Car Chat General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.

Dealer Employees Taped Stealing From, Watching Porn In Customer's Truck

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-07-09, 10:02 AM
  #1  
4TehNguyen
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
4TehNguyen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 26,058
Received 51 Likes on 46 Posts
Default Dealer Employees Taped Stealing From, Watching **** In Customer's Truck

Consumerist - VIDEO: Toyota Employees Taped Stealing From, Watching **** In Customer's Truck - Videos

owned

Dear Mark Hampton:

I am writing to you as an unsatisfied customer. I think the DVD enclosed will speak for itself. First, a little history about my experience with your dealership.

I purchased my truck, brand new from your dealership, in June 2007. I brought my truck in for the first 5,000-mile service/oil change. Upon picking up my truck I noticed over $10 worth of quarters were stolen from the driver's side door compartment. I complained and even mailed a personal letter to the dealership, addressed to the general manager. I never received a reply, or an apology.

The second time I brought my truck in was in December 2007, for my 10,000-mile service. I took note of the amount of quarters in that same compartment. Upon picking up my truck, I noticed that half of them were stolen. I immediately complained to the service department. I was told the manager was in a meeting and would contact me. He did not return my call, and I was able to speak with him after calling several times.

I also informed my salesman, by letter, after he sent a follow-up letter asking how I was enjoying my truck. I explained both of these situations, yet never heard back from anyone.

In June 2008, I decided to use Hampton Toyota to get my truck serviced again. I previously used dealerships out of Lafayette, but I was tired of the drive and inconvenience of driving to Opelousas or New Iberia. After all, I was not in the wrong. This time I decided to take action to prove the theft. I placed a small digital video camera, clearly visible, in the passenger side inside door handle compartment. Upon me arriving I hit record to see what would happen. I also inventoried everything in my truck, specifically the amount of money inside. The result is on the DVD enclosed. On this DVD you will find the following:

1. The first person to touch my truck was the service manager, Mike (see DVD video #1 "Mike the Service Manager"). He opens my door, puts my keys in the ignition, writes down my mileage, and then removes the keys. Next, he takes a notice in my keys. I keep a red pill vile, used for hikers, on my key chain. I keep personal medication in it for emergencies. He then unscrews the vile, looks inside and smells the vile. Next, he pours them into his hand and inspects them. He then puts them back in the vile and then licks the pill dust from his hand. He then screws the vile back together, replaces the keys, and then writes down the VIN number from the door sticker. Before closing the door, he checks the door compartment where my previous thefts occurred. He closes it without taking anything. He then returns to the vehicle, opens then compartment and proceeds to remove quarters (3 of the 6, totaling $0.75). He then inspects the other contents of the compartment, closes it, and then inspects the bottom door compartment before closing my door.

2. The second person to appear is the unnamed service male (see DVD video #2 "Oil Change Guy"). Upon entering my truck, he places it in reverse and says "ole stupid ****er, back the **** up." Apparently someone was behind him and he could not back up. He then proceeds to drive my truck around the dealership and into the service garage. Immediately after placing the truck in park, he opens the astray, which contains pennies, nickels and dimes, and visually inspects the contents. Next, he lowers the center seat console, which was raised, and inspects the first compartment. He then opens the second compartment, takes out my CDs and inspects the compartment. He returns the center seat console to the upright position. Next, he inspects the contents of the glove compartment and the compartment above it. He is seen pulling out a personal bag from the compartment to inspect it. He then rolls down the window and inspects the door compartment, which Mike the Service Manager previously stole money from. He drops a small flashlight, which was in the compartment and picks it up off the floor. He then inspects the bottom compartment located in the door.

3. The third guy is the computer technician. He connects the laptop to my truck, located under the steering wheel, and begins working on the laptop. At approximately 3:27 into the video, a male and female voice, is heard coming from the laptop. The audio from the laptop plays the following:
MALE: "I'm sitting here with Violet. How are you today Violet?"
FEMALE: "Pretty good."
MALE: "You doing pretty good?"
FEMALE: "Yeah"
MALE: "So you're gonna do some modeling for us today, huh?"
FEMALE: "Yeah"
MALE: "Yeah, nice. So I see you're wearing a little see-through top. Not bad, nice. A little skirt."
This audio, which is coming from the laptop, is obviously some type of pornographic video due to the language and context in which it was spoken, which is being accessed using the company's laptop.

