Of the places that fixes my car actually cleans and vacumes everything as perk. Last time I went in there was a pile of change in my seat from all the change was under the seats, carpet and stuff.

In most countries, to be considered a criminal matter, the value of the items have to be greater than 1 unit of the country's main local currency.

In the USA, that'd be $1.00.

Not saying it's ok to steal 75 cents (or 99 cents for that matter), but the authority's wouldn't prosecute that as theft. Heck, these days, I doubt any prosecutors would pursue any cases less than $10 in value -- even then, he'd have to be pretty bored to do it.

Perhaps you could set up a wireless webcam of some sort and sit with a laptop in the waiting room??

The good thing about portable cameras is that for some reason not a lot of people use them, so if you have one people think of it just as another person using a cell phone. My point is many people won't recognize one if they see one, they aren't as mainstream as the iPod.

When you use the camera people just think you are holding a cell phone.

I purposely leave $3.25 in change and count it after a few trips to a "stealership". So far, the two I've been to haven't touched the change. A good thing.

However, they don't know of the emergency $50.. oh crap. Now EVERYONE knows...

To all of the folks reading this story and all of the posts, know that not all service techs/managers out there are crooks, but there are some, indeed! Find one you can trust, and do not let them go.

@bilups: As someone who's been disemvoweled before, yeah, it's pretty much BS. You're completely at the mercy of whatever moderator is...on shift? Or however it works. And, if someone posts something that a moderator disagrees with, then you get disemvoweled. Anyone can see blatant trolls NEVER getting disemvoweled. But, someone uses a term that *might* be "retard" and BAM! Disemvoweled. But, then again, I guess we don't HAVE to read this site. It's just a matter of sorting through some of the biased BS. Take everything with a grain of salt and you'll be fine.

Try this little experiment at home. Go outside and place a hundred dollar bill just inside your property, just off of the sidewalk and see how long it takes for someone pick it up. It is still theft as the bill is yours and on your property. Now rinse and repeat 2 more times only with the third time place the $100 and hide a video camera in the bushes. Even though you may have caught the thief red handed good luck proving who took the previous $200. Next, as you sit crying about being poorer remember you could have prevented it by simply not doing the experiment and keeping the money in your pocket where it belongs.

Don't give anyone the chance to steal something because they will.

but if it's legal in your state for one party recording authorization, I say go for it.(If it isn't, posting to YouTube could get you some crazy federal complaint, illegal wiretapping and all.)

Idiots: "Sure thing, boss!!"

@IronCrow:
OP said it was a RCA Small Wonder. I just went to their website and have to agree w/ Zuke. I can't understand why they didn't steal the camera. It must have been very well conceal.

now if only our landlord would allow tenants to work on vehicles here. . . .

@computerwiz3491: Dude,,this is a dealership. This is THE culture at all of them. Don't be fooled. The hot chic behind the sales counter is usually banging a few of the grease monkeys, or the sales guy of the month, or the owner while his wife is taking care of the kids. The sales people are drunk or stoned and smoked cig's every 15 minutes and joke about the "warranty" that they talked that "chic" into buying needlessly. The grease monkey's are doing about everything that is possible illegal in terms of sexist and deviatn behavior. It's standard behavior my man.

@Stephmo: I agree Stepmo. When I want to watch it I wait until I am home and all my other work is done. Self-control goes a long way.

@Alex Chasick: What matters is that the right employees were fired. AND it WILL haunt them as they try to find new work.

@Ayarkay: LOL,,,trying to decipher this fricking paragraph is almost as bad as Comp Reading in the LSAT. LOL.

I still don't understand why they didn't steal the "digital video camera, clearly visible"?

If you don't live around Lafayette, LA, that's been Hampton Toyota's tag line for a while now. Just a tad ironic, isn't it?

I'm glad you did this, Jason. I live around Lafayette (and did live there for about 10 years) and bring my Hyundai to a local dealership there. They've never stolen anything, but maybe this will serve as a warning to any dealership that some of us are a little more savvy than we look.

Nice going, you crazy Cajun!

This is why I do almost all my auto repairs myself. Well, this type of thing and the fact that I am one cheap S-O-B. I always keep my dated store receipts, like, for oil and filters, so if there are any warranty concerns. My 1996 Chrysler Town and Country, bought new, now has 220,000 miles on it. My similar 2001 C-T-A-C now has 130,000 miles on it. I paid $100 at each purchase to buy the 3 inch thick specific Chrysler shop manual. I always use a torque wrench on repairs and you get the idea. Oil plug is torqued to 30 ft/lbs and oil filter is torqued to 15 ft/lbs. No dealer service ripoffs for me. At the very least, everyone should subscribe to Popular Mechanics magazine and learn a few things.

