A very delicate situation

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cjohnw, Mar 31, 4:48pm
Not sure how to approach this one, but your suggestions might help.

My wife's car had it's first full service last thursday at the dealer it was purchased from. The next day (good Friday) we noticed that something has been removed from the car. After a great deal of thought and discussion we agreed that in all probability it had to be removed whilst being serviced. We can only be about 95% sure of this and have no proof. It is not a huge $$$ value item.
But the question is: do we forget about it, or mention it to the daler and possibly put someones job in jeopardy!
Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
mugenb20b, Mar 31, 4:50pm
What was the item that got removed from the car!
cjohnw, Mar 31, 4:52pm
It had a custom aerial and mount on the roof. It was coloured the same as the car so looked quite nice. As i say - not a huge $$$$ value. But it was stolen in our view.
mugenb20b, Mar 31, 4:57pm
I would definitely say something.
jmma, Mar 31, 5:03pm
Did they put it through the car wash(o:
msigg, Mar 31, 5:06pm
Nothing delicate about it, just mention it and they will follow it up, it may also have been stolen from the roadside! If it is the dealer then they will need to know. They may know nothing about it.
cjohnw, Mar 31, 5:08pm
I didn't appear so. I didn't see a car wash nearby. To get the base off it would have be unscrewed by hand. But who knows.
cjohnw, Mar 31, 5:10pm
Can't have been stolen from the roadside. It was there on the Monday when the car was washed. Gone on friday morning.
a.woodrow, Mar 31, 5:32pm
So it wasn't actually stolen in your view like you posted above then!
cjohnw, Mar 31, 5:38pm
It was removed from the car. The car has not been left on "the roadside" at any time. As I stated we are 95% sure that it had to be removed during the service time at the dealer. The question is: do we take this up with the dealer or let it go!
edangus, Mar 31, 5:40pm
Can't hurt to ask in a cool, calm and collected manner. I am picking they will be gutted.
a.woodrow, Mar 31, 5:43pm
What's the other 5% then!
cjohnw, Mar 31, 5:43pm
Yes, my thoughts too. But my wife says she would not like it if someone lost their job for "$50 of nonsense". Her words, not mine.
marcos1, Mar 31, 5:45pm
Lingering doubt!
a.woodrow, Mar 31, 5:45pm
If it's a colour coded aerial you might find it's a whole lot more than $50 to replace. But why would someone steal it! It's only any use to someone with the same make model and colour car as yours
cjohnw, Mar 31, 5:46pm
On the tuesday the car was parked in her work car park, which is an underground card- protected park with CCTV. Remember this has been on the car for almost a year without a problem. The day after it has a first service, we notice it has gone. Too coincidental!
cjohnw, Mar 31, 5:47pm
No, this is a universal fit for any car with a roof aerial. Fit almost anything really.
a.woodrow, Mar 31, 5:49pm
I'm a bit biased on this, the number of times I've had customers come back bleating that we'd pinched something off or from their car, only to go out and find the item where it has been rolled under the seat, or wasn't even there in the first place. Never got an apology either. OP, my advice to you is don't accuse someone of theft unless your 100% positive.
neville48, Mar 31, 5:49pm
Theft is theft be it 50 bux or 50,000bux, "steal a little and they throw you in jail; steal a lot and they make you king" Bob Dylan,you may be giving someone a promotion .
marblicious, Mar 31, 5:50pm
Surely the dealership will have cameras too. Personally I'd be chasing this up.
cjohnw, Mar 31, 5:53pm
How can anybody be 100% positive! The car was left in their care afterall. And this was a $445 service. If I was 100% positive I wouldn't be asking for views on here. The wife says "forgetit", and we might. But will NEVER go back there again. And we have purchased two brand new cars from that dealership.
bitsy_boffin, Mar 31, 5:55pm
Is there any reason they might have removed it during the service and simply forgot to reattach it!

Seems like a pretty odd thing for somebody to nick.
cjohnw, Mar 31, 5:58pm
Can't think of why they would. And i went thru the invoice which lists all the work. Didn't say "removed aerial to inspect" anywhere. But i might ask that if we go back to them. Thanks.
marblicious, Mar 31, 6:04pm
If they have lost a customer over something that may not be their fault then you owe it to them to ask the question. If a staff member has flogged it then they deserve to go for a skate as this would unlikely be the first time.
cjohnw, Mar 31, 6:09pm
Thank you! As i said my wife would rather not pursue it. But i feel the dealership needs to be aware. Trust me, i know the service manager and he is a very, very nice person. This is going to be a difficult situation so we need to give it serious thought. I appreciate the responses.