Radio Code charge!

[Auslandau]

Been a faithfull customer to Freeway Ford for years now, even sung there praises on here with their service dept but totally annoyed this morning when I rang to ask for the radio code ......

I know its such a small thing but have done this before but was told by the service dept that they need to see the car and that will be $20.00!

I have never been charged for this before, proceeded to tell them I have bought 3 brand new cars from them over the past 3 years plus a second hand BA plus had them serviced there, thye have all my documents and know such and such & such and such (who unfortunatley were not working this morning) ...... which he promptly interupted and said, "Excuse me, doesnt matter what you have bought, we charge all our customers this...... " In other words .... don't give a crap.

I know it is SUCH a petty small thing, but was just dumb founded.

Anyone else been charged for this or am I just being stupid about it? $20.00 for them to look in the computer!!!!!! I would have spent nearly $150,000 with them over 4 years ..... for $20.00 they can stick it

Amazing how small things can get to you ....... bit of a rant but just want to know if this is a standard fee before I speak to the DP on Monday.



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[cs123]

I reckon the DP would be interested to know how they treat valued customers. I'd send him an email

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by cs123

I reckon the DP would be interested to know how they treat valued customers. I'd send him an email

Not an email... when you want to get your point across, I would be typing the letter, explaining in detail what you have said here etc.

Walk in, and HAND it to the DP....

You spoke to a robot who read off a script it seems...

Oh, and yes it is a standard fee (I was quoted the same) but If I was a valued customer pumping many tens of thousands of dollars towards a business like you have they should have really just forgotten about the fee.

[UU TS50]

i would be very annoyed at that too
i think site sponsor ASL can help you out with the code?

[Auslandau]

Just thought I would go through the glovebox again and found a piece of paper with "Changed CD Warranty" with the pin number on it



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[Full Noise]

This is absolute BS. Not only would I be handing a hand written letter to the DP, I’d be sending one to Ford’s head office as well.

If these people are stupid enough to treat a valued customer like this, they don’t deserve you as a customer, simple as that.

Ten years ago, I changed a blend door motor in my NL Fairlane and when I’d finished, the air bag light would flash. I knew if would be a simple task of plugging in to it and was prepared to pay if it was a reasonable amount to have it reset.

I rang a few Ford dealers just to get an idea of what it would cost. The dealers I rang were in Footscray, the city, Elsternwick and Doncaster. The prices to have it reset ranged from $55 to $160. Bloody thieves. I then rang New Oak Ford’s workshop in Caulfield (where I got the part from) and explained to Frank what the air bag light was doing. He said, “just bring it down and we’ll reset it for you” so I took it down there and they reset it for nothing.

Since then, I’ve purchased an AU, a new GT-P and a good deal of my parts from them.

[nugget378]

Had this with a hilux once, went into the toyota dealership as they wouldnt do it over the phone for obvious reasons, they told me straight out it was some of the numbers on the vin reversed, no fuss at all.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by nugget378

Had this with a hilux once, went into the toyota dealership as they wouldnt do it over the phone for obvious reasons, they told me straight out it was some of the numbers on the vin reversed, no fuss at all.

I bet they didn’t try to charge $20 to tell you that.

[fordOwner]

Yep I was charged $10 once.
I asked for the code number and he looked baffled so he went into the office behind the desk to ask his boss, i could see them through the partition windoow and they both looked at me and they smiled.
He came back and says "Yeh we can supply the code but it will cost you $10"

I think the price changes per customer assistant. And this was a few years ago -when you could get a bit more down at the lunch bar for $10.

[Lane351]

I got my code from Ford few days actually I emailed my details and got a txt to my mobile with the code free of charge

[MO]

Auslandau,now that you've found the code...don't LOSE it!!!

[fordOwner]

I know a girl that just rang up the dealer and he gave it to her over the phone.
Thats just as dodgy as putting an RAC tag on your car keys with your registration plate number on it.