Prevention and common sense are the best answer: I only give the service people my valet key by taking it off of my keychain before I go into the service center. I also make sure all valuables are either locked in the trunk or with me in a tote bag. It's pretty simple to do this.

This totally prevents any possibility of theft or any risk of someone pawing through my stuff. All I keep in the glove compartment are the car's documents and manuals, along with any minor items that no one would want anyway (hand sanitizer, car fuses, etc.)

Why? Because I've heard too many stories like this one. I've never had anything stolen from my car at a service center and I don't want to risk it. (shrug)

@SpruceStreetPhil - doggarn bike thieves:

"Moderators have a mind of their own..."

Actually it's just petty intellectual jealousy on thier part.
They have no life other than angrily censoring others.

If I take any of my vehicles to a dealerSHIT, not ship, I think I'll leave a fresh turd in a little container and leave it right there for the creeps to check with a note, "This is for you as, I KNOW you're snooping & stealing."

Dealers are crooks anyway as, they don't do mich of what they charge for.

I love the management responding the same way everyone but the last guy did above. And they were shown the tape!

I read the "In plain sight" as emphasis related directly to that. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it.

Or dead ones surrounded by broccoli. Ewww.

On another note, if you want your vehicle fixed and unmolested, take all your crap out of it first to reduce distraction. A lot of people in this field hate their job and don't give a shit, have no morals or both. You're trusting strangers with your car. If you want ass-kissing service, go buy a Bimmer. You won't get it anywhere else.

Many dealers have an F rating.

[consumerist.com]

[consumerist.com]

[consumerist.com]

OP should ask the dealer to give him the money the warranty costs! and I'm interested in the model camera too, it takes great video. I have had stuff stolen from my car too when I used to take it for oil changes, coins mostly.

@rdm: @rdm: @AustinTXProgrammer:

but of course you will play it anyways.

does it feel good to be so self-righteous?
or do you hate it?

Thank you sir.

After the AOL story, I bought an earpiece and record all my CS phonecalls. This is better. I would like Consumerist to do a story on exactly what gear/software is preferred for these types of CYA recording activities. (with a thick disclaimer of course.) I've found that even after cleaning them up in Audacity, my recordings sound like crap. I actually had to turn over some of them because of a stalker I picked up. Our legal department said they couldn't use the mp3s, and I sent them a dub of the tape, then they sent someone to record my voicemail because the tape wasn't good enough.

What's the latin for "seller beware"?

Yes, theft IS bad and the workers should have been fired. However, are people so lazy that they can not get off the sofa for 5 minutes to throw their stuff in a grocery bag and put it in the house until the service is done?

Sounds like the grease pen was in his back pocket and it got smeared on the driver's seat.

What pisses me off is when a mechanic smokes INSIDE your vehicle. It's happened to me twice at two different places.

I seriously can't believe they were stupid enough not to pick it up to see if it was recording... or just to play with it, maybe record them doing stupid things and then put it back for you to find later.

And the computer guy! Obviously he was occupied, but he didn't hook it up to see if you left porn on it? He doesn't even qualify for Geek Squad for his next job.

I just lost a lot of respect for this site. This disemvowelling crap is childish. Either delete a comment or don't.

This is felony theft - why not report this to the police? If it's happened to you it's got to be happening to others.

I suggest that when paying anyone to do anything, no matter how small, you should do a full background check, even if they seem okay. Because this is just ridiculous.

Also, what is the definition of "vehicle contents"? Engine? Seats? Radio? Theft is still illegal, even if you post a sign...@econobiker:

The sad part about all this is that those dealership mechanics are paid pretty well. They probably don't need to steal his 75 cents.

No idea what happened initially that got the OP's attention, but I would bet money that the guy on the video was essentially stealing change (it's only $0.75 afterall) for the vending machine. I see this happen fairly frequently...it's not that someone doesn't have the money, but if they don't have it on them or available, and the customer won't really notice...

/sarc

GOT YOUR ASS!!!!! Fail for Toyota!!!

