Working for dealer, I see both sides!!
:deep breath:
Owner side:
Yes, as a member of this board, we all know that there are a ton of QC issues that have been presented. Hell, We are paying crazy money for a vehicle, so we should not have to worry with these issues!!
Dealer side:
1.) This truck was not built by the dealer, it was built by FCA, most dealers won't want to spend up to 500.00 to run a new vehicle through a vigorous inspection. 2.) We have rules that govern us from upselling warranty work, without a complaint, and creates a massive audit finding, in the event of an audit. 3.) We have a PDI checklist that we follow, this is what FCA pays, minimal flag hours and dollars to do. So thats the checklist that gets done. (Flag techs rightfully shouldn't have to do more and be paid less.)
Believe it or not, a dealerships service department bills the sales department for everything that runs through the shop. It does not matter what it is (even airing up tires on a vehicle that had been setting on the lot on a cold morning or adding washer fluid to a vehicle), it's 2 different entities (service / sales). Worst part is that often the sales department pays full boat for everything, there is NO internal discount pricing and typically it's more then retail pricing to use their own service department.
With that said, I'm an advocate for the service side of things, as thats what I've done for the last 25 years in this business, 15 with FCA. I agree, a sales department should care about about their customers wants, but I'm old school! I believe people make a decision to buy from you based on previous transactions or referrals.
Again, although I advocate for the service side and disagree, But After talking with salesmen / sales managers, they believe that the internet has screwed that up for the sales side. To them, most people value buy. We come to them because they have the better deal, We demand a price, and if it isn't met, we are off to the next, this is the shop of it all, right? So, their logic is thats what you come for, why sink more money into a unit?
With that said, most dealers will do this list for you without question, Just know that they don't HAVE to, I know mine would lol. if your dealer won't take care of this, my suggestion is to either make up complaints that relate to what's on the check list, so that the tech can be payed for his time by FCA, by way of no trouble found labor ops (they do pay this, as long as their is a complaint) or the quicker is to pay the service department to do an external inspection on your vehicle.
When my truck finally shows, you can bet that my tech will be looking it over with a fine tooth comb and even though I work with my guys 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, ill still be paying them for their time.
Lastly, IMO: if you paid an ADM for your truck, the dealer should 100% not mind paying to complete this inspection. If they did, I'd walk away from them so fast and not look back.
I'd also like to add, DONT burn them on the survey, those surveys are the dealers lifeline, when it comes to JD powers and FCA dealer rewards. Infact, sometimes, your one survey can be worth more the them selling 10 vehicles. The biggest Secret ill share with you, Is to use it as a tool of leverage. Rather then burn them, tell them "hey, I'll take this survey with all 10s, if you do this inspection for me" I promise you, that will get you further. Insider info, once a survey is sent in as a burn, it can't be taken back and you've become that guy noone is gonna help in the future haH@@!!
. At some point in the not too distant future (hopefully 
), my dealer in Ohio will do a PDI in my presence prior to me driving from Ohio to CA on one of the best road trip experiences that I can think of. Not because of the the scenery and previously travelled path, but this time in the TRX. Cant wait to fill out that survey!
