Hello all,

I am not a regular poster on this site. I prefer to do more of my time driving then talking about cars. Let me give you some background information to my problem with Valenti Motors in Watertown, CT. Sorry for the length of the post.

I purchased a Black 2009 Audi TTS Prestige in September of 2009 from Danbury Audi in Danbury, CT. I chose Danbury because of past poor experiences with Valenti and due to a lower cost vehicle. I recently passed 5,000 miles and inquired about my 5,000 mile service. I contacted Danbury Audi and learned that the service takes approximately 2 hours. Given that Danbury Audi is about an hour away, I simply could not find an available time to make it to Danbury Audi for the service. My only available service location was Valenti due to their proximity to my work.

I dropped the car off on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at approximately 10:30 a.m. I retrieved my car later on in the day at approximately 4:00 p.m. When I arrived, my car was parked in the shade and appeared to be looking fine. Later on that evening while getting gas, I noticed what appeared to be dry wax that wasn’t wiped off. However, it was not wax. There were scratches, thousands of them, all over the clear coat of the car. I immediately called Valenti only to get the service department’s voicemail. I left a message hoping for an easy resolution.. Today, I had yet to hear from Valenti, so I placed another call to them. I was referred to a service manager by the name of Lou Hart. We set up an appointment for later on in the afternoon.

I arrived at Valenti and met with Lou Hart. I showed him my areas of concern (the numerous scratches in the clear coat of the car). He said that the scratches must have been there before hand and they simply weren’t seen because there was wax on the car previously. He said a wax job would take care of the scratches. He admitted his service department did a lousy job of getting the dirt off the car, yet he said they couldn’t possibly be from their service department because they use top of the line chamois to dry the car. I informed him that it wouldn’t make a difference what kind of drying cloth they used on the car if they didn’t eliminate the dirt and road gunk from the cars surface. He simply scoffed at this notion and said there was nothing they can do, because they didn’t cause the scratches.

Unfortunately, this hasn’t been my first poor experience with Valenti Audi. On my previous car, a 2004 Audi A4 1.8T, they failed to do a brake job that I had paid for. They also failed to describe the limitations for their iPod connection after I made it clear that I was expecting it to be able to change songs directly from the iPod. They refused to refund me the $300 or so it cost for the connection even though I hadn’t even left the lot when I voiced my initial complaint about the ineptitude of the iPod connection.

I have gone ahead and contacted Audi of America. They are looking into the situation. In the mean time, my best advice would be to avoid Valenti VW, Valenti Audi, Valenti Saab, and Valenti Lotus. They obviously do not care about treating their customers with class and concern. If anyone would like any more information, I would be glad to discuss this with you in even more depth.

Nicholas Chabot
Chabot150@gmail.com

Hello all,

I am not a regular poster on this site. I prefer to do more of my time driving then talking about cars.

Forums, IMO, are mostly places to learn, advise and share experiences...hence you will find regular posters. Nonetheless, how you choose to spend your time is your choice.

I contacted Danbury Audi and learned that the service takes approximately 2 hours. Given that Danbury Audi is about an hour away, I simply could not find an available time to make it to Danbury Audi for the service. My only available service location was Valenti due to their proximity to my work.

A person in a hurry often makes simple mistakes!


Unfortunately, this hasn’t been my first poor experience with Valenti Audi. On my previous car, a 2004 Audi A4 1.8T, they failed to do a brake job that I had paid for. They also failed to describe the limitations for their iPod connection after I made it clear that I was expecting it to be able to change songs directly from the iPod. They refused to refund me the $300 or so it cost for the connection even though I hadn’t even left the lot when I voiced my initial complaint about the ineptitude of the iPod connection.

Once bitten, twice shy is a good motto to abide by...

I have gone ahead and contacted Audi of America. They are looking into the situation. In the mean time, my best advice would be to avoid Valenti VW, Valenti Audi, Valenti Saab, and Valenti Lotus. They obviously do not care about treating their customers with class and concern. If anyone would like any more information, I would be glad to discuss this with you in even more depth.

Washing your dirty linen in public is not always the best way to resolve any issues. Why do we live in a world where complaining is the norm and waiting for resolution is not the norm? Why are people of today so aggressive? Why does every 'minor' issue gets decent law abiding citizens in such a rage that they must frequent forums to try and put a company out of business? Why ohh why ohh why? What a horrible world we live in...what happened to talking things out to find a middle ground? Why must you WIN ALL THE TIME?

My main concern about your 'issue' posted is that you seem to come across as 'aggressive' and in a rage.

So let me get this right...you are seeking revenge over a few scratches on a car? The car in question is an Audi, not a rare and very valuable car?...Why?...relax, take it easy, await resolution and move on! You can easily get such damage from a shopping mall, and how will you react afterwards?, exterminate all shoppers at that shopping mall?

