The nail gun question made me think about presenting my situation here
and asking y'all whether the compensation was appropriate.
Not WW, but your opinions are appreciated.
Bought a lawn mower last May. Recondition Honda that listed for $529,
now 300. No frame for the grass catcher bag, but didn't care as I
mulch.
Used it 3 times last year (we had a drought, so this is not an
exaggeration). Immediately, it had problems - the drive wheels had a
grinding noise and it ran unevenly ("pulses").
(Short version) - it's been in for repair 2x (once last year, once
this). Last repair made the pulsing worse than before. Took it back
and asked for a replacement. Willing to split the difference (now
it's 500, so I'm shooting for 400) in cost, because of my having to
haul it back and forth several times and their lack of truthfulness in
the "reconditioned" moniker.
Now, I should state that my experience with reconditioned tools is
that they go back to the factory (etc.), the broken stuff is fixed,
and the tool gets a once over to make sure nothing else is
problematic. Better than new.
Apparently HD feels that slapping a little orange paint to indicate
floor models/recons is sufficient "reconditioning". Mower had gas in
it when I got it the first time.
In the end, they just couldn't bring themselves to give me the new one
for $400 (20% off) , but $425 (15%). BTW, they were willing to give
10% without a manager's ok required. $25 isn't a big deal, but less
so for them. Mainly a matter of principal.
So, my question (finally!). Am I being anal here over $25, or should
they have been more accommodating due to the fact that they cost me
over 3 hours time, a few additional trips (gas ain't cheap any more),
and lied about the "reconditioned"?
Thanx
Renata
"Renata" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> So, my question (finally!). Am I being anal here over $25, or should
> they have been more accommodating due to the fact that they cost me
> over 3 hours time, a few additional trips (gas ain't cheap any more),
> and lied about the "reconditioned"?
Suggest you make an itemized list about what all that this has cost you for
time and money. Sounds about a dozens things you can list. Hand it to the
manager and ask him point blank if he really thinks you've been treated
fairly? And don't forget to point out that you're not just asking for money
back, you're still prepared to do business with HD. I'm willing to bet he
will be a little more accommodating.
"Renata" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> (Short version) - it's been in for repair 2x (once last year, once
> this). Last repair made the pulsing worse than before. Took it back
> and asked for a replacement. Willing to split the difference (now
> it's 500, so I'm shooting for 400) in cost, because of my having to
> haul it back and forth several times and their lack of truthfulness in
> the "reconditioned" moniker.
>
> Now, I should state that my experience with reconditioned tools is
> that they go back to the factory (etc.), the broken stuff is fixed,
> and the tool gets a once over to make sure nothing else is
> problematic. Better than new.
>
Unfortunately, the word reconditioned has a new meaning now.
> Apparently HD feels that slapping a little orange paint to indicate
> floor models/recons is sufficient "reconditioning". Mower had gas in
> it when I got it the first time.
>
> In the end, they just couldn't bring themselves to give me the new one
> for $400 (20% off) , but $425 (15%). BTW, they were willing to give
> 10% without a manager's ok required. $25 isn't a big deal, but less
> so for them. Mainly a matter of principal.
>
> So, my question (finally!). Am I being anal here over $25, or should
> they have been more accommodating due to the fact that they cost me
> over 3 hours time, a few additional trips (gas ain't cheap any more),
> and lied about the "reconditioned"?
>
I don't think you're being unreasonable. I'd take the mower back and deal
with the Store Manager. He has the authority to do anything he wants in a
dealing like this. These guys take a lot of crap from unreasonable
customers every day so you may have to prove yourself a bit, in making him
believe you're not just another crank. These guys are really interested in
keeping good customers happy and coming back. Sometimes the hardest part of
the battle is establishing yourself as a good customer and not another one
of those cranks.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On May 19, 5:42 pm, B A R R Y <[email protected]> wrote:
> And it's amazing how far respect, calm, and persuasive facts can go.
You have no idea. Today I took my truck back to Sears. About ten
days ago I had them replace the rear wheel axle seal, and everything
was fine.