[chrisfpv]

I thought all Ford Dealerships charged for the radio code?

My local Ford Dealership has a sign in the Spare parts department that says something along the lines of "Radio Codes - $20".

[au2000]

I've Had It A Couple Of Times From Bayford Without Charge, I Even Needed To Pull Out The Radio Once & Was Stuck With The Security Bolt, They Came Out & Undid It For Me No Issues.

[FordFalconBF]

My wife needed her radio code for you Ford Fiesta... she needed to go down there (Wayne Phillis Ford) and they never charged her for the code.. I would tell them to fo. What 30 seconds of their time cost $20... po..

[MO]

Originally Posted by au2000

I've Had It A Couple Of Times From Bayford Without Charge, I Even Needed To Pull Out The Radio Once & Was Stuck With The Security Bolt, They Came Out & Undid It For Me No Issues.

No need for capitals on every word makes it hard to read!!

[Auslandau]

Radio back on so happy again ...... and no MO, won't loose it!

Remembered I went to Knox Ford ages ago, drove in and they did it for nothing. THe bloke even came out and pushed the buttons for me on another car.

It shouldnt be an issue if you had spent $1.00 or a million .... you are driving a FORD and every person is a potential customers. Do the right thing and people remember. Do the wrong thing (or what just seems like a rip) and people will tell everyone.

Why have codes in these anyway .... is not as if someone is going to steal a stock radio. And another point is .... FORD put these codes on ...... so they can make pocket money in the future?

Pocket money? Works out at $4800.00 per hour in labour charges ..... my maths is probably wrong but based on 15 seconds work.



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[Rodp]

I'm almost certain I was charged $75 for a radio code for my EF. I wasn't happy about it but accepted it and I wasn't a repeat customer. Had I purchased a number of vehicles from a single dealership and only ever had them serviced from there, it would be a different story - they wouldn't see a single cent from me ever again.

I've blackballed a number of businesses that have done something petty to me that I was loyal to. Last dealership related one was to be forwarded my details for a fine of going through a tollgate without paying while in their loan car - a car that I picked up 3 hours after it had allegedly gone through the gate without payment. Wasted ~6 hours trying to get that squashed when a simple and courteous phone call to me would have cleared it up. Ultimately cost them ~$3000 worth of servicing and absolutely zero chance of a return sale.

[Mr Hardware]

I woulda told em to get stuffed
byrne ford chermside charge $0
that's the one and only charge that should ever be asked for for radio codes

[Peter B - CV8]

Time = money. If I was running a business, I would charge as well (and really $20- isn't a huge amount). Lets face it, when you buy a new car, you get given the radio code. It's not too hard to keep it somewhere safe. Otherwise you go back to the dealer & have them use their staff & computer resources for what - nothing !!!
Even if you buy a used vehicle from a dealer - you should always check to make sure you have the appropriate code etc (& spare key) - before taking delivery.
Glad you eventually found your code - but maybe you should have looked a bit harder in the first place though..........

[Lane351]

Originally Posted by Peter B - CV8

Time = money. If I was running a business, I would charge as well (and really $20- isn't a huge amount). Lets face it, when you buy a new car, you get given the radio code. It's not too hard to keep it somewhere safe. Otherwise you go back to the dealer & have them use their staff & computer resources for what - nothing !!!
Even if you buy a used vehicle from a dealer - you should always check to make sure you have the appropriate code etc (& spare key) - before taking delivery.
Glad you eventually found your code - but maybe you should have looked a bit harder in the first place though..........

Well you lost me as a customer

[Magna]

a couple of years ago i got 3 radios from the wreckers and wrote down the vin numbers and went to New Oak Ford. couple of minutes later they hand me a card with all 3 codes free of charge!

i've bought 2 cars from them since.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Lane351

Well you lost me as a customer

So he has lost a customer who does not want to pay for service. I suspect he can live with that.

And lets be real about it, when the majority of people go out to buy a new car they will buy it where it is cheapest or at least shop around to use another dealer's price as leverage against their preferred dealer.