I have been in similar situations many times and often find that a friendly chat with the right person goes a long way. There is a difference between complaining and asking for help, something on the lines of "Am looking for HELP here from you with the following issue" is better than "I want to complain...". In fact I rarely get what I want when I am aggresive or complain whereas I have got much further with the sympathy vote...works a treat, ask any two to five year old...they are the best at it!

Personally, I never judge a company by others hastily pronounced bad experience...one mans terrorist is anothers freedom fighter!

Try this book, it may assist you in this and future 'minor' or major issues...'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie.

Forums, IMO, are mostly places to learn, advise and share experiences...hence you will find regular posters. Nonetheless, how you choose to spend your time is your choice.



A person in a hurry often makes simple mistakes!




Once bitten, twice shy is a good motto to abide by...



Washing your dirty linen in public is not always the best way to resolve any issues. Why do we live in a world where complaining is the norm and waiting for resolution is not the norm? Why are people of today so aggressive? Why does every 'minor' issue gets decent law abiding citizens in such a rage that they must frequent forums to try and put a company out of business? Why ohh why ohh why? What a horrible world we live in...what happened to talking things out to find a middle ground? Why must you WIN ALL THE TIME?

My main concern about your 'issue' posted is that you seem to come across as 'aggressive' and in a rage.

So let me get this right...you are seeking revenge over a few scratches on a car? The car in question is an Audi, not a rare and very valuable car?...Why?...relax, take it easy, await resolution and move on! You can easily get such damage from a shopping mall, and how will you react afterwards?, exterminate all shoppers at that shopping mall?

I have been in similar situations many times and often find that a friendly chat with the right person goes a long way. There is a difference between complaining and asking for help, something on the lines of "Am looking for HELP here from you with the following issue" is better than "I want to complain...". In fact I rarely get what I want when I am aggresive or complain whereas I have got much further with the sympathy vote...works a treat, ask any two to five year old...they are the best at it!

Personally, I never judge a company by others hastily pronounced bad experience...one mans terrorist is anothers freedom fighter!

Try this book, it may assist you in this and future 'minor' or major issues...'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie.

996CAB, stop nitpicking. He had a bad experience and he is just trying to help us. He is not trying to seek revenge, he is telling us what has happened and to avoid them if you can. It is a free country/economy, if someone screws up, try someone else...You only have one time to make a good first impression.

996CAB, stop nitpicking. He had a bad experience and he is just trying to help us. He is not trying to seek revenge, he is telling us what has happened and to avoid them if you can. It is a free country/economy, if someone screws up, try someone else...You only have one time to make a good first impression.

Let us put things in perspective here...doubt if I am nitpicking, am merely pointing out that my fellow poster lacks skills to negotiate his way round 'minor' issues and is part of the 'I MUST WIN ALL THE TIME' brigade.

I really fail to see the big deal here, his car - a mass produced Audi - has a few scratches on it...big deal, my fellow poster needs to use his man management skills to get a resolution and not result to vengeful tactics...never works!

Let us put things in perspective here...doubt if I am nitpicking, am merely poining out that my fellow posters lack of skills to negotiate his way round 'minor' issues and being part of the 'I MUST WIN ALL THE TIME' brigade.

I really fail to see the big deal here, his car - a mass produced Audi - has a few scratches on it...big deal, my fellow poster needs to use his man management skills to get a resolution and not result to vengeful tactics...never works!

You're weird dude. What if I come over and scratch your car. Would that piss you off? I don't see anything in your signature that is really worth that much more than other "mass production cars" anyways.

996CAB,

Dude, you seem like quite the bizarro fella.

Chabot drops off his car at the dealership and it comes back with scratches. I'd be pissed, most other people would be pissed but you chastize Chabot for complaining.

So if you drop off your car for servicing and it comes back damaged, you gonna be "happy happy joy joy" such is life?

Please let me know if there is any part of my post you don't understand..

(maybe you want to go line by line and dissect my post as well)

BosTTon

you obviously take no pride in upkeep or service quality

You're weird dude. What if I come over and scratch your car. Would that piss you off? I don't see anything in your signature that is really worth that much more than other "mass production cars" anyways.

It is only a damn car, I will not lose sleep over it...there are by far too many better things I care enough to worry about...my cars simply do not make the list.

I am car mad however not car proud. Allow me to explain that...to me a car is an item I own to give me enjoyment. That enjoyment is from driving the car on track or on deserted open roads, hearing the exhaust wail and being able to control the car through fast bends or long straights - that is the 'car mad' bit.

I realise that enjoyment has come about from me being fortunate enough to be able to afford, maintain and run that car. Anything that takes away from that enjoyment 'may' cause me some discomfort however that will not cause me to lose my common sense. Simply because there are far too many less fortunate people out there than me and such trivial things like a car are nice to have however not a matter of life or death, not in the real world anyway.

So IF any of my cars were to be damaged in any way however I am still able to use the car for that enjoyment then I will care less about the damage. When possible, I will get the damage attended to - that is the 'not car proud' bit.