While rolling up on Saturday, I noticed a large puddle of oil on the
street under the truck. The same wheel was leaking oil again.
I took it back to Sears that day. Set up a time, and I came over
first thing Monday morning. After the truck had been there for a
couple of hours. Could I come back for a few minutes?
I went back over and they told me I needed a new axle as the seal let
go, the bearings overheated and the scored the axle badly. I had a
long talk with the manager, and we discussed what an "inspection"
entailed; we talked about what missing something like a bad bearing
could do.
I asked him if he thought I should get red in the face, throw a fit,
and demand things. No, he didn't want that. I told him that once
fingers were pointed, things were said, and monetary responsibilities
were assessed things could get really out of hand really quick. He
agreed. So what to do? Settle this with an ugly fight, or just fix
it and work it out? I told him I had my digital camera and was ready
to document everything I saw in the shop including the condition of
the bearings, the scoring of the axle, and certainly the fact that by
his records I only put about 275 miles on the truck before the seal
broke out.
In the end, they replaced the brake pads (again, they were soaked with
oil - again), the replaced the wheel bearings, the seals, and since
there was a lot of gray area about the line of responsibility, they
replaced the axle itself as well. Then they told me they would also
replace the wheel bearings and seal on the other rear axle as well,
and the main seal on the differential.
All at no charge. Not a penny. I paid for the first time, and they
didn't even try to get me for putting new bearings and a seal on the
axle that didn't need it.
When I left, we shook hands and I told him how much I appreciated his
honesty and his sincerity at maintaining good customer relations. Not
to mention his good judgment but his generosity. I honestly didn't
expect for them to pay for everything.
His response? He appreciated the fact that I didn't yell and scream
at him, call him names or threaten him. He told me it was nice to
deal with a customer like ME!
When I was leaving, he said, "hope to see you soon!". We both
laughed.
Robert
"Renata" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Update.
>
> Have another, but based on Leon's comment, may reconsider the whole
> thing and look for another.
> BTW, my favorite dealer/service place that mainly deals with
> commercial folks, sells Hondas. Commercial models only though.
The better Hondas are OHV "Over head valve", NOT the newer OHC, Over head
Cam design. IIRC the commercial mowers have the OHV engines. My 21 year
old Honda has the OHV engine. This may not mean squat with the carb
problems though. I'd talk to the dealer about concerns and see how their
experience has been. My dealer that is heavy into Honda and Snapper has
indicated less "Gasohol" problems with the Briggs and Stratton engines.
On Mon, 19 May 2008 17:54:12 -0500, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"B A R R Y" wrote
>
>> And it's amazing how far respect, calm, and persuasive facts can go.
>
>You left off "persistence" ... I've never known SWMBO to raise her voice,
>and she always has a smile on her face whilst she talks to a "manager", but
>they somehow clearly get the impression that she will not leave until she
>gets what she wants.
RIGHT!
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** http://www.bburke.com/woodworking.html **
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On May 19, 10:29 am, "Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Suggest you make an itemized list about what all that this has cost you for
> time and money. Sounds about a dozens things you can list. Hand it to the
> manager and ask him point blank if he really thinks you've been treated
> fairly? And don't forget to point out that you're not just asking for money
> back, you're still prepared to do business with HD. I'm willing to bet he
> will be a little more accommodating.
That sounds like a plan to me. Some of these managers are so used to
hysterical screaming over nothing that they have developed a pretty
thick skin to be able to deal with their unhappy customers.
I have found that for the most part if I give some of these guys the
opportunity to do the right thing, they will. And the actual store
manager of an HD has some pretty wide latitude to do different things
for you.
But... to be sure I would take a minute an contact their customer
service group and get the ball rolliing to keep a record of your
efforts. Then when you talk to the manager, let him/her know you have
called CS, and that they asked you to call back to let them know the
results of the conversation you were going to have with them.
HD's policy is that they sell their recons as new, with a new
warranty. The product may have blemishes and be missing a part or
two, but that doesn't affect the warranty.
On the other hand, sometimes I have time to screw with stuff like
this, and sometimes I don't, so I guess it depends on where this falls
in your busy day.
