Managers pressuring or more importantly misleading buyers into believing consumers have no choice about unwarranted expenses has become an even greater issue in the past two years.  This has been an issue for a while.  But particularly the false narrative that you must get the dealership protection plan and you must have the vehicle serviced at the dealership, has become much more common recently.  There is a reason why mechanic shops keep records that can be printed out.  If you have a top-rated shop, similar to detailing, there will be nothing a crew at a dealership can accomplish at the same quality or level of competence.

I had an issue with my car, in which the repair potentially would be under warranty.  The dealership reminded me they have no record of oil changes, etc.  They shortly afterwards received a mini booklet of paperwork invoices from over 10 years.

I am not referring to dealership markups or certain other miscellaneous fees, whether agreeable that are somewhat understandable.  I am referring to car prep or protection package that is totally inappropriate in 2025 to force on anyone.  Specifically, it is unethical and scandalous behavior.  I will elucidate a point made by myself and others in the industry many times about how rare you are receiving a quality detailing service or protection plan that matches what is being claimed.  Some of these problems are on the consumers, perhaps you!

Many of these issues are a manifestation of the attitudes (from willful ignorance) have about detailing and detailing businesses.  There is no magic pill that also takes 5 minutes to look like a world class detail, no matter what made for television advertisement claims.  I will not absolve a collection of people who will trust a business historically mocked with ‘used car salesman’ innuendo that they will in 10 minutes apply a bullet proof product on your car for $2,000 with the help of minimum wage employees.  In addition, many of those same people will either mock or suggest legitimate detailing businesses who offer realistic value propositions for slightly less and much more time as well expense, to be a scam.  A dentist is not a fraud because you believed in the tooth fairy.

I get how the average person that is not educated about detailing does not understand in their mind a new car needs or it is preferable to have a certain level of work done.  But being closed off to real services because of an experience you had over something they don’t specialize on screams lack of accountability.

Be honest with yourself, if it is such a great add on, why is there a random charge for it being read on the paperwork in which you would be finding out for the first time.  A hidden charge that you are proud to offer seems like quite an incredible contradiction.  I seriously rather see you wash and spray wax your own car than blindly accept the dealership protection as gospel.  This website provides resources for detailing products and education.  A quality detailing provider will likely give your car a better start with basic protection than an alleged ceramic protection.