First of all, thanks to everyone who replied! (The following is long.)
I believe I went into “panic” mode after my conversation with Joe, the service manager. Although, if YOU were accused of a federal offense, wouldn’t you panic?
In all fairness, I need to give you guys some background info on this dealership and the way it works. This is a large dealership, at one time rated the 3rd largest Chevy dealership in the U.S. Their service department is somewhat unconventional. They have a General Service Manager and under him are five Service managers. Each service manager has his own complete team of specialized technicians and his own shop building/bay spaces. Each one of these service managers operates independently of each other. So in effect they have five different service shops instead of one large service shop. The idea was that this helps provide more of a “one on one” experience for the customer.
Okay, back to my situation. About thirty minutes after the call from Joe, the service manager, I called up the two salesmen I used and explained the situation to them. FYI, the two salesmen are good friends of mine and have sold many trucks to me, my family, and friends. Anyway, they said that they would immediately talk to the General Service Manager, and if need be, the overall dealership manager, a.k.a., The Owner. Forty-five minutes pass before they called me back.
Here is what the salesmen find out. They went to the General Service Manager and explained the problem. The GSM looks at my file, punches the VIN number into the database, and WAALAA! The truck DID NOT COME WITH A CATALYTIC CONVERTER. This was something that all three already knew, but the GSM printed it out for Joe’s (SM) education. Okay, they present this to Joe (SM) asked him what the problem is. Here is his response: “The owner of the truck called asking if the truck came with a catalytic converter. I told him I didn’t think so, but would look it up for him.”
WTF!!!!!!!
That was a totally different story than what he told me on the phone!
I was then reassured that the GSM believed my story and not Joe’s. Everything was settled and it was okay to pick my truck up.
Now this is funny. When I walked into the common office for the SM’s, I spot Joe and ask him if my truck is ready. He sheepishly says “yes”, then hands my paperwork over to another guy. I then said to Joe, “Well, I was beginning to think you were the Furur Incarnate! Did you get that catalytic converter thing figured out!?!” He immediately ran out the door muttering that he would go fetch the GSM for me. It was quite fun and stress relieving to explain the catalytic converter incident to the rest of the SM’s!!!!
I then had a 30-minute discussion with the GSM. He explained that Joe was a new guy from a different dealership that operated differently. He also hinted that this was not Joe’s first screw-up, but that it was his last! Anyway, I also asked him about the auxiliary fuel filtration question. He said that I could do anything that I wanted with the fuel system from the tank to the OEM filter. This would not void the warranty. However, if I tampered with the fuel system from the OEM filter to the engine, then GM (not the dealership) would void the warranty. This is okay with me, as I planned on installing the Nicktane Cat filter. In conclusion, the GSM gave me his phone number and told me to call him if I ever had anymore trouble with one of the SM’s.
I then spent an hour and half discussing this and BS’ing with the two salesmen (my friends).
I will use their service department again, on the condition that if Joe is still working there he is not to touch my truck. (I seriously doubt he will be there next time!) The dealership already knows the alternative and how close they were to loosing my business!
