Wheels stolen off of car on dealership lot ** updated with result **

[inNout]

I left my car at Schaumburg Audi for 5k service on Saturday. I was supposed to pick it up the same day, but they leave me a VM 5 minutes before closing time telling me to come pick it up. WTF.

So today comes and I get a call from the service guy, Ted. So before he starts talking, I tell him that I'd be happy to pick the car up after work. He proceeds to tell me that I can't. I go wtf?! and he, without any hint of apology whatsoever, tells me that the wheels (Hartmann 19" RS4 reps) have been stolen off of my car. I was in shock. This is one one of the better/bigger Audi dealers in Chicago/NW Suburb area... mind you. I ask him if they had the video rolling. Ted tells me that it wasn't working at the time. How the F does a car dealership have a non-functioning video camera over a weekend? I thought "BS!" but went with it. I ask him if the car is sitting on bricks and he tells me it's sitting on jacks and that there is no other damage at all beside the wheels missing. I say bullshit, but went along with it again. He said he's got a police report in (which I don't know if it is true, but i'm sure my insurance people will get that taken care of).

This whole thing smells foul with inside job. First of all, the wheels are just RS4 reps that look like 20 other sets of wheels on other cars.. Second, non-functioning camera? Third, thieves don't go on a dealer car lot and steal shit unless they want to get caught on the security camera. It's got to be one of the employees that saw my car.

The biggest thing that pisses me off is the attitude of Ted. He sounded annoyed rather than apologetic.

I have the claim initiated with Allstate and I told them this sounds fishy and wanted it investigated thoroughly. And they better pay my 500 dollar deductible. The wheels can be replaced easily but I hate the fact that I might need to go back to this shitty dealership for service.



********************- UPDATE **********************

Yesterday evening 06/18, I was contacted by the general manger of said dealership. We had a long conversation and he was extremely reasonable and apologetic. He was talking to me as another Audi enthusiast and was regretful that the situation has come to this. All in all, he promised to cut a check for $500 deductible and offered to let me use the loaner as long as my car is out of commission for repair. (He even offered me to a free participation at private tracksession in July which he is attending himself.) That was all that I demanded and he had issue with fulfilling them.

I have requested that Admin on other forums to delete the post I have made (clublexus, supraforums ** I come from Lexus/Toyota group before converting to Audi) and they were immediately removed. I have contacted the editor at Jalopnik to temporarily remove his blog posting and am awaiting his response. **Edit: I have told matt the outcome of the situation and to update his blog post to give credit where it's due.** No false statement was made on my part and there is no risk of further legal ramification for the blog that was made, but i felt it was the best i could do since they took care of my requests. I have asked Anthony to delete this post as well.

I think the biggest cause of this whole mess was the attitude of the service dept. They should have elevated this issue to the fullest extent to at least *try to* accommodate my needs, instead of shutting me off. And as you can see my request was not all that out-landish. I hope their service dept learned something from this incidence as their actions have affected their sales dept I'm sure. ** Oh, and I almost forgot to mention how Audi of America customer relations dept was little to no help in this case. I am truely disappointed that they could not leverage any authority on this. **

In any case, I'll let this thread float for another couple days and make another request to anthony to have it deleted.

Thank you all for your support and I couldn't have done this without you (and huge thanks to Jalopnik and Supraforum ** SFOT CREW ** that have been the most active).

- Jason

[grmncrsnbr]

Shouldn't the dealership have to cover this via their insurance? The car was in their custody at the time.

[hender]

Shouldn't the dealership have to cover this via their insurance? The car was in their custody at the time.

right!?

[valida4]

I believe that the dealer should cover the cost to have them replaced, not you. It happened on their property.

[TCHUN003]

Wow that's screwed up, I'm sorry to hear that....those theives were really kind to do no other damage to your car and leave them on Jack stands..hmm..

[MrPerfect]

That is super bogus. I'm not sure why anyone would go into a presumably gated lot with cameras pointed around and steal wheels. Something that without an air-wrench probably would take at least 5-10 minutes done alone. You're right, it does sound like an inside job but then again, why? Weird, all around. Let the police and insurance investigate, after those are closed up, I'd try a civil case because it seems to me like they most definitely are liable unless whatever you sign on the work order states they are not (which might be the case).

I'd be pissed too man. Sorry to hear about it.