I have been deciding what to do with this video footage. I would hate for it to go to waste; therefore I have decided to make it available to you. This is not the first time my encounters of theft has been reported. I have complained in person and in writing, yet nothing has been done.

My next course of action is to make it available to the media outlets in Acadiana. Both the local newspapers and TV stations will receive the same DVD and letter I am providing to you. I have already reported this to Toyota, Inc. and am waiting for the southern region representative to contact me regarding this.

Everyone always wonders if the workers dig through personal belongings. I think this DVD not only answers that question, but proves it happens multiple times. Could it be a coincidence that this happened only to me three times?

In closing, I hope you and your management staff find some way to address this with your employees. Customer satisfaction is crucial, especially in slow times like these. I know other customers feel the same, as your Better Business Bureau rating is an F, as verified using the bbb.org website. However, I feel my video will speak more than their report could ever do.
4TehNguyen is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 10:14 AM
  #2  
LiCelsior
Retired

iTrader: (32)
 
LiCelsior's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NY
Posts: 12,362
Received 17 Likes on 15 Posts
Default

wow this dealership is gonna get EFFED up.
LiCelsior is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 10:23 AM
  #3  
BLK98GS3
Lead Lap
 
BLK98GS3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Wow those guys are so f'ed
BLK98GS3 is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 10:31 AM
  #4  
bagwell
Lexus Champion
 
bagwell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Posts: 11,205
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default

BBB rating is an F and he still used the dealer????

or after he gets shafted he does his researchand finds out they're an F
bagwell is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 10:41 AM
  #5  
LexFather
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

SO beyond pathetic they should have their hands cut the hell off

 
Old 07-07-09, 10:43 AM
  #6  
AD_SC3
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
 
AD_SC3's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ga
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

That is crazy
AD_SC3 is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 10:46 AM
  #7  
4TehNguyen
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
4TehNguyen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 26,058
Received 51 Likes on 46 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by bagwell
BBB rating is an F and he still used the dealer????

or after he gets shafted he does his researchand finds out they're an F
closest dealer, kind of in the sticks in louisiana
4TehNguyen is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 11:00 AM
  #8  
Stormforge
executive matchup
 
Stormforge's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: BC
Posts: 5,771
Received 11 Likes on 9 Posts
Default

i think the stealership is crapping bricks right now.
Stormforge is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 11:15 AM
  #9  
Janizary
Pole Position
 
Janizary's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Vegas
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 1 Post
Default

If you have not already done so, go to the original article link. A few of the videos are there, as well as the following follow-up:

Originally Posted by Consumerist
Soon after Jason sent the letter, the owner fired all three employees and the service manager who had ignored Jason's complaint, personally apologized to Jason, and extended the warranty on Jason's truck.

Last edited by Janizary; 07-07-09 at 11:19 AM.
Janizary is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 11:20 AM
  #10  
IS-SV
Lexus Fanatic
 
IS-SV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: tech capital
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Customer satisfaction survey's gonna be fun.
IS-SV is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 11:41 AM
  #11  
LexFather
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

What was the name of the ****
 
Old 07-07-09, 12:46 PM
  #12  
TLe2006
Lexus Champion
 
TLe2006's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Nova
Posts: 1,646
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I had my full of coin ashtray cleaned out at a local lexus dealer. Told the manager and he apologized.
TLe2006 is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 03:53 PM
  #13  
GS3Tek
Moderator
iTrader: (8)
 
GS3Tek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: so cal
Posts: 12,364
Received 168 Likes on 127 Posts
Default

I think nowadays it's good to have a camera on board: traffic stops, accidents, horror dealership stories.....

so easy to prove than to be called a liar
GS3Tek is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 07:06 PM
  #14  
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
 
mmarshall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Posts: 91,344
Received 87 Likes on 86 Posts
Default

I'm concerned for this guy, though. Yes, with the video, he may have the goods on them and be able to give the dealership some real grief, but he could (?) also be setting himself up for some serious retaliation. In a state like Louisiana, a lot of people, including dealer employees, have guns, and you don't want to mess with them. Even if they don't shoot you, you can get the crap beat out of you.
mmarshall is offline  
Old 07-07-09, 08:14 PM
  #15  
stvincent
Racer
iTrader: (5)
 
stvincent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: MD
Posts: 1,750
Received 45 Likes on 27 Posts
Default

sweet, props to this guy..
stvincent is offline  


Quick Reply: Dealer Employees Taped Stealing From, Watching Porn In Customer's Truck



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:13 PM.