So my brother and I went to the Barrier car wash and behind us is an SL63. The guy starts revving the motor, and started tailgating us and almost hit us from behind. We didn't think it was the owner because the people that would buy that car wouldn't do that. He pulls up to the employee area car wash and revvs it again. My brother asks him if thats his car, and this is what he said verbatim:

Bro: "Is that your car? I don't think the owner would appreciate you driving his car around like this"

MB guy: "The owner probably drives it like this too"

Me: "The owner can drive it anyway he car; its his car. If he has accident in it, its on him. But if you crash it, what do you think will happen."

Bro: "When you have the money to buy a car like that, then you can do whatever you want with it"

MB guy "Thanks for the advice "

He gets in the car, revvs it again to redline in the car wash again a couple of times. After the wash was done, he floored it out of the car wash and we heard the car going down the street.

We talked to the workers at the car wash area and they said porters drive cars like that all the time. The best part was he wasn't even a porter, he was a greeter.

 

I'd bet they have security cameras. I'd let someone at Barrier know. If they don't seem to care, post that too.

 

That is messed up. I hope that the owner eventually gets wind of this...

EDIT: that little sh*thead should be shot on sight.

 

We told the service manager and asst. manager. I just posted this because a lot of people use Barrier for service, and I just wanted to warn people.

 

With all due respect why dont you mind your own business? What if the porter was the owner? Then what? I'm sure you wouldnt want anyone questioning you like that..Moral of the story mind your own business

 

Really? How does a porter buy a new SL63 when they earn $10. The owner was picking it up from service... It is my business because if I were to take my car for service, I wouldn't want someone to drive it like the way he did.

 

Are you kidding me??? It seemed pretty clear that the driver was not the owner and when confronted it was confirmed that he wasn't. I think that the OP was great for standing up to this punk and outing him.

That place should be out of business if they don't fire that jack*ss. I wouldn't go back in any event.

 

Sounds like a Porter to me. And from the peanut gallery in SoCal too boot.
I would have to ask who asked you? You don't even live here. Let me guess a dealer who drives his customers cars the exact same way or a porter. I just have that feeling.

 

Park Place did the same thing when I had my Elise in there for an oil change I was waiting and heard them gun it on the road. The car was pretty loud and I know they got it up to build enough boost to hear the wastegate dump. Pretty awesome if you ask me.

 

A little reving I'm okay with as long as he isnt bouncing it off the limiter, but to almost hit you in a customers car. Thats just not right in my opinion. I would have skipped talking to him and gone straight to the manager if its something that bothered you.

 

According to the OP, the SL63 almost hit them, owner or not, I think it is very reasonable for the OP to question the driver of the SL63 driving behavior.

 

It is a very difficult situation for owners of company's, car biz or Fire Alarm biz..what ever. The owners work hard to put a good name and company up and it can be ruined in the blik of an eye by a carless employee. Must of the time by a lower level employee and of younger age. After all you cant pay a lot boy $125,000 a year and stay in business...yet you need one to operate the business.

With our new showroom and full servcie dept nearing completion and opening date, I have had to come head on with this issue and make decisions that will do everything to protect a customers car while in my care.

I hope I never see an issue like this posted about our cars in our care..the policy I have put in place will hopefully eliminate this 100%.

First we will not allow ANY test drives what so ever. We will allow sit in it, start it up, get a PPI everything BUT a test drive. IMO, I think if you know what car you want and you find it..you have already searched enough to know that it is the car for you and a test drive will make no difference. I come to this conclusion for the last 6 years of selling multiple cars with never having a test drive done...the cars have been bought and off it goes.

As far as service and detailing..a bit different issue. SInce my new complex is ALL in one, again not a SINGLE car will be alllowed to leave the property. We will have full detail, wash and service right there. NWAS has a full service facility on site with us, 50 feet away in the next building.

I will also of course, since I am in that business as well, have tons of 24 hour full color cameras on all the time. We will also give any customer a temp access code that allows them to access the live video feed anytime they wish onto their computer while theeir car is in for what ever reason..they are welcome to view it day or night and be 100% sure their car is safe and sound and being treated as if it were my own car.

The last thing is service..so we have worked on your car..now a test drive to make sure it is all ok? Again for the most part this has just been a "thought it was always needed falicy dream". For 95% of repairs there is no test drive needed just not necessary. For the rare occasions that a test/shake down drive IS needed after a repair..it will be done this way ONLY in my shop.

The owner will be advised his car is complete. He will be invited to come in and take the test/shake down drive with the tech that worked on his car. This will also allow him seat time as well as one on one time with the tech to go over what was done to the car and to get his/hers final OK and approval that all is good and the work is accepted.

In the rare occasion that the test/shake down drive shows work not correct or need further tunning..the customer will be provided with a discount on the work for having to return till we get it RIGHT! The goal of course is to get it right the FIRST time...

But as with any new venture, there will be fine tunning to any policy, so we will see what shakes out and take all customers advice serious in full reviews of policy on a daily basis.

I am really looking forward to running my shop with a new breath of fresh air to sales and service with the customer at the top of the list and my profit range at the bottom of the list. I have complete 100% faith in keeping the customer at the top..if I do this, then my profits will surely be right behind that.

In my Fire and Security business I have always stressed to my people the old saying

"The customer may not always be right, be they are NEVER wrong"

Should be fun!

 

Roy sounds like you have the right policies in place, I have no doubt this will be a key contributor to your continued success. Best of luck!

 

With all respect, who the hell are you to say that? What if it was your car that they were doing that to?

 

Kudos to the OP for bringing this to our/Barrier's attention. Several of us go there (although I place sticky notes all over my car stating NO CAR WASH PLEASE) for service and I am sure Barrier places top priority on cutomer service. If we all as part of a auto enthusiast forum don't care about such issues who else will. Thank you Mr.guysingh. Don't worry this WAS your business.