It is an Australian tradition for emotion and principles evaporate when dollar$ are involved.

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by Lane351

Well you lost me as a customer

Me too ...... No problems for charging for work done. I own my own business and if I charged for these type of petty instances ....... things that the customer has no control over ...... I would be out of work very quick and wouldnt have repeat customers.

Another point being ...... no, if I am not mistaken ...... but codes are not supplied with a new vehicle. What would be the point of having them in the manual? Sort of defeats the purpose. Yes I should have looked harder for that little piece of paper jammed into the glove box with all the other junk.

So, either you pay the $20.00 or you have to have your car serviced at FORD.

Originally Posted by flappist

So he has lost a customer who does not want to pay for service. I suspect he can live with that.

And lets be real about it, when the majority of people go out to buy a new car they will buy it where it is cheapest or at least shop around to use another dealer's price as leverage against their preferred dealer.

It is an Australian tradition for emotion and principles evaporate when dollar$ are involved.

Yep .... thats the attitude they had ..... "Lost another customer ..... I can live with that" Seems to be the way it works then. Wish I could be like that to my customers ...... make life so easy!

In all seriousness though .... it is just such a petty thing ...... but got treated and spoken to like crap. Won't give them the chance to quote ...... plenty of others out there. Always gave them the last bite of the pricing merry go round .......... petty little things but we all have choices.



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[barra265t]

Couple of years back, got a Ford LTD Premium Sound kit off ebay, but the stooge who sold it decided he didnt have time to give me the lousy 4 digit code or the VIN number the car came out of. After being refused to be given the code and being told it'd cost me 50 bux at a certain Ford dealer, I decided to go elsewhere. Anyways a lightbulb turned on in me head on the way out and decided to scribble a random 4 digit code on the back of the dealership's business card. Rocked up at another dealer (City Ford), went to the counter and said that I've got a flat battery in me car and the code from the dealer where I got the car doesnt work. Handed the head unit over the lady at the counter and off she goes, and 5 mins later, voila, the correct 4 digit code. No charge.

[galaxy xr8]

What ever happened to the saying, "look after those that look after you" ?.
That would be my business philosophy.

[Peuty]

So the basic gist of all this is that you went to a place of business and expected to be provided with a certain service for free?

Fairs fair I think.

Also, I wouldn't bother writing that letter to Ford, it's the dealerships discretion, they won't care.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by Peter B - CV8

Time = money. If I was running a business, I would charge as well (and really $20- isn't a huge amount).

Good will = more money.

Plenty of other dealers that would be more than happy with my patronage, your best customers are your repeat customers and under your business model, I'd suggest you'd have problems keeping a healthy amount of repeat customers.

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by Peuty

So the basic gist of all this is that you went to a place of business and expected to be provided with a certain service for free?

Fairs fair I think.

Also, I wouldn't bother writing that letter to Ford, it's the dealerships discretion, they won't care.

No ... not going down that track .... was annoyed about it this morning, still am a little but was never going to write to Ford?

But in what you are saying .... you own the car, you own the radio, you change the battery but will cost you 'whatever' for a code so you can turn your radio back on?

There is a service and there is just plain and simple service ... there is a very big difference.

It took him longer to argue on the phone about it than it would have to push the buttons. Its petty for them to ask, let alone for me to pursue it, but if he asked "Did you buy the car from us ......? OK here is the code then" ... "OH I see you spent $725.00 with us 3 weeks ago ...... OK here is the code then" "OH, I see you have bought 4 cars from us ..... OK here is the code then" What is wrong with that?



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[Whoosha]

Changing of the guard down there Dave, we have had 4 new cars threw them over the years as well as bits for the break every thing king . and have moved on to Nutters at Berwick for the last 2 years now and have found them great in all regards to service, purchase, or just general info on parts , some of the old staff is there as well, call me next time and I will hook you up :thebirds: