How dare they do this!!!!

[lark830]

A few weeks ago, I took my car in to have it service by Galpin Ford here in the Los Angeles area. They kept it for almost a week. Got it back, noticed they put a total of 50 miles on it. Asked them why, and they said they were trying to duplicate the problem. I said, "fine, but why aren't those miles documented on in the paperwork? The paperwork here only says you guys drove it 10 miles."

 

They came up with some lame excuse. I was a little upset, but I let it go...

 

Two days ago, I was cleaning out my car, and noticed a business card on the floor. Picked it up, and it was a card from the Los Angeles Shelby American Automotive Club. I was like, "wtf is this?"

There was a handwritten name and number on the card, so I called it. Found out the guy put a brochure, along with his card, on my car at a coffee shop in Santa Monica. He said he remembered it because of the unique color (grabber blue w red stripe). Problem is, he did it WHEN IT WAS AT GALPIN FORD BEING SERVICED!!! Some knucklehead over there, took it upon himself to take my car out and drive it like it was his, and put all of those miles on it! He obviously stopped at this coffee shop, which was spotted by the guy from the shelby club.

 

I friggin' hit the roof and called over there to see who did it. I spoke with the service director, and mentioned how upset I was, and that they should be too, knowing some employee is joyriding in the cars of customers, putting them in a precarious situation, if something happens. Looks like their policy is immediate termination. I personally didn't want that to happen, i wanted them to be written up, but if it happens, it's happens...

 

I can't believe this guy had the balls to do this! Anyone else ever have something happen like that, especially at Galpin? I have NO idea what type of driving this dude did in my car. What should I do?

[theseeker]

This type of event happens more than you know and not only with Ford.

[Torch40]

That sucks. I bet they jumped right up and offered to pay for the gas...

[Burning Blue Star IV]

Sorry to hear about this Lark830. Personally, I would want the person driving your car fired...that's where I'm at in my life. I'm tired of cutting people slack over things like this.

 

I can't believe that happened...but I guess it's always a good idea to write down your mileage before dropping off your car for repairs, etc.

 

I hope you are able to get some type of resolution. I just don't know what you can do.

[EL SHELBY]

I personally would want the joyrider fired, and would consider filing a suit against Galpin. I don't know why but that place rubs me the wrong way and I have never done business with them.

[mustangman66]

A few weeks ago, I took my car in to have it service by Galpin Ford here in the Los Angeles area. They kept it for almost a week. Got it back, noticed they put a total of 50 miles on it. Asked them why, and they said they were trying to duplicate the problem. I said, "fine, but why aren't those miles documented on in the paperwork? The paperwork here only says you guys drove it 10 miles."

 

They came up with some lame excuse. I was a little upset, but I let it go...

 

Two days ago, I was cleaning out my car, and noticed a business card on the floor. Picked it up, and it was a card from the Los Angeles Shelby American Automotive Club. I was like, "wtf is this?"

There was a handwritten name and number on the card, so I called it. Found out the guy put a brochure, along with his card, on my car at a coffee shop in Santa Monica. He said he remembered it because of the unique color (grabber blue w red stripe). Problem is, he did it WHEN IT WAS AT GALPIN FORD BEING SERVICED!!! Some knucklehead over there, took it upon himself to take my car out and drive it like it was his, and put all of those miles on it! He obviously stopped at this coffee shop, which was spotted by the guy from the shelby club.

 

I friggin' hit the roof and called over there to see who did it. I spoke with the service director, and mentioned how upset I was, and that they should be too, knowing some employee is joyriding in the cars of customers, putting them in a precarious situation, if something happens. Looks like their policy is immediate termination. I personally didn't want that to happen, i wanted them to be written up, but if it happens, it's happens...

 

I can't believe this guy had the balls to do this! Anyone else ever have something happen like that, especially at Galpin? I have NO idea what type of driving this dude did in my car. What should I do?