@Gramin: The issue isn't quite folks have poor reading comprehension skills, but that the wording is awful. I had to reread it a couple of times just to be sure what it was saying. ;)

@TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave: It appears everyone is thinking that catching someone take 75 cents and a sniff of pills at a car dealership is the same as outing AOL for it's renewal tactics or finding kids at Burger King messing with food. First the scale of this is drastically different -- but more importantly, the average sales, management, maintenance and owners at car dealerships are the type that would kick your ass (or worse) for doing anything personal against them. These are not wimpy office workers, or 16 yeaqr olds. Here we have someone that got an appology and compensation but is looking for more -- now there are 1200 Diggs on the story. I'm greatly concerned that this person is risking safety for the opportunity to pat himself on the back for catching a 75 cent thief. How can he possibly return to this dealership after doing this kind of damage to their reputation? 1200 diggs and they know who he is and where he lives

@Dnsc29625: gr wth y cmpltly. S h plys dtctv vr fw qtrs. Th prblm s dtctvs hv gns nd t's prbbly flny f smn rtltd. nd h gt bth n plgy nd cmpnstn bt dcds gn t dfm th dlr. Ths s dtc

Ppl wh wrk n crs wtch prn, sll plls, nd s rcl slrs. Dd Tyt gt y t blv tht vrythng ws lly wht bcs t ws dlrshp? Th wrst thng s, y knw thy wr gng t tk th chng.

vry dlr, shp tc hs sgn tht sys "nt rspnsbl fr lst vlbls."

mplys r thr fr th mny, nd why flt thm whn y lft lttl nttndd. Tht s lk fltng ctfsh fr btng wht y hv n yr hk.

Srry yr bbbl ws brst.

@morlo: It might not have a huge value, but I would expect that someone who keeps rolls of quarters in their car plans on using them for tolls, parking, or other situations where you need small change immediately. The sudden disappearance of a pretty small amount of cash can be a major inconvenience.

And stealing out of boredom seems like a pretty bad social maladjustment.

@jpleonard: Thanks for posting the article!

now i know what i'm doing next time i go for an oil change!!!!!

-dave

He also left it in HIS CAR. He didn't leave it behind. He left it "behind" as much as he left the tires "behind". If he came back and the tires were gone, would you say he "lost" them?

There is a difference between "lost" and "stolen". If I lose twenty dollars in outside, I'm responsible, and I lost it. If someone pick-pockets me, or breaks into my car and takes said $20, it was stolen. Big difference. By your definition, there is no difference between suicide and murder, and someone who murders you shouldn't be held accountable, b/c you left the house knowing there were murderers outside.

Of course the owner, mgr and tech working on my car all deny the theft. I'm going to follow your example and hide a camera in my car before my next service.

@bilups: But was it "retard"? There's no r at the front. Was it "tard", or perhaps "turd"? Either way, I don't get it. I don't see anything in the comment code about using common terms like that-- is that supposed to fall under the "racism/sexism/hatred" category? Because if that's the case they may as well ban the word "idiot" and everything else that's ever been used to refer to people who are actually mentally disabled. It's not like the people in the article had Down's or anything. If whatever happened here is all it takes to get disemvoweled then perhaps that should be spelled out more clearly in the comment code. "The 7 Words You Can't Say on Consumerist" or something like that.

@VA_White: Or mouse traps in the change compartment. SNAP!!!!

This is pretty much a 'business as usual' activity! When I take my car in I leave NOTHING... not even pennies in the car.

The rot is as this video states from the top (Service Manager) to the bottom. The three that got fired were probably re-hired a few weeks later.

I have read about similair complaints and heard sound recordings of people pawing thru glove boxes, and foul language many times before. And when brought to an owners attention, rarely was even an acknowledgement of the complaint issued.... Forget about an appology! And the complaints were about ALL makes of cars. Not JUST toyota. Most of the workers at any brand, (Ford, Chevy, Nisson, Pontiac, etc) steal as a matter of course.

This is the first time that I have seen a video of the theft. Well Done! I hope a lot more folks put hidden video camers to record the car maintenance / repair industry thieves.

It makes you wonder tho... if these people who you give your car or truck to, commit petty stealing as a matter of course, then what do they NOT do when working on your vehicle? Do they SAY the air cleaner was changed when it wasn't? Do they SAY the changed the oil filter and didn't? A thief will SAY anything.

But it should come as no shock to anyone that the workers at the Toyota garage are thieves. Most of the workers at any brand, (Ford, Chevy, Nisson, Pontiac, etc) steal as a matter of course.

