RAPIDE: Dissatisfaction Guaranteed

RAPIDE: Dissatisfaction Guaranteed

Let's start with the facts ... to be fair. My car was 8 years old when I got it two years ago. So now, Inday is 10 years old. In the automobile industry, Inday ought to be replaced already. Plus, I'm like the 5th owner already... surely, Inday's been through a lot then. A lot of misuse, overuse, abuse, etc. My mechanic would say though that Inday's engine still looks good and a lot of the parts are still original and my rides with Inday are still okay anyway, most days.

Anyhow, as expected... one would have car trouble with a car that's 10 years old. So I had one one day and fortunately or unfortunately I had a breakdown in Market2x and the nearest repair shop is Rapide. Brought it there and as though Inday were a patient, I shared a litany of symptoms that brought Inday to its state:

Below is the letter that I sent RAPIDE MANAGEMENT but of course and as expected, no remedy... so as promised, I'm posting this letter to warn other car-owners like me who get fooled by RAPIDE Satisfaction Guaranteed advertisement...

September 1

To Whom It May Concern:

I had my car checked in to your branch in Market2x yesterday - Daewoo Racer ETI 1997
Plate ADP 227. The problem I explained was that it would stall after a while that it
would be running and then would not start. I explained further that I just had the
distributor cap replaced and the spark plug wires (hi-tension wires)as well.

Just this morning, I spoke to Edcil about the problem. Sabi niya dina-diagnose na
daw and that they would be able to identify the problem soon. I was very clear
that I just want my car to run properly when I get it. He had the spark plugs
replaced, the fuel filter replaced costing me P2000. That's not a problem kung at
the end of all these works ay tumakbo naman ng maayos ang sasakyan ko.

When I got there to check out my car, ini-start ko and I noted that the problem is
still there...sabi ni Edcil wala na daw and that it's just vibrating because of the
loose engine support. No, the engine is struggling I said and it's not just engine
support problem. Sabi ko pa nga, I bet titirik na naman ang sasakyan a few minutes
I'd have it running. Tinanong ko pa kung tinest-run nila. Sabi daw about 20 minutes
in the parking area of Market 2x. Sinungaling, I don't think that ever happened.
You know why? I got my car nevertheless (paid 2k for work that did not do anything
to solve my problem) and pagexit pa lang sa parking, nagsstruggle na ang sasakyan
to move. I/we struggled until Comembo (which is just 10 minutes away from Market
Market) and finally, it stalled. 

So I paid 2k for something that did not address my problem. I am very disappointed.
I want my money back for bad service... Replacement of spark plugs (P750) -
spark plugs of good quality for daewoo racer eti is priced at 300; replacement is
easy i would say because i do my own replacement at times; 450 labor and for
something that did not improve the performance of my car is too much.

I'll also find out how much the fuel filter costs...

I am really disappointed with the service that your people do. Makikidebate pa para
sabihin that your diagnosis is one of elimination... replace a part first then see
if it solves the problem. Ano yun, guess work?! That is not diagnosis... there are
tests that can be done to see if a part is damaged. In fact it's all in the
internet... i thought your people should know. After all, Rapide is pretty known and
appears professional. Yun pala, parang talyer lang din na guess work. What a shame. 

Anyway, I want things to be addressed very soon. I will call Edcil tomorrow morning
to let him know what happened and that he lied to me about having my car test-run
for 20 minutes. I expect good management/problem-solving response here. I'm sorry
but it's not fair to charge 2000 with perhaps half of that as labor cost for some
haphazard job... just to earn profit. That's not good honest business... that is
plain-old cheating.

I hope we get to meet half-way and I hope management is not taking things lightly
to protect its personnel vs. the protection of customers.

Please reach me. ********* (my cp number).

====

So to all of you, be wise when you have your car repaired. Search the net first and
find out more about what the possible problems your car could have. Gosh! Buti na
lang the world is flat and the power is in the tip of our hands.... I love search
engines.