Dec 23, 2010 09:44 PM
3558 Views
Before I go ahead with a walk through of my experience, I would like you to answer some questions
1. Was the cost of your service at carnation higher than the cost of your normal service at your earlier service center?
Were some parts found to be faulty? Are you sure they were faulty?
Did you ever get a call asking for a feedback?
If you were offered tea/coffee and you said yes - did you actually get your tea/coffee?
Now for my experience.
It was one fine day that I decided that instead of going to my gm service center, I decided to go to carnation. I could say that it was a bad day because I did not know that I would be duped. So on 20th of November, I took my aveo for service at the Noida sector 63 service station of carnation.
Upon entry I saw that there are not so many cars there. Generally on a saturday or sunday, the service centers are heavily loaded. I thought that it might be better, because I would get better attention. I did not realize that this was due to the fact that most of the prople there are either too rich to care or first-timers like me. My car was taken to the workshop and examined.
They opened the bonet and showed me that the car has hit something due to which the fan is rubbing against some "lamda". I would have to get a body work done. I was like hell. Cant you move the fan or twist the lamda. They told me that that neither can be done without hurthing the car. I was like. ok. You are the one who know more about the car. Upon delivery, I saw that in addition to the body work(pulling the front grill out), they have also moved the fan to the left - what? but they told me that this was not possible. So a simple "moving the fan" cost me 3000/-. I could have definitely avoided the body work.
Another mechanic came hopping around with his "light in mobile" and told me that the drive belt is faulty. It was totally dark and I was unable to see. I thought that he might be having "night eyes" like to owl to be able to see a fault in such a dark place. But then they showed it to me from below and it was really cracked up. I think that was what which gave me the confidence to trust(wrongly) in them.
Another mechanic hopped and told me that the suspention is leaking. The supervisor who was advicing me first told me that the suspention was fine. But then he looked at the mechanic and then back to the suspention and then according to him the suspention was faulty. It was leaking and should be changed. I should have said no. Now the new suspention which they have put in creaks like anything. I am not an expert and I do not know whether they have put in genuine parts or duplicate parts. They charged me around 2000/- for the suspension. I could have saved that.
And eventually the most absurd thing was when the supervisor told me that the disk brake pads were totally rubbed out. I was like - what? How can he see it without touching or opening them? Maybe they have a way which I am not aware of. I was like ok - replace them. They charged me 2000/- something for the brake pads and 500/- something for the labour. Now, by luck I saw them replace the brake pads. First of all they were not even 50% rubbed. And secondly it was a 5 minute job - just removing some screws, changing the brake pads and putting them back. I paid 500/- for this 5 minute labour job. And I am not even sure now whether they are genuine or not.
One another thing that they replaced was a bearing. The supervisor called me and told me that it is faulty and will not last for even 300 kms. I was like - ok change it. When I went to the shop and took the spare - he told me that it is faulty and I could feel the vibrations if I rotate the bearing. I felt nothing. Except for monetary gain, I am not sure why he changed it.
So, I would have gone to my normal gm service center, this service would have costed me 3000(body work)+ 2500(brake pads)+ 2000(suspention)+ 1500(bearing)= 9000/- less. The service which was 14000/- would then be only 5000/-.
Now the question is why did I not feel that something was wrong - all the while they were duping me. The reason being that I am not a mechanic. I do not know what part will run and what will not run. Hell, I am not even aware of the location of all the parts. So, it is easy to dupe me. The second reason was that I wanted to get my car serviced by carnation - at least once experience what they have to say? In fact I should have drove out when they told me that the drive belt was faulty without even looking at it.
So, when did I realize that I have been duped? 1 week after the service, the car was as rough as it was before the service. That was when my doubt was confirmed that the service was not worth it. I had realized that I have been duped of a few parts. But 1 week after when the car was as rough as before, I took a look at all the parts. And then I realized that I have been duped.
What could I do? I sent a mail to j.khattar@carnation.in regarding the fact that I was duped. There was one call where the lady called at around 11 am - and started explaining that the parts that they had changed were supposed to be changed. I told her that I was in a meeting and asked her to call back in 1 hour. I did not get back any calls.
When I get my car serviced at GM, I get a call after a week regarding how the car is performing - or if I am facing any issues. But I never got any such calls from carnation. I believe the business model that Mr. Khatter is following is of duping first-timers. They do not expect the people to return. If by mistake anyone does, he is worth duping again.
This review is intended to prevent people from getting duped by carnation. People at carnation ask you for tea/coffee. But if you say yes, you would never get your tea/coffee. Have you noticed it?
