten some “good will” no-charge services before from a couple of local shops that I’ve done business with. And I truly appreciate that. But I’ve also told them that they should charge me at least something for those good will services. If it only took you 10 mins, great. But go ahead and charge me for 30ish. I get it. I grew up in a small business family. Margins are tight. Time and expertise are valuable. But on the other hand, if it only took someone 10 mins, don’t charge me a standard hour. I’ve also had that happen. So don’t do it for free. But don’t milk it. That’s how I feel about it. Find the “golden mean.” The shop needs to be compensated. But don’t ream me. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 10:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/11 "2025-04-03T10:39:58Z")
Sometimes you just want to charge a customer stupid tax… lol But you don’t… ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/12 "2025-04-03T13:27:50Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > Is there a real answer? Yes. The shop should follow its standard practice for events like this. If they don’t have a policy they will develop one after a while. You probably know that already. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/13 "2025-04-03T13:34:30Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > Is there a real answer? I think the answer is that every case is different. Last year, a friend was cleaning the interior of his Forester, and he apparently activated the _Lane Centering_ feature without realizing it. He called me as he was driving to the Subaru dealership, and said that the steering “felt funky”. If he had come first to my house, I could have resolved it for him without a drive to the dealership, but they didn’t keep him waiting for more than a few minutes at the dealership, and they didn’t charge him anything for de-activating the _Lane Centering_ feature. He didn’t buy the vehicle from that dealership, but because they built-up some good will with him, he will likely buy his next Subaru from them. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/14 "2025-04-03T14:02:52Z")
I’d call that a clear case of Read Your Owners Manual (RYOM)! I think I’d be charging one-time customers a RYOM fee. For regular customers, no charge. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/15 "2025-04-03T15:12:00Z")
[BlondStar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE3q1hLE9gs&ab_channel=mbsclt) ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/16 "2025-04-03T20:37:29Z")
I just bought a convertible. Starting squeaking like crazy over bumps just a few days later. Hmm. Rolled the windows all the way down. No squeak. Went over to auto shop. For a can of silicon spray. Sprayed on rag. Rag on weatherstripping. Squeak gone. Silicon. The wonder body material. Ask Dolly!!! Btw I love her. On the way to and from the shop I saw not one but two! cars with flat tires owners diligently driving slowly with their blinkers on passing up service stations and what not. What could have been a $20 patch job will now be a $200+ tire and wheel replacement. All because they’re too lazy or unsmart to change a tire. I blame Fakebook. That’s these people’s only talent in life. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/17 "2025-04-03T20:51:51Z")
> [@johnlump\_191311](#): > > blinkers on passing up service stations Service stations that still do flat tire work ? I have not seen one of those in years . Ask Dolly ( who is that) ? ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/18 "2025-04-03T22:18:19Z")
In fairness have you read an owners manual recently. Must be written by an engineer and the edited by a lawyer. Dense is a charitable descriptor. Whenever I rent a car I always look at the owners manuals. I’m a car guy. But they’re now what 600 pages? I’ve had two years of auto shop and I have a hard time navigating these wonders. Worse yet the last two rental cars didn’t even print one. Just on the nav screen. Lovely. ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/19 "2025-04-03T22:21:56Z")
If they have a bay they can do a flat tire. At least in my neighborhood there are several. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713/20 "2025-04-03T22:34:01Z")
Where are you that has several full service gas stations ? [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-customer-complained/199713.md?page=2)