 

 

 

I had a similar issue a few years ago when I brought my car in to the dealer when it was brand new for an oil leak. I picked up the car and noticed it had around 40 miles on it and the problem wasn't even fixed. I asked about the miles and they said they can drive a customer car up to 50 miles without their permission. The car seemed fine but I did notice the average MPG was around 11 when I picked it up. I reluctantly took it back to have the oil leak fixed and instructed them no miles were to be put on it. They fixed the issue and not a single mile was put on it thankfully, which goes to show there was no reason for them to drive the car in the first place. My car hasn't seen a dealer or any other shop since and hopefully never will. There are some good dealers out there but they are few and far between in my experience.

[tpenziner]

A few weeks ago, I took my car in to have it service by Galpin Ford here in the Los Angeles area. They kept it for almost a week. Got it back, noticed they put a total of 50 miles on it. Asked them why, and they said they were trying to duplicate the problem. I said, "fine, but why aren't those miles documented on in the paperwork? The paperwork here only says you guys drove it 10 miles."

 

They came up with some lame excuse. I was a little upset, but I let it go...

 

Two days ago, I was cleaning out my car, and noticed a business card on the floor. Picked it up, and it was a card from the Los Angeles Shelby American Automotive Club. I was like, "wtf is this?"

There was a handwritten name and number on the card, so I called it. Found out the guy put a brochure, along with his card, on my car at a coffee shop in Santa Monica. He said he remembered it because of the unique color (grabber blue w red stripe). Problem is, he did it WHEN IT WAS AT GALPIN FORD BEING SERVICED!!! Some knucklehead over there, took it upon himself to take my car out and drive it like it was his, and put all of those miles on it! He obviously stopped at this coffee shop, which was spotted by the guy from the shelby club.

 

I friggin' hit the roof and called over there to see who did it. I spoke with the service director, and mentioned how upset I was, and that they should be too, knowing some employee is joyriding in the cars of customers, putting them in a precarious situation, if something happens. Looks like their policy is immediate termination. I personally didn't want that to happen, i wanted them to be written up, but if it happens, it's happens...

 

I can't believe this guy had the balls to do this! Anyone else ever have something happen like that, especially at Galpin? I have NO idea what type of driving this dude did in my car. What should I do?

 

Pisses me off just readind this... sorry this happend. I would be down at the dealer in person making their life miserable and calling the Ford Corp. office to get them involved. I would stop at nothing to get that guy fired!

 

Quick story... I bought a new 2005 Audi Allroad "$48k station wagon" a few years back, the tire sensor light kept coming on, so after mult. attempts to fix it, each time I took the car back to the dealer, the light would re-appear.

 

The last time they had my car if was for 4 days, I decided to go to the dealer prior to opening and wait to see what was being done to my car. Lone behold, one of the mechanics pulled up in my car smoking a F* cigarette! I walked up to the guy and got right in his face and basically said WTF are you doing smoking in my car! I grabbed my keys and went into the Audi dealership and FLIPPED out!

 

To make a long story short, the asshole got cigarette burns in my carpet and on the rear leather seats, I also found toll receipts from MA to NH "he put 250 miles on my car taking it home every night".

 

At this point, I was livered! After getting Audi involved at a high level, they gave me a brand new Audi Avant A6 wagon "$64k car" for the price of what I paid for my Allroad since there were no more in the country "last year they were made". As for the guys that drove my car, never saw him again. True story.... (Dealer was IRA Audi)

 

In the end, I made out OK... I ended up trading the car in 2 month later when another service light came on, I'll never own a Audi again!

[DDT]

I am surprised...............Galpin Service was First Rate with my car................

[DaFreak]

Jeeze, I'd be so pissed!

 

Another reason to use the SCT X3 user programmable settings to max the RPMs at 3500 and Speed to 40.

 

DaFreak

[BigDan]

Ok, your the 2nd person to suggest this for taking it in for service work. How in the world do I explain the 3500 redline when I go in to get warranty work?

 

"Oh I bought and installed this aftermarket performance tuner so your tech's wont abuse my car" "Please dont void my warranty because of it"

[lark830]

Sorry to hear about this Lark830. Personally, I would want the person driving your car fired...that's where I'm at in my life. I'm tired of cutting people slack over things like this.

