The service manager and service advisors at Bomnin Volvo in Dadeland are a joke. The tires that came with my wife's vehicle began to fail prematurely as a result of a manufacturer defect - pieces of rubber from the tires were breaking off. If I had to describe it, it looks like the tires were affected by dry rot or had been improperly stored prior to installation.
Initially, I took the vehicle to one of the local Pirelli authorized tire dealers. The individual that looked at the tires there said that the tires definitely had a craftsmanship defect. While he could have easily sold me a set of replacement tires, he advised me to take the vehicle back to the dealer and ask them to look at the tires. He said they should be covered under the manufacturer's warranty.
When I brought the vehicle in to Bomnin, the first service advisor that greeted me (I believe his name was Frank or Robert) inspected the tires and agreed that the wear on the tires was not normal, and that he had been seeing this more and more lately. He asked me for my information and looked up the service history. He then said it was odd because we had just brought the vehicle in for service in the past 2 weeks, and nothing was noted about the tires in the last service report (or the one prior). I was then past off to a young lady, who is our "assigned service advisor" and had attended my wife on the last service visit. She went out and visually inspected the tires and said, "oh yeah, this is normal wear and tear." I laughed for a second and said you can't be serious. What about this is normal to you? She said she has been seeing this more and more and that it was perfectly normal. That the wear and tear is normal. Mind you, I'm old enough to be this young lady's father and haven't seen tires come apart like this in my 50+ years of existence. Off to the service manager - I believe his name is Luis. Same story, "this is normal" and not a defect of the tire. Then the next guy comes, service director (didn't catch his name), and he repeats the same story... Yep this is normal. I respectfully disagree with this being normal, but to no avail. Just because you say something is normal, think it is normal, and repeat it is normal, doesn't make it normal. If that was the case nothing would be and abnormal. I'm not a tire expert, but I know a defect when I see one. In addition, the tire expert and the first advisor I met at the dealership definitely said it was a defect. If this was normal, why wasn't this noted in the most recent service report?
After going back and forth and getting nowhere, I pivoted and said fine are you willing to do something for me on a set of 4 new tires? Sure, says Luis. Let me send this to our tire representative and give me a few days to get back to you. Fast forward a week and I call and speak to our "assigned service advisor" and she says, "oh, it's a great thing you called. I finally heard back from the tire rep yesterday and there's nothing they can do." I said okay, but what about working with me on a set of 4 new tires and giving me a special price? "Yeah, no. Sorry. My manager said there's nothing we can do." No problem, can you please have him call me back and also, send me a copy of the last service report where you performed the required service and inspections on the vehicle? "Yes. Let me have you email and my manager is going to get right back to you" Hours later and no phone call and no email... still waiting.
Unfortunately, experiences like these downgrade the customer experience. This is my 3rd Volvo and probably my last. I will be buying 4 new tires, just not from Bomnin Volvo. And honestly, I will probably look at trading in the vehicle for a different brand and dealership that stands behind the products they sell and service, and actually values their customers. read more