Fiat "complimentary" maintnenance program

Just an FYI for all you other car enthusiasts out there and the typical BS associated with auto manufacturers and dealers.

I love buying/collecting cars and I love buying european vehicles. Last month I bought a brand new 2012 Fiat 500 Sport for daily driving to add to the collection. Fiat had a 3 year/36,000 miles "complimentary" maintenance program that covers all maintenance during this time frame. Note, I have quotation marks around the word complimentary.
This program is portrayed as a no cost complimentary incentive to the consumer.
Dictionary.com lists complimentary as:
given free as a gift of courtesy

Dealer (which I won't mention, PM if you really want to know) does not honor internet price because if you want the 3 year/36,000 mile complimentary maintenance program you need to pay $500 extra.
Really? Last time I checked complimentary, no cost means offered at no charge to the consumer. Not factored into vehicle purchase price and try to market it as complimentary.
Dealer again mentions: "there is a $500 rebate given to consumer if they choose to not go with the maintenance program."
I again ask: "How do you offer a rebate on something that is complimentary?"
Dealer's response: "It's complimentary because it is included in the overall vehicle price and you're not paying extra."

As you can see you can only beat a dead horse so many times as to what the word complimentary means.

I call Fiat USA to see if I can shed some light on this false marketing of the complimentary maintenance program.
I get the same response:
Fiat USA: "Yes, it is complimentary."
My response: "Then why do your dealerships offer a $500 rebate if you choose to not want the program?"
Fiat USA: "Because it is already included in the car purchase price."
My response: "If me, the consumer is paying for this, how can you market this as a complimentary incentive?"
Fiat USA: "Because you're not paying extra for it."
My response: "If someone else who buys a fiat and declines the program gets $500 off the purchase price of their car, how is that not paying extra?"
Fiat USA: "Well, we no longer offer that incentive as of January 4, 2012 but people who purchased before that, we will still honor the program."

How ironic? They won't give you a reason as to why they dropped the "complimentary" maintenance program on vehicles purchased after January 4, 2012. Only that they now offer service contracts in lieu of the complimentary maintenance program.

As you can see, Fiat dealers nor Fiat USA will man up and take responsibility on the false marketing of the "complimentary" maintenance program.

Now, this is not about a small sum of $500, it's about false information marketed to consumers. Don't try telling us you're giving us complimentary no cost maintenance programs when we are paying for it.

A famous quote comes to mind:
(Scarface)
"You know what a hasa is? It's a pig and it don't fly straight."

 

Do any other dealers use this method for their warranty programs?

If you really want to get the word out, email Jalopnik and see what they have to say or do about it.

 

Believe it or not, there is never a straight answer on anything from anyone. It appears like it is a free for all at nearly every dealer.
So far the car is great (too new to tell of any issues), but if this is a maintenance package offered complimentary from Fiat, then there should be no charge. I just don't understand how you can continue to lie to your consumer who took the plunge and bought your vehicle and not give a straight answer.
I honestly was considering the upcoming Abarth, but this makes me wonder. If you want me to keep filling out surveys about my experience with my current Fiat, then you better give me a logical response to my concern.

 

Lawsuit. They will quickly see the error of their ways.

 

In the dictionary next to my desk here at home, the number 1 definition of "complimentary" is: "expressing or containing a compliment" - nothing about something for free. The definition of a compliment is given as: "an expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration". Again, it does not specify that a compliment is freely given.

The number 2 definition of complimentary is: "given free as a courtesy or favor".

Does the written contract from Fiat actually state that the maintenance program is "No Cost"??? You say it is "PORTRAYED" as "no cost", and I tend to agree with you. But by the PRIMARY definition of the word, at least in my dictionary, it could just as easily be defined as providing THAT service at THAT cost as an expression of their esteem for you.

Can't really take a firm stand one way or the other without reading the contracts.

 

There are 2 different words that often confused and misused in the English language:

- complementary means given for free

- complimentary is used when paying a compliment

 

Dino, you should know better: nothing is free in life.

If a maintenance plan is offered at no extra cost to you, it simply means it is already included in the cost of the car.

It used to be a BMW only deal, but recently several other MFRs have joined BMW in this.

 

But here is the thing, they still lead you on saying that you are not charged for it. Yes the $500 is well worth the maintenance package but don't tell me I am not charged for it when I am paying for it.

 

"Complementary means given for free".

????????????

 

When you pay full price for the car, the warranty is included. When you take the $500, it is not included. Seems logical to me.

Perhaps we should all sue Fiat over nothing & send them packing. That way we'll have America all to our boring Honda & Toyotas! Hurray!

