I had my car in for and oil change and new tires. Unfortunately, it was hit by another car before I picked it up. The manager told me that another customer had hit my car, and that I'd have to take up the claim with this customer.
I informed him that I wasn't interested in confronting an unknown 3rd party, especially since I hadn't witnessed the accident, and wouldn't be able to make any assertion about what had happened.
I reminded him that by taking possession of my car, his dealership had created a bailment which holds it accountable for damage that occurs.
He insisted that there was nothing that he could do.
Even if the manager is technically correct that his dealership was able to avoid creating a bailment, it's a pretty horrible way to treat a customer. The right response should have been, ""We're sorry that your car was damaged while it was in our care. We'll have a loaner for you while we get your car fixed."" They could have then taken up a claim with the person that hit my car afterwards.
For what it's worth, I have spent about a hundred thousand dollars at this dealership over the past few years.
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