 

I can't believe that happened...but I guess it's always a good idea to write down your mileage before dropping off your car for repairs, etc.

 

I hope you are able to get some type of resolution. I just don't know what you can do.

 

 

 

 

That's EXACTLY how i knew they drove my car a total of 50 miles! I DID write down the mileage!! when i picked up the car, the paperwork said it was only driven ten miles. i got in the car, looked at the mileage i wrote down before dropping it off, then called galpin and got in their ass. that's when the guy gave me the, "we drove it to duplicate the problem" line. i asked him why the proper miles driven by them to find the problem wasn't documented on the paperwork, and he gave me a lame answer. it was so stupid, i forgot it.

 

anyway, i'm in the middle. i want them disciplined, but not fired, one minute.... then, fired the next. because of the economy, i know a lot of people are going through some tough times... i don't want to take the food off of someone's table for something like this... now, if i found out they beat the shit out of it, i would probably feel different. i just don't wanna think about it honestly, because i could do that til the cows come home.

[Burning Blue Star IV]

I don't know why but that place rubs me the wrong way and I have never done business with them.

 

I remember reading about that dealership elsewhere..the reviews weren't favorable...but I'm sure there are people that love it.

 

It's also the Shelby King in terms of volume of cars per year. They just get a ridiculous amount of GT500's...you would think that would indicate a certain level of professionalism and high level of service.

[Ezareth]

That's EXACTLY how i knew they drove my car a total of 50 miles! I DID write down the mileage!! when i picked up the car, the paperwork said it was only driven ten miles. i got in the car, looked at the mileage i wrote down before dropping it off, then called galpin and got in their ass. that's when the guy gave me the, "we drove it to duplicate the problem" line. i asked him why the proper miles driven by them to find the problem wasn't documented on the paperwork, and he gave me a lame answer. it was so stupid, i forgot it.

 

anyway, i'm in the middle. i want them disciplined, but not fired, one minute.... then, fired the next. because of the economy, i know a lot of people are going through some tough times... i don't want to take the food off of someone's table for something like this... now, if i found out they beat the shit out of it, i would probably feel different. i just don't wanna think about it honestly, because i could do that til the cows come home.

 

I'd want them fired, no question about it. The guy took your car out to a coffee shop! What if someone opened the door into it? You think they'd be taking responsibility? Who knows what else he was doing but there is no way I'd let them off the hook for that.

 

Man I thought mine was bad for having 12 miles put on it when they replaced the thermostat....

[DaFreak]

Ok, your the 2nd person to suggest this for taking it in for service work. How in the world do I explain the 3500 redline when I go in to get warranty work?

 

"Oh I bought and installed this aftermarket performance tuner so your tech's wont abuse my car" "Please dont void my warranty because of it"

 

I'd just tell them I've modified the stock tune with a RPM and Speed limit. If they balk, I'd roll.

 

DaFreak.

[EL SHELBY]

That's EXACTLY how i knew they drove my car a total of 50 miles! I DID write down the mileage!! when i picked up the car, the paperwork said it was only driven ten miles. i got in the car, looked at the mileage i wrote down before dropping it off, then called galpin and got in their ass. that's when the guy gave me the, "we drove it to duplicate the problem" line. i asked him why the proper miles driven by them to find the problem wasn't documented on the paperwork, and he gave me a lame answer. it was so stupid, i forgot it.

 

anyway, i'm in the middle. i want them disciplined, but not fired, one minute.... then, fired the next. because of the economy, i know a lot of people are going through some tough times... i don't want to take the food off of someone's table for something like this... now, if i found out they beat the shit out of it, i would probably feel different. i just don't wanna think about it honestly, because i could do that til the cows come home.

 

I wouldn't worry about this person and where they pull their income. There are a lot of well deserving people out there that would appriceate that job and wouldn't abuse it as this individual did. For all you know, this is that one person every cannot stand because they dont pull their weight and take hour long coffee breaks. You did all the individuals who work hard a favor.

[QuickSilverShelby]

BURN THE WITCH!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yeah, I'd get him fired as well. This type of lack of respect needs appropriate action.

