So I don't know if you guys remember my thread titled "Dealer Service turns Mind-Boggling..."

But check this out, they sent me a $200 AMEX credit/debit card for the inconvenience they caused and how they tried to scam me, plus having a recall done!! WOOHOO!!

Anyone else get this?

WOOHOO!!!??? Once again...

 

I got only $100 (100 points) in the mail today. Don't "recalling" bringing in my car for any recall work lately but I'm not complaining.

 

$200 card here. The letter has a lot of stuff about making up for the inconvenience of bringing in the car for a recall, etc., etc., but I wonder if that's really why I got the card. A few months ago I got a dealer service-satisfaction survey from MBUSA after the car was in the shop for two weeks because of a bad wheel-speed sensor. I told them that I had no problems with the dealer's service, but I reamed them (MBUSA) but good because the nearest replacement part was in Germany, resulting in the two-week wait for the repair. My comment that the E500 was my first Benz and probably my last must have stuck a dagger in their corporate heart. Maybe it does pay to be a complaining jerk, alas.

 

Same thing happened to my friend for her SLK55. $100 though, and she doesn't recall the dealer ever screwing up or delaying. Apparently their idea of causing her inconvenience is saying "sorry we have no available times on Tuesday."

 

I received a $200.00 card yesterday. While this was nice to receive and I will gladly use it, this also says huge things about the Mercedes lack of quality and constant repair. This car is starting to remind of the days of Jaguar before FORD started to fix their eletrical nighmares. I love the way the car drives and performs, and the feel is hard to duplicate elsewhere. The down time and the effort to drive to the dealer is getting very old though, and we are seriously looking elsewhere for this replacement.

Randy B

 

And lots of recall work has been done in the three years I've had the car. Love to drive it, but also now somewhat reluctant to take it on long trips. Porsche is looking better and better.

 

If you got it from Princeton Mercedes - frame it.......getting ANYTHING out of that $tealership entitles you to Mayor of Princeton for a day.

 

Same as Randy B., both in the card amount and about the car.

 

Its truely amazing how we all are feeling the same thing. Particularly the part about the ride being hard to duplicate elsewhere... but the fact of the matter is that these cars require far too many trips to the dealer for repair. This is the 1st new car I have bought since I was 21 that "took me off the market for immediately shopping around for my next new car". Its been 2.5 years, and I hadn't started shopping for my next conquest as I usually do within 6 months of taking delivery of a new car. ...But the work, time, inconvenience, and frustration of keeping this thing on the road & out of the shop for the stupedest, easiest to design (for the Japanese) electronic features is repulsive.

All MBUSA can do with the bells & whistles that don't work well is make them not available here on the cars. Deleting things is NOT a solution... that's sweeping things under the rug. But since MBUSA is NOT the manufacturer of the car, but only an authorized distributor of the finished product in this country I don't know how much pressure they can induce on the Germans.

MB is going to be stunned when so many people don't buy the brand again... and the Japanese will start to design a car that "feels German" for a 39 month lease, because they are running out of technology to pack into a car, and will then start to work on the "feel" of the ride.

I thought a Benz was the absolute pinnacle of owning a highly prized car the world over. The ownership experience leaves a tremendous amount to be desired. I can honestly say I'm pretty sure I would not make my next car or 2 a Benz, although I might try again in 12 years depending on the competition at that time.

What can I buy instead? I don't know yet. I'm looking. But I certainly don't want to be tortured like this, keeping the car on the road & working properly again. No matter how nice the guys are at the service department. I just don't want to see them that often.

...and oh yeah. My 7 speed transmission is still a crappy, lumpy shifter... more than just occaisionally.

 

Sounds like it's time for you to put the deposit on the 2007 Lexus LS 460 that you have been dreaming about.

 

According to my dealer, there's around 1000 people in front of me for that (but of course I reckon half of them will drop out).

First and second for the LS600.

 

Sorry to hear all the pain, but that is no excuse to go to Lexus. Make sure you are ready to give up the ride. If and when I leave MB, it would probably be for another German.

 

Using the gift card to buy at a store, a restaurant or a gas station seems like a potential hassle, to judge from the detailed instructions included with the card. My wife and I will probably use the card to buy stuff online, which looks to be easier. MBUSA made our card good for less than a month (as received, not that I'm complaining) but I'm sure we can spend $200 at Amazon.com in the next few weeks. It would be hilarious beyond words if a non-MB car dealer would take the card as part of the down payment on a Mercedes replacement ... but we don't expect to be looking at a replacement until November (no, not the new Lexus LS - the new, downscale, manual-transmission-standard 2007 G35).

 

DWP, yours is only for a month? Mine is a go through 9/8/07...

Our salesman called before this asking about our experience and we told him abot the recent service and that the S450/550 wasn't looking too good and may switch to the Audi A8. Then I get this in the mail...

Little things like this definitely can't make up for the constant repairs and services a Benz suffers through monthly..

 

Affirmative. Our card carries a use-by date of August 8, and we got it yesterday, July 11. So, the mysteries about this MBUSA program now include:

1. How they decided who gets one.
2. How they decided on the amount ($100 vs. $200)
3. How they set the expiration date.

Only MBUSA knows, and I don't think they're telling.

 

This is going out to owners of approximately 154,000 owners of cars involved in the SBC recall. The amount is based on previous ownership experience.
Personally,I think that this is a GREAT move on MB's part to try to let the owners of these cars know that they understand that it is a PITA to have to deal with these issues.
Believe me guys and gals, MB is VERY serious in thier effort to get back to the top of the luxury car market.
Working in a dealership I am witness to all that MB is doing to win back the core customers as well as earning new customers.
Let's hope this results in a product that some of us know Mercedes is very capable of producing.
On a side note I am donating my gift card to the local animal shelter in my neighborhood. I consider it "found" money after all.

 

KYBENZ,

When you refer to "previous ownership experience," are you referring to the number of MBs we fellow brothers-in-pain have owned over the years or the number of trips to the service department on our most recent MB?

 

My understanding is it is based on the current vehicle. I assume that it is based on the visits you have made to the dealer for warranty service. If I get anything more definitive I will post.

 

To further add to the confusion of MB, I received two (2) $200 cards yesterday. I assume one for each of my W211s and they don't expire until something like 8/07.

Add to this the current wacky "Dr. Z" commercials and someone has either found a clue somewhere or completely lost it. Not sure which but from the current list of '07/'08 models I think it might be the clue.

 

I only got $50. I've barely brought the car in for servicing and this is the only mercedes I have owned.

 

I got a $50 card too, good til next Feb. I had no complaints on my last questionaire for a service in January.

 

I just received my $50 gc today. Hmmm a full tank of gas for me! Can't complain!

 

$50 bucks here too. The letter specifically mentioned that it was for the inconvenience to me for having to bring the car in for a recall. Actually this is an expensive campaign for them, but one that gets lost with all the frequent visits to the damn shop.

 

$50 here too. Just received it today. XP 02/07.

 

$50 card yesterday (Friday). I had taken the car in for 2 new tires (and a rattle) Thursday. I had a damaged ball joint replaced under warranty and they did a recall on both front axle carrier bolts. Card couldn't have had anything to do with that service, though. Seems like every time I bring it in for anything, their is some sort of recall repair done...