 

wingfeather, in that case, it is not free, or included, it is simply added on for $500. Free means included at any price, discount or no discount...cos it's free!

They are definitely misusing the word free, or complimentary.

 

Lol! Which dictionary/grammar reference are you using?

Complementary means completing a set. Complementary shirt and tie, for instance.

Complimentary means free, ie. "Please have some complimentary champagne" (free);
Or
In praise of, ie. complimentary comment: "You pert boobs and sexy Italian accent will help sell these rip-off Fiats!" (praising).

 

You can check that up to poor choice of words or even complete misunderstanding of the whole issue by the sales people.
Car salesmen are known to say what people want to hear or what they think will seal a deal, regardless if it is entirely correct or not.
They are also known to have a very short memory that only last until the sale is made.....

 

Never said to sue them. It is not a warranty, its a maintenance program.
Bottom line if it's factored into car purchase price it is a cost, and being charged for it. Not free or at no cost. That's all.

Correct! Why you think all of a sudden they stopped that program and they won't give a reason why? Now all purchases have an option of a "service contract."
I am more annoyed by someone trying to tell me they are giving me something free of charge when they clearly are not.

The $500 was not a deal breaker or what not. Just don't keep telling me you're giving me something for free, when you're not.

 

Correct. What's the problem, I'm confused. The free maintenance was included in the cost of the car. What "free" stuff on any car is not? They realized some people would rather have the cash. That was optional.

I like options. Fiat has since discontinued the free maintenance anyway.

 

The $500 is such a small sum when new car purchasing that it is not a deal breaker. But don't lie to me about the truth. Be upfront and honest about it.

If you're buying a vehicle with the maintenance program and it is costing you an additional $500 in the total purchase price then what is "free" about that?
What annoys me is that they continue to mention this "free" as if they are doing me a favor. No, I paid the extra sum so no, it is not 100% free to me so don't insist on it. Admit error and apologize.
It makes me question what other issues might arise when doing maintenance. "Sorry sir, we have evaluated your maintenance and this is not included under all maintenace covered program." And yes, I questioned everything about the program, so they better have spoke the truth about that also. Time will tell.

Yes they discontinued it and now offer it as a "service contract." How funny? Appears I am not the only one questioning their so called use of the word "free."

 

I don't see the problem here.

Just because something is "free", doesn't mean it has no value.

If FIAT wants to buy that maintenance from you for $500, why does that suddenly mean that it wasn't given to you for free?

 

Would you like a free Breitling watch from me? In exchange I'd like $5k.

Free means free, exactly that, No cost associated.

 

Not quite an apples to apples comparison is it?

Let me ask you this - did the price of the Fiat 500 go down when they stopped offering the "free" maintenance?

If it didn't, then wouldn't you agree that it was free?

Besides, there was no cost associated with it. Yes, there was a value associated with it - but no cost.

 

Not to beat a dead horse, but just curious what you think about "Buy one get one free" offers.

Say a pizza cost $10 and today we have a buy one get one free offer. Is that free pizza really free? Or did I just change my pizza price to $5?

 

Yes, if I go back right now I can buy the car for $500 less than what I bought it for when the so called incentive was offered. Again like I said, anybody in the right state of mind would pay the $500 for the program knowing past Fiats but don't tell me it's free and no extra cost. Since they now offer "service contracts".

Now to your pizza example. By getting two pizzas the cost has been decreased to $5 per pizza as opposed to $10 per pizza. So why not just offer $5 pizzas instead of buy one get one free?

 

Assume it costs $2 to make a pizza.

$5 - $2 = $3 contribution margin.

$10 - $4 = $6 contribution margin.

 

Yes I am well aware of how these things work. This is why I get annoyed when dealers try to BS consumers. I've also had friends that have bought other makes, negotiated down to pretty much invoice and then had dealer toss in a maintenance program. I am not even asking for a $500 refund, just don't sugarcoat and tell me BS when I am more than aware of how these incentives work. That's all.

 

I think you're arguing about symantics. They should have said "maintenance included" and not complimentary. If it were included in the price, then it could be removed for a discount.

Other products often get in trouble when they say something is "Free" on the package. You can't say "Free" unless you actually sell the product without the bonus at a lower price normally.

You can however say "bonus". So, you rarely see "free" on a bottle of window washer fluid when they give you an extra 20% in a special package. You see "Bonus: 20% more!".

Should they have used different words? Yes. But, I think there's some panties being in wad here also going on. If you really want to get upset, look at every single manufacturers claims of fuel economy from the government testing. Those are outright lies on a massive scale. This is chicken feed.