well; I don't want to totally mess up this already major train wreck of a thread, it has had such a complete lack of relevancy to reality I hate to give it life.
but.....I will respond...anyway.
here's the deal. the dealer has liability and assets to lose. the independent repair facility can claim ignorance, and just shrugs when there is a problem and claims poverty. he is just a guy trying to get by. so when you go to a dealer that dealer will be responsible for what they don't find. if they repair one thing but another thing fails you as the consumer will stick that failure to diagnose up their butts. and the dealer has an obligation to recommend the manufacturers recommended maintenance. the customer does not want to hear this professional factual report.
OTOH the independent repair facility skates off scott free and just fixes what you tell them to fix and can wash their hands of things that fail later. or if they fix something but that does not solve the problem it's on you to pay additionally. I've even seen it where the customer comes back to the dealer who at no charge diagnosed the problem, but the independent repair facility did the repair, and it did not fix the problem. the customer was upset
with the dealer, not the independent repair facility that did the work. and the customer could not understand why the dealer should not make it right. sounds crazy? it's how customers view things and how dealers are crapped on by the independants.
so the dealer demands that every car gets properly inspected and disclosed; because they are a large target and vulnerable. they would rather be safe than sorry. better for you to walk away than they miss something.
the independent points fingers accusing the dealer of over-diagnosing when that is the wrong cause and effect.
I live this scenario every single day. it's not going to change any time soon.
the average repair order at an independent repair facility is about 33% higher than at a dealer for any particular make. the dealer does the warranty work and diagnosis. the independent gets the gravy repair work heavy on parts and efficient higher labor hour jobs.
and the customer stops by the dealer and expects all sorts of freebies.
it's all about expectations. to a certain group of customers dealers are guilty till proven innocent.
you mention the airbag replacement at the dealer. last week we provided a free rental car to a customer who brought in their 2005 Honda Pilot with 250,000 miles on it while the airbag was done. it was a 2017 Honda CRV with 1000 miles on it. she brought it back with $500 damage on it, and agreed that the damage was not on the car when she took it. but refused to pay for it since we had plenty of money and it was not fair as she was a single mother.
that is my world.
so when I read stuff about not trusting dealers I want to scream.
I think I need a cigarette.