 

QSS

[Fontech]

A few weeks ago, I took my car in to have it service by Galpin Ford here in the Los Angeles area. They kept it for almost a week. Got it back, noticed they put a total of 50 miles on it. Asked them why, and they said they were trying to duplicate the problem. I said, "fine, but why aren't those miles documented on in the paperwork? The paperwork here only says you guys drove it 10 miles."

 

They came up with some lame excuse. I was a little upset, but I let it go...

 

Two days ago, I was cleaning out my car, and noticed a business card on the floor. Picked it up, and it was a card from the Los Angeles Shelby American Automotive Club. I was like, "wtf is this?"

There was a handwritten name and number on the card, so I called it. Found out the guy put a brochure, along with his card, on my car at a coffee shop in Santa Monica. He said he remembered it because of the unique color (grabber blue w red stripe). Problem is, he did it WHEN IT WAS AT GALPIN FORD BEING SERVICED!!! Some knucklehead over there, took it upon himself to take my car out and drive it like it was his, and put all of those miles on it! He obviously stopped at this coffee shop, which was spotted by the guy from the shelby club.

 

I friggin' hit the roof and called over there to see who did it. I spoke with the service director, and mentioned how upset I was, and that they should be too, knowing some employee is joyriding in the cars of customers, putting them in a precarious situation, if something happens. Looks like their policy is immediate termination. I personally didn't want that to happen, i wanted them to be written up, but if it happens, it's happens...

 

I can't believe this guy had the balls to do this! Anyone else ever have something happen like that, especially at Galpin? I have NO idea what type of driving this dude did in my car. What should I do?

 

Back in December 2006 on a Saturday, I had Galpin Auto Service (GAS) install my lightbar on my stang. Which by the way is 1 ½ hours away from my home. After they said the job was done I started back home. The radio did not work. So back to GAS I went. Come to find out they forgot to hook up my radio.

 

Now it is Sunday morning and I am leaving for the John Force Holiday Car Show. My heater is not working. I had to drive to the car show, in December without a heater.

 

Went back to GAS and they forgot to hookup the hasp for the Heater/AC. I asked both Steve’s if they can compensate for the inconvenient. The answer was NO!!

 

The on a 140 Mustang cruise from Irvine to Temecula my radio, top and windows stop working. Come to find out the fuse on the inside, on the passenger side had fried. I replaced the fuse and the everything was OK. That is what I thought. That damn fuse keep on burning up. I finely had to pay someone else to correct this issue. GAS used speaker wire for my lightbar and had the ground incorrectly done. This was done in August 2008.

 

I would NEVER take my stang to GAS again.

 

 

 

Tom

[kpevin]

It was probably the service manager that took it for lunch

[tispco]

Sorry to hear about this Lark830. Personally, I would want the person driving your car fired...that's where I'm at in my life. I'm tired of cutting people slack over things like this.

 

 

+1. The guy had no right and there are plenty of deserving people out there who need a job. Glad to hear there was no damage. A guy in this area had his Lamborghini replaced by the dealer when the mechanics took it out for a joy ride and totaled it. IMO, If you have an interesting car, some idiot is going to find it too difficult to resist.

[Ash1977]

I would want the guy fired. If I saw someone joyriding in my car, I would go crazy. I did have a dealership issue once that I had to get the owner involved. I had my oil changed at my local dealer and had to wait 2 hours for it to get done. When I picked my car up, it had a booger on the drivers side door. I was so upset that I went in to talk to the service manager. He didn't offer to do anything, so I had to email the owner. They offered to detail it, but I turned them down.

 

 

Mark

[jd2010shelby]

A few weeks ago, I took my car in to have it service by Galpin Ford here in the Los Angeles area. They kept it for almost a week. Got it back, noticed they put a total of 50 miles on it. Asked them why, and they said they were trying to duplicate the problem. I said, "fine, but why aren't those miles documented on in the paperwork? The paperwork here only says you guys drove it 10 miles."

 

They came up with some lame excuse. I was a little upset, but I let it go...

