1919 Torrance Blvd
M/S 500-2N7E
Torrance, CA 90501
CC: Findlay Automotive Group
310 N Gibson Rd
Henderson, NV 89014
CC: Findlay Acura
Attn: Bruce Schneider
315 Auto Mall Dr.
Henderson, NV 89014
RE: Invoice No. 26513
On August 12th, 2009 at 2:51 pm, I dropped off my 2009 Acura MDX leased through Findlay Acura on July, 16th, 2009 to have a tire replaced due to a puncture. The invoice no. 26513 was closed at 4:56 pm that same day, which was consistent with the promised vehicle pick-up time of 5:00 pm. I went back to Findlay Acura Service Dept. at around 5:30 pm that same day expecting to retrieve my vehicle, at which time I found out that the vehicle was actually not ready. I was promised by Service Director Charlie Galterio to get a call back the following morning at 10:00 am once by vehicle was actually ready again. I never received that call, therefore I visited the Service Dept. again at around 2:00 pm on August 13th, 2009.
Upon my vehicle's retrieval and initially inspecting the contents of it, I discovered that a number of quarters left in a compartment right below the vehicle's radio ended up missing. I noticed the missing contents as soon as I opened the above-mentioned compartment because I keep a close track of how many quarters are in there at all times. Whatever was left was just enough to cover the bottom of the compartment in a way that a person who does not keep track of the contents of it, would not notice the missing change. After counting the number of coins left after my visit to the Service Dept., I figured that two rolls ie. eighty (80) quarters were missing (USD$20).
As soon as I found out about the alleged theft of funds, I notified my Service Advisor Andrew Lammers, who promised to escalate my theft report to his manager, Service Director Charlie Galterio and keep an eye on his employees since then.
On August 14th, 2009, upon my arrival at the AT&T office where I work, I discovered that my Bluetooth headset that I always kept in the compartment in between my vehicle's front seats, ended up missing as well. I did not make that discovery until the following morning because I only use that headset at work and my vehicle is also equipped with Bluetooth technology, which makes it unnecessary for me to use a headset outside of the office. Upon that discovery, I called Andrew Lammers to notify him of it, at which time he promised to bring it up to his manager, Service Director Charlie Galterio. As soon as I hung up, I got a call from Charlie Galterio saying that {nothing like this ever happened before and that I should look for the headset underneath the seats and that he was sorry I lost it}.
Subsequently, I got an e-mail communication from Customer Relations Manager Cathy Chavez in regards to my service visit, who I called and briefly explained my frustration, at which time she offered to transfer me to Service Manager Charlie Galterio, which I declined and instead asked to speak to General Manager Bruce Schneider. She stated she would have him call me at his earliest opportunity, which has not happened till the time I'm writing this letter.
In conclusion, my service visit to Findlay Acura started out as a plain bad experience and ended up in a misdemeanor theft of $20 worth of quarters and a $40 Bluetooth headset. I have been servicing my cars at premium Las Vegas dealerships for the past ten (10) years and have always had a grand experience, no matter which dealership I went to. Unfortunately, that lucky string came to an end when I went to service my new Acura at Findlay less than a month after leasing it from that same dealership.
I do believe that I have a duty to protect Acura buyers and lessees as well as Findlay Automotive Group's customers from that type of criminal behavior ever occurring again, therefore I decided to officially notify all the involved entities in order to have them make appropriate adjustments in the hiring process and possibly make this issue more visible to all the parties for the betterment of Findlay Acura's business.
greglvnv
Las Vegas,#2
Tue, September 01, 2009
After mailing the above letter to all the involved parties and following up with an e-mail of the same to select Findlay Auto and Findlay Acura employees. As a response, I received the following e-mail on August 18th, 2009 from General Manager Bruce Schneider:
I received your letter in the mail yesterday. I am looking into the matter and will have a resolution to you hopefully later today. Im sorry for the inconvenience that this has caused you and will make it right. We have never had something like this happen here at my facility. We use a licensed and bonded company to wash and detail all of our cars here at the store, and this company has an outstanding reputation here in the valley. They service mostly highline stores.
Let it be known that I consider that communication as highly professional and courteous.
On August 19th, 2009, I received a phone call from Service Manager Charlie Galterio asking how my car was driving after replacing a punctured tire at which time I expressed my concern with the car pulling slightly to the right while going straight as if the wheels were not aligned properly. At that time he offered a complimentary follow-up service visit and recommended me to purchase a replacement Bluetooth headset and bring the receipt so that Findlay Acura can reimburse me for the lost items. I must say that I was impressed with that call as well as with the final solution offered. The service call went well and I was promised to receive a check from Findlay Acura subsequently.
On August 27th, 2009 I finally received a phone call from General Manager Bruce Schneider as promised by Customer Relations Manager Cathy Chavez on August 14th, 2009. However, it was not at all what I expected. Instead of Mr. Schneider further acknowledge whatever he wrote in his e-mail communication from August 18th, 2009 mentioned above and offer a verbal conclusion to the whole event, he virtually shouted that We (Findlay Acura) do not accept any responsibility for any of this and that I already got my Bluetooth headset back, so what is my problem and finally accused me of Defamation of Character of Service Director Director Charlie Galterio who apparently googled his name and the Rip Off Report website came up with my report mentioning his name in it. Mr. Schneider, first of all, I did not personally accuse Mr. Galterio of stealing anything. Who I accused were Findlay Acura Service people as a whole, which also includes that licensed and bonded company that washes and details all cars dropped off for service as stated by Mr. Schneider himself. Second, as my final defense to the Defamation of Character charge, let it be known that my report is a truthful account of events that actually took place and are subsequently reported by me here.
Finally, I mentioned to Mr. Schneider that I would remove the Rip Off Report regarding this event upon my receipt of the check promised by Service Director Charlie Galterio on August 19th, 2009. However, after analyzing the Terms of Service as posted on the Rip Off Report website, I learned that removing such report is not possible due to their Policy in place. Since I am a man of my word and at the same time I cannot abide by my previously made statement, I will probably refuse to cash the check even if received by me from Findlay Acura.