Every time my S550 has been to a Ford shop, or elsewhere for work, I always take pics of the car on their lot capturing their Dealer signage in background which time stamps/dates it for the “before”. I also take pics of each angle of the exterior, rims, and a couple shots of the interior (interior because I have Ceramic Leather seats). This way the car is documented how I left it with them.Other than the dash cam being disconnected, are there tells the vehicle was abused in some way?
Ultimately, it comes down to trust, in the dealer and their team.
Dash cams are bittersweet. I can appreciate leaving the unit in-place. But at the same time, I don't want to be filmed. IDK where those images are going, how they are kept and what someone is doing with them. I get it. There are bad techs out there. If the sense is things are so bad I have to film the work to begin with, I shouldn't be using that place. YMMV.
While I can do general maintenance myself, extensive repairs or maintenance is done at the dealer. When considering a drop-off, I arrive at the dealer, discuss the situation and look to schedule a date/time that works for both of us. I avoid Mondays or Fridays and try to find periods when their schedule is slackest. I realize this isn't possible with everyone. I do feel it helps, versus arriving at the "pile" on Monday AM, unannounced.
For any vehicle, I always arrive with it clean, inside and out. Filming the car, with video or photos, and documenting any blemishes at hand-off, is a way of showing the Service Advisor you expect the car to be treated a certain way. Ask them to review the car and document any scratches or imperfections on the ticket as you're presenting the car to them.
How the car is parked. How the seat might be changed. Scratches on finishes. Greasy foot prints or handprints are other tells, that, while they might/might not have abused the car, they didn't respect it.
Checking mileage. That should be on the service ticket. The car might be driven for a field check. A few miles, OK. Seeing 10+ miles (or whatever someone deems excessive) raises suspicion.
If you've had good work accomplished previously, at close, let anyone know how much you appreciate that with a follow-up, even a letter. A thing of donuts or movie passes. IDK. Doesn't have to be big or grandiose. Customer Service fields are challenging. The occasional subscribers highlighting the good work that was done are often remembered and appreciated when they return.
Sometimes, things change. A dealer you might have relied on before simply might not be as good now. Dealers change. Techs move on. You might not find that out until you have service there.
Your trust in this dealer is zero. Google, BBB reviews and referrals from local car clubs could help identify a new place. A 6G Member in the Dallas or DFW area might recommend a shop or dealer they've had good experiences with.
Good Luck.
I'm surprised it took 10 posts for this statement.
VERY NY/NJ…