 

Two days ago, I was cleaning out my car, and noticed a business card on the floor. Picked it up, and it was a card from the Los Angeles Shelby American Automotive Club. I was like, "wtf is this?"

There was a handwritten name and number on the card, so I called it. Found out the guy put a brochure, along with his card, on my car at a coffee shop in Santa Monica. He said he remembered it because of the unique color (grabber blue w red stripe). Problem is, he did it WHEN IT WAS AT GALPIN FORD BEING SERVICED!!! Some knucklehead over there, took it upon himself to take my car out and drive it like it was his, and put all of those miles on it! He obviously stopped at this coffee shop, which was spotted by the guy from the shelby club.

 

I friggin' hit the roof and called over there to see who did it. I spoke with the service director, and mentioned how upset I was, and that they should be too, knowing some employee is joyriding in the cars of customers, putting them in a precarious situation, if something happens. Looks like their policy is immediate termination. I personally didn't want that to happen, i wanted them to be written up, but if it happens, it's happens...

 

I can't believe this guy had the balls to do this! Anyone else ever have something happen like that, especially at Galpin? I have NO idea what type of driving this dude did in my car. What should I do?

 

 

 

Simple, turn them in to B.A.R. Bureau Automotive Repair . They will get in trouble for having the miles in and out wrong. And I bet you are not the only one. Then you can also file a complaint with CA DMV. They dont want them pissed. And I would also call Burt (owner) or his son. They would want to know this is going on.

[39Mustang]

A few weeks ago, I took my car in to have it service by Galpin Ford here in the Los Angeles area. They kept it for almost a week. Got it back, noticed they put a total of 50 miles on it. Asked them why, and they said they were trying to duplicate the problem. I said, "fine, but why aren't those miles documented on in the paperwork? The paperwork here only says you guys drove it 10 miles."

 

They came up with some lame excuse. I was a little upset, but I let it go...

 

Two days ago, I was cleaning out my car, and noticed a business card on the floor. Picked it up, and it was a card from the Los Angeles Shelby American Automotive Club. I was like, "wtf is this?"

There was a handwritten name and number on the card, so I called it. Found out the guy put a brochure, along with his card, on my car at a coffee shop in Santa Monica. He said he remembered it because of the unique color (grabber blue w red stripe). Problem is, he did it WHEN IT WAS AT GALPIN FORD BEING SERVICED!!! Some knucklehead over there, took it upon himself to take my car out and drive it like it was his, and put all of those miles on it! He obviously stopped at this coffee shop, which was spotted by the guy from the shelby club.

 

I friggin' hit the roof and called over there to see who did it. I spoke with the service director, and mentioned how upset I was, and that they should be too, knowing some employee is joyriding in the cars of customers, putting them in a precarious situation, if something happens. Looks like their policy is immediate termination. I personally didn't want that to happen, i wanted them to be written up, but if it happens, it's happens...

 

I can't believe this guy had the balls to do this! Anyone else ever have something happen like that, especially at Galpin? I have NO idea what type of driving this dude did in my car. What should I do?

 

 

I'd be asking for FREE service for awhile or tell them you will become a pain in their ass! Then I'd go clock the guy who took it for a joy ride!

[Cdvision]

Back in 1985 I took my 1969 428 CJ 4spd car into a local shop for some brake work. I was sitting in a McDonald's a block away from the shop when I noticed my car sitting at the traffic lights. I watched as the light turned green and my tires go up in smoke as the guy "test"driving it lays down about 25 yards of rubber. I almost blew a gasket!!! I ran over to the shop and was flipping out on the manager before my car was even back at the shop. Needless to say the work the shop performed was free. But man was I pissed!! My GT500 will have me in attendance for any service or work that is performed on it.

[KomradAndre]

WHAT?! to santa monica?! damn. thats a joy ride , and i'd be on fire if that happened to my GT500.

 

I know that you want to do the right thing, and the right thing is to have him let go, or if i had my way let go into a room full of hungry [ insert a large, wild and psychotic animal ] ... simply because this person obviously has NO respect for others and is all about getting coffee with a clients car in santa monica.