Robert
I have had a Honda mower since May 1987, and paid almost $500 for it. It is
the least expensive mower that I have ever owned. It still starts on the
first pull, is on its second spark plug and second air filter. I change the
oil once every year and the oil still looks new after a year of mowing. My
dad bought a Honda in 1989 and in 2005 he traded it in of a new Honda with
all the bells and whistles. He actually got $200 trade in on his old 15
year old model.
HONDA is NOT the mower that it was 15-20 years ago. His new mower has been
in to the shop under warranty and out of warranty probably 4 times for the
same problem. It is on it's 3rd carburetor. The dealer has indicated that
the gasoline needs to be completely run out of the tank every time we use it
because it only gets use 3 or 4 times a month. This was not a problem on
the older models. According to the dealer, mowers have to pass California
emissions. Honda sells the same mower to rest of the country as it does to
CA, so they are finicky.
If I were you I'd try to get all of my money back and buy another brand,
this from a person that probably will die before his Honda does, I'm 53.
AND I would strongly recommend biting the bullet and buying from a lawnmower
dealer, they know what the hell is going on, I think.
"Renata" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
Snip
> (Short version) - it's been in for repair 2x (once last year, once
> this). Last repair made the pulsing worse than before. Took it back
> and asked for a replacement. Willing to split the difference (now
> it's 500, so I'm shooting for 400) in cost, because of my having to
> haul it back and forth several times and their lack of truthfulness in
> the "reconditioned" moniker.
>
> Now, I should state that my experience with reconditioned tools is
> that they go back to the factory (etc.), the broken stuff is fixed,
> and the tool gets a once over to make sure nothing else is
> problematic. Better than new.
>
> Apparently HD feels that slapping a little orange paint to indicate
> floor models/recons is sufficient "reconditioning". Mower had gas in
> it when I got it the first time.
>
> In the end, they just couldn't bring themselves to give me the new one
> for $400 (20% off) , but $425 (15%). BTW, they were willing to give
> 10% without a manager's ok required. $25 isn't a big deal, but less
> so for them. Mainly a matter of principal.
>
> So, my question (finally!). Am I being anal here over $25, or should
> they have been more accommodating due to the fact that they cost me
> over 3 hours time, a few additional trips (gas ain't cheap any more),
> and lied about the "reconditioned"?
>
> Thanx
> Renata
"B A R R Y" wrote
> And it's amazing how far respect, calm, and persuasive facts can go.
You left off "persistence" ... I've never known SWMBO to raise her voice,
and she always has a smile on her face whilst she talks to a "manager", but
they somehow clearly get the impression that she will not leave until she
gets what she wants.
The "Mother of all exchanges": Without even knowing what a modem was, she
once got a full exchange for a three year old modem, that had been hit by
lightening the week before.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 5/14/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)
Update.
But first - THANX to ALL for some very good ideas!
I will be following thru.
I mowed the grass yesterday after work.
Kept noticing the right rear wheel had a real hard getting a grip on
the ground (doing a lot of spinning).
Had a real hard time mowing the hill (main reason for purchase -
minorly wicked hill).
Really, really hard time.
Noticed that back wheels only had 1 spring. Called Honda to see if
they'd changed the design since the price was $30 less than last year.
No, they told me.
Finally realized, the brand new, not recon, not floor model, out of
box, unused *&#@^!!&%!!! MOWER WAS BROKEN!
Hauled it back to HD (again imposing on neighbor to help (weighs
100#)). Without much ado (after I told her drive was broken), the gal
behind the service desk, who'd handled the previous transaction,
simply said, go get another.
Have another, but based on Leon's comment, may reconsider the whole
thing and look for another.
BTW, my favorite dealer/service place that mainly deals with
commercial folks, sells Hondas. Commercial models only though.
Thanx again
Renata
On Mon, 19 May 2008 18:33:01 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Sometimes the hardest part of
>the battle is establishing yourself as a good customer and not another one
>of those cranks.
And it's amazing how far respect, calm, and persuasive facts can go.
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** http://www.bburke.com/woodworking.html **
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