[ThePiombino]

That is one of the sadest things I've heard in a long time. Whether or not it was an inside job, these places are all a bunch of thieves! And not even so much as a sincere apology? These people are nothing but a bunch of assclowns.

[FmL 50cmonsters]

Go back to the dealership in two weeks and see which employee has RS4 reps...

[ItsDubC]

AoA should definitely hear about this.

[buckeye96]

Are the jack stands dealership property? when did the camera stop working? For how long? Is it working now? It sounds like BS to me and I would probably talk the police about your concerns.

[ThePiombino]

AoA should definitely hear about this.

Absolutely! If for nothing else, at least for how it was handled.

[inNout]

edited: please see first post for update

[b6onboost]

Did it have wheel locks on it? If so 100% inside job, even though chances are high it was anyway.

My dealer use to do the same thing...calling 5-10mins before closing saying the car was ready.

I was supposed to pick it up the same day, but they leave me a VM 5 minutes before closing time telling me to come pick it up. WTF.

[hender]

i donno...i've heard wheel locks are pretty much useless. just needs a few good hits to snap em.

[inNout]

No wheel locks. The wheels don't stand out enough to warrant wheel locks.

[SwassMike]

Wow, that's where I take my car for all my service...They need to replace the wheels, the car was in their custody - I'm pretty sure they're legally bound to replace them.

And yeah, Ted has taken care of me a few times and although I haven't had a problem with him yet, he seems like he could be a dick.

[JDM EJ1 95]

the lack of info and the lack of the dealership being straitfoward with you puts up a HUGE red flag. this sounds like inside work, especially the whole deal with unfunctioning cameras at a dealership as big as them.

[Cabal_san]

All state will seek subrogation with the Dealer. You wont have to pay the deductible.

sucks. But in the grand scheme of things, I wouldnt even break a sweat over this. Meh. There's other things to get worked up about, it's just wheels. The thieves could have taken a big ole shit in your drivers seats also, like I knew somepeople did whenever they where steeling things from people. It always great to find a bonus pee or poo stain in your car when you get heisted...

[ahhhudi]

Damn... call AoA if you already haven't done so. This needs to be sorted out by either you insurance or AoA OR both. Something is fishy.

Also, I live in north burbs and I drive all the way to Naperville (Continental Audi of Naperville) because it's the only place out of five other Audi dealerships that I've been to, that treat you with respect, do whatever they can do accommodate you and won't try to screw you with service. I highly recommend the guys in Naperville.

[TexasEric]

I could be wrong, but I thought that on most work orders there is typically some small wording that says they are not responsible for fire, theft, or damage while your car is there. I know it is counter to anything you would think is logical, but they do that to protect themselves from this type of situation.

I really hope this works out for you. I would go right to AoA, regardless of how the dealership handles it.

[Nght&Day-B8]

Read any papers you signed before dropping the car off, you may find it say "they are not liable of any personal belongings missing from the vehicle". You may not want to hear this, but im into law and i can tell you it might go their way being just because of the papers you signed off. But at the same time you cant float the car into the dealership it needed the wheels, its not like there was a electronic device you left in the car which was stolen. Let them know not to touch the car, if they do it'll be their word against yours. You need to see where its parked, are they dealer jacks?, watch the film for the weekend not just that one cam and time frame. Threaten to get a attorney involved as well as the public media (any local news station).

[Scorpio]

damn sry, that does sounds very suspicious..I'd give you mine, but ther damaged now :(

[trexturk]

That totally sucks man. I HATE schaumburg audi and i live 2 minutes away from them. Ted gave me shit about my car when it was STOCK telling me my car was heavily modded and that the warranty may be in jepreody. Thats why i go to laural on ogden.
I will keep an eye out for the wheels though.

Get your invoice for the wheels, tires, bolts, hardware and give it to them so they can give you the money or replace it.

[trexturk]

Read any papers you signed before dropping the car off, you may find it say "they are not liable of any personal belongings missing from the vehicle". You may not want to hear this, but im into law and i can tell you it might go their way being just because of the papers you signed off. But at the same time you cant float the car into the dealership it needed the wheels, its not like there was a electronic device you left in the car which was stolen. Let them know not to touch the car, if they do it'll be their word against yours. You need to see where its parked, are they dealer jacks?, watch the film for the weekend not just that one cam and time frame. Threaten to get a attorney involved as well as the public media (any local news station).

i think if its like a gps unit or ipod that got stolen thats one case, but wheels are a different story. Its not like they didnt know what he had. Im sure one of the techs parked it somewhere outside that the cameras couldnt see cause im sure if it was right in front under the light it would still be on the car.