 

It'd be a great service if this person were no longer there period. who knows how many others were falsely thinking that they only drove it about it for 10 miles when infact it was driven to santa monica for a latte and back?

 

Thanks for your heads up, i was always curious about galpin, and now no more.

I'm infuriated that this happened to you because it could have happened to any of us.

 

hope to see you on the road, it IS quite a striking combo you have there.

[Firekiller]

I don't know maybe I am a little too anal about the car, If I cant stay there and watch them service it then I go elsewhere. Took the GT500 in to have the windows tinted and the manager states that I cannot go to service area with the car because of insurance reasons. I thanked him for his time and walked out the door and then called back and got the name of the person that does the tinting and spoke to him personally. He then came to my house and done the job in MY garage and received a nice tip.

 

I also had my first service done last week and went to the dealership and again stated my concernes about leaving the car and they let me stay with the car the whole time it was being worked on and even drove it out of garage. Very nice people there.

 

All this because when I was a teenager I worked for a place that done valet parking and got to see how vehicles got treated ( not by me, I have too much respect for others property) when the owner wasnt around.

[steve-o-500]

I would be upset too. Our cars are not just your average, everyday cars. Even if it was, that doesn't give them the right to take it out like that.

 

I understand tuning your car down to the rev limiter and such but didn't Ford do that with the mykey function? I believe you can do that yourself. I have to read the manual but I think that is an option.

[BlwnSn8k]

My friend with a Black w/ Silver 2007 GT500 had this happen at the local dealership, which happens to be the one where I purchased my car. I just had it in 3 weeks ago for its first 5K mile service, which is just oil change and rotation. I told the service manager that the car would not leave my sight. He fought with me at first, but after some pretty strong talk from me and some conversation from the owner, he folded. I told the service manager it was nothing personal, but that I do not trust his people or his ability to control his people to not take my car on a joy ride. I was already upset when I took delivery of the car back in early March, since they drove it 150 miles from another dealership instead of trucking it. I don't think they want to have another incident with me again...lol.

[kryptonite]

Sorry to hear about your issue. I can't help but think about the movie "Ferris Buehler's day off" and the Ferrari scene at the parking deck. The service guy should be fired. Unexcusable behavior, especially taking your car to grab a latte. I am sure this is happening a lot more than we car owners really know about.

[sportscars]

Just my $.02 here, but:

 

While I'd be pissed that some guy drove my car that much also, I find it sad how many people want this guy to loose his job. Maybe the guy was asked by his boss to bring back a cup of coffee. Maybe he had serious stomach cramps during the test drive. Better to stop in a Starbucks than to crap in the car. You immediately jump to the assumption that he was just jerking around with the car. Now maybe he was, but isn't it better to wait for the facts first? The OP never stated what the reason for taking the car in was. I don't know if they needed to drive the car 50 miles to duplicate the problem or not. I think there is a lot of information we don't know here. Some of you want a guy fired for stoping at a coffee shop while driving a customer's car. Not for spilling coffee in it. Not for damaging it. Not for racing it. For putting MILES on it. MILES. Were they unneeded? Probably. Did it hurt anything? Is the value of the car less now? I think not.

 

I will agree that if this person is doing this repetedly then he needs to be gone, but there is too much missing info here to jump to such a harsh judgement IMO. I guess I'm more in the camp of second chances. I know I screw up enough that without second chances I'd be living in a box under a bridge.

 

In the end, its just a giant piece of metal that can fairly easily be replaced. It's a CAR, not your daughter or your wife.

[Larry T]

Sorry to hear about your issue. I can't help but think about the movie "Ferris Buehler's day off" and the Ferrari scene at the parking deck. The service guy should be fired. Unexcusable behavior, especially taking your car to grab a latte. I am sure this is happening a lot more than we car owners really know about.

 

 

 

 

I agree get some action or threaten to sue, just because damage cannot be seen does nto mean it didn't happen. It's simple don't be let yourself be trated like a chump...period!!!!

 

Who ever it was had a choice, they chose and must now live with the consequences!!!