I only list Audis I own - which is the brand this forums deals with.



you obviously take no pride in upkeep or service quality

Incorrect. I have man mangemnet skills which helps solves most issues. Rarely do I complain and rarely do I want to take revenge. IMHO, only kids post to other 'kids' not to use an establishment because of some 'minor' issues. Just have a grown up discussion to resolve issues...and less of the revenge as that solves nothing.



996CAB,

Dude, you seem like quite the bizarro fella.

Chabot drops off his car at the dealership and it comes back with scratches. I'd be pissed, most other people would be pissed but you chastize Chabot for complaining.

So if you drop off your car for servicing and it comes back damaged, you gonna be "happy happy joy joy" such is life?

Please let me know if there is any part of my post you don't understand..

(maybe you want to go line by line and dissect my post as well)

BosTTon

No, let us not go line by line...I did that in my response.

I have had damage caused to my cars in the past - by dealers...have always 'negotiated' satisfactory resolution...IMO, I see little point in taking the issue outside the dealership. I for one will never stop using a dealership because someone else has had issues. I think you will find that how you act and behave determines how you are treated by the majority...

Let us suppose you worked at one of the franchise for the said dealer and because of the action of one person you lose your job...in the current global financial climate, will that fair or just?

I will let you digest that...

Ultimately, I always seek resolution. As for complaining to AoA and asking for all not to use the said business, what a joke and that highlights the mentality of todays people...lack of patience; lack of man management skills; must win all the time; too self centered; wreckless; whingers; materialistic; not humble; wollowing in their own self importance; ME ME ME...

As I said before, I will rather have a grown up discussion with the said dealership to get the issue resolved.

NEXT!

Sorry for being absent from the conversation, I came down with the flu recently.

There is simply not just one scratch on the car. The entire car, hood, roof, doors, trunk, fenders, etc, look like they have been rubbed with a fine sandpaper. In the sunlight the car looks ridiculous.

996CAB, you would not be upset if this were to happen to your $45,000 car??? If that is the case let everyone know where you live so we can drive on by and kick and ding your car.

996CAB, you would not be upset if this were to happen to your $45,000 car??? If that is the case let everyone know where you live so we can drive on by and kick and ding your car.

Sure, 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA, UK - be my guest at any time.

On a serious note though...note even a recent damage to my LP640 tickled me...it is only a damn car at the end of the day and it was easily repaired without much ding dong - humility goes a very long way.

God save me if I ever get emotionally attached to materilistic things...my kids or loved ones is an entirely different ball game.

996CAB,

Would you be upset if you hired a plumber or other service person and they came in and scratched up your new hardwood floors because they were careless?

996CAB,

Would you be upset if you hired a plumber or other service person and they came in and scratched up your new hardwood floors because they were careless?

exactly, chabot is correct, price of vehicle does not matter. if you take something to someone and it gets damaged, where does the fact it is "mass produced audi" have anything to do with it? chabot, don't sweat this guy from hampshire, he has to list all his vehicles, one has "bucket seats", and his Q7 has "privacy glass and more". he must be a real winner, so don't sweat it bro! He talks about his lambo, but has to list these little items on his signature. good luck with the car.

rick

Chabot,

I agree with hawkpilot. 996CAB is either a troll, idiot or both.....and should be summarily dismissed.

NEXT!


BosTTon

I can't believe this thread. Chabot has been completely appropriate in his posts and his response. I would be furious if this happened to my car, and would contact the dealer's owner, GM, service manager, and AoA. I would demand the car be made right. 996Cab, just because you can afford a Lamborhini, and you don't give a crap if your car gets scratched, most of us enthusiasts on this and other boards care a great deal for our cars and DO care if they are damaged while at a dealership for service. I would be the first to complain, on a public forum such as this, about an unsatisfactory experience at a dealership. And believe me, AoA cares a great deal about its customers and does what it can to keep them happy. They worked closely with me on two Audis I had problems with - a 2008 S4 that wouldn't shift properly, and my 2008 TT s-line roadster whose top needed repair on five occasions. Both AoA and the dealer made the situation right in all cases.

We have an expression in America - the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you don't care if your Porsches, Lamborghinis, or Audis are damaged while being repaired, good for you. The rest of us damn well care!!

Around ten years ago I had a problem with a local Audi Dealer scratching one of my wheels while the car was serviced. Of course they denied doing it, and I couldn't prove that they did the damage. Subsequent to that visit I always have the Service Writer make a very careful examination of the car's interior and exterior and have him write on the service order that the car has no observable damage to the body, wheels, and interior leather. I have never had a problem with any of my cars being damaged when being serviced when this thorough inspection takes place.

During one of the visits for my convertible top repair, the center console leather was damaged with several indentations). When I pointed this out to the service advisor, he immediately acknowledged it, and they got their leather restorer in to fix it. It's now undetectable. My dealer knows I'm a perfectionist, and they have worked with me over the years and never have given me a hard time if there is the least bit of cosmetic or other damage done during a service visit. It's always been made right, which is why I continue to go back to them.