Also why would they park your car outside anyways, customers cars should be parked inside when work is complete

[aznpxdd]

That's fucked up. They should tell them they are OEM Audi RS4 wheels and make them reimburse you. :D

[hybridnrg]

That's fucked up. They should tell them they are OEM Audi RS4 wheels and make them reimburse you. :D

+1 with you on this one!

[Blake P]

Wow, situations like this are exactly why I hate to leave my car ANYWHERE overnight other than my own garage. I hope you get it sorted out quickly and the dealer owns up to it without any hassle.

+1 with you on this one!

Except that OEM RS4 wheels won't bolt up to a B8.

[bagged_wagon]

dude its rs4 reps. calm down

[Blake P]

dude its rs4 reps. calm down

WTF kind of response is that?! I don't care what wheels they were. He has every right to be pissed off at how he's been (mis)treated by the dealership.

[coolwater]

Sorry to hear this man. I am getting 18 inch HRS6 reps soon and this thread just made me purchase wheel locks. Seems like times are tough when even the dealer is stealing wheels.
$25.00 investment as a theft deterrent. I was thinking who would steal reps, but I guess it can happen.

BTW, these were the locks I got from ECStuning. 74% off right now.
http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_A4-...ocks/ES265143/

-cW

[inNout]

edited: please see first post for update

[ChicagoB5]

holy shit dude i go there all the time to get parts.

good thing i dont use them for service, thats a really shitty situation.

Most people dont go to dealers to steal shit, and the camera wasnt working on a weekend at an audi dealership?

sounds like bullshit to me.

i know what you mean about attitude too, some of the parts guys piss me off the way they talk to me sometimes.

[hender]

dude its rs4 reps. calm down

why is it whenever people come in from other 'sections' of AZ they seem to be complete and utter retards / trolls? i mean, the b8 section has their fair share of henders, but it seems like the visitor/retard ratio is so high.

keep in mind the dealer can probably read this, so with everyone here 'assuming' it was an inside job followed by immediate bashing - it might not help the cause at all. though you're right to have the suspicion, no doubt...esp. with those cameras conveniently not working. that or they just don't have cameras set up / functioning at all...

[TCHUN003]

dude its rs4 reps. calm down

I guess you haven't had anyhing stolen before...I would've been pissed if they just stole my Audi window visor. Either way they are going to end up paying for them..hopefully you can say you got OEM rs4 wheels and had them bored out to 66.6mm's.

[fatbrembos]

sorry if this is off topic but woooooow
im amazed man
hope you get some money out of this because that is such bs
good luck man

[blrs25]

I got a bad vibe from that dealership...so much so that I ended up getting my Audi from Continental Audi in Naperville, IL even though Schuamburg was about half as far away from my place. I'm glad you posted this though because I had considered going there for service, but I sure as hell won't be now.

Hope everything works out for you.

[Mooseimage]

That shit's fucked up. I hope you get wheels/tires plus compensation of the cost of your originals.

On a side note, I'm assuming the RS4 reps are based off the B7 RS4, considering Audi hasn't come out with a B8 RS4 (that I know of)...

[jbradle7]

Sorry to hear about your wheels. It really sucks that you can't have anything nice without having to worry about some a-hole ruining it for you.

This might not help but if the dealership doesn't resolve the situation to your satisfaction you should let them know you will continue to promote your displeasure on the various VAG message boards... word of mouth is a powerful thing.

Best of luck.

[ThePiombino]

And you can F off. I'm not pissed about the wheels. Like you said they are reps and they are readily available as far as I know. Thank god they are not rare custom wheels.

I'm pissed because I feel violated by this "thief" and by the dealer I trusted my car with. And i'll waste hours trying to sort this out with the dealer/insurance/possibly a lawyer. And above all, i'm pissed by the dealer's attitude.

Ah, don't waste your time defending yourself against that d-bag. I would be pissed at the situation as well. I mean, I'm pissed as is and I'm not even involved. Then again, that's because I'm human and understand what empathy is, unlike some other trolls in these parts...

[Okan509]

Sorry to hear about that man, hopefully AoA will be aware of this, you will get your wheels reimbursed to you, and whoever stole them will be punished. This is major bullshit, and having your car at the dealer should feel nearly as safe as when it's in your garage...