It makes you wonder tho... if these people who you give your car or truck to, commit petty stealing as a matter of course, then what do they NOT do when working on your vehicle? Do they SAY the air cleaner was changed when it wasn't? Do they SAY the changed the oil filter and didn't? A thief will SAY anything.

They must have been some pretty unpleasant pills.

I'd use a "vial" for that, but what do I know.

Then again, I take any personal belongings from my car (military installation ID, CDs, etc) and they know I live near a Midas and I have no warranty.

@sir_pantsalot: Their BBB rating was an F so the owner can't claim ignorance to problems with the service department. He most likely had complaints from other customers but choose to ignore them. He only did this because of the DVD.

@boomersix: can someone explain why boomersix was disemvoweled and banned? the use of the word "retard"? boomersix, you should have said 'mentally handicapped'

eh, maybe. There's no reason to go looking in the center console when you're supposed to be doing an oil change. So I'm not really sure what sort of excuse they could have come up with.

The cops might be interested because of the pill bottle. If this guy is trying to get prescrip. drugs illegally, that might give them a reason to look into it further.

At any rate, whether the cops get involved or not, these guys are getting fired in the middle of a sucktastic economy. Have fun getting another job, gents.

You spelled Shia LeBeouf wrong. Today.

@corinthos:
A tow truck driver stole a fifth of whiskey from under my car seat. I should have taken it out before the tow, but the cops were right there, so I didn't think it would look good even though I hadn't been drinking.

@Saboth:
There was nothing wrong with his truck. He was taking it in for periodic oil change/service. And they gave him the extended warranty. If he doesn't need it, he's not out anything. If he does, he'll be glad he has it.

If I was loaded I would do stuff like this all the time. I would love to get some small hidden cameras and let my car get impounded to prove what they take.

@JoeDirt: They probably used it for a new car transfer run to another dealer.

@humphrmi: Isn't this an old mechanic's tale?

@temporaryerror: I am sure they would boost illegal drugs as the owner couldn't complain about it.

@vastrightwing: Sweet mother of god- 2,000 miles! on a dealer rental? How the heck did they tapdance out of that one?

@LoadStar: Make sure that the vinyl protectant is, in fact, Armor All....

@stuny:

"Any business, dealerships, service centers, parking garages, relies on some implied level of trust. Their entire business is based on people entrusting them to take care of their car and possessions in their absence. If that trust is betrayed, they are essentially out of business."

These same businesses also have disclaimers/releases on their paperwork or receipts that say they are not responsible for vehicle contents.

I love it. Always write down your mileage before leaving the service center. These dirtbags like to take your car for joy rides as well. Once I took a 1992 Lincoln Continental to a Ford dealership service center in Fort Payne, Alabama and when I picked it back up, it had more than 100 extra miles on it.

@jpleonard: But the manager "skrewed the pooch" by ignoring your prior letters and not keeping the people in line...

@Stephmo: It sounded like the guy had the p0rn on the shop's diagnostic laptop. What alot of people do not understand is that vehicle service codes can be read via the OBD (on board diagnostic) connector when hooked up to a pc with special shop software.

That's some laughable logic there, bucko.

haha just kidding ;). Seriously good job on catching them.

@rdm: I also must sing Toyota's praises. My extended family has owned 8-10 Toyotas over the past 25 years with virtually no problems.

It's also never occurred to me not to leave stuff in the car when it's serviced. I keep a significant amount of change in the door handle and I've never had a problem. I do not get serviced at the dealership, but my mechanic is a Toyota specialist and is terrific, which is why I've been going there for 14 years.

I LOL'd.

But c'mon - who really can't go all day without porn? And don't you guys build up some sort of spank bank for this very reason? I mean, no one can fire you for accessing the porn videos in your head...

People at all levels of income steal, regardless of if they need to or not. Sometimes it's a compulsion, for others they are just greedy, lazy or too stupid to know any better.

My ex-step father is a mechanic and he screwed me over on a truck I bought from him, way back when we were still really tight. That fucking truck was the beginning of the end of our relationship.

I know for fact that he stole from actual stores for fun, I watched him steal a dog house from a TSC store once, and we had no need for money.

I have zero trust for mechanics sadly, and force myself to do most of the work myself.

As for snooping, they might find some change, but anything that I wouldn't leave in an unlocked car comes with me.

Oh, gross.

That guy is funny as hell sniffing and then licking his hand as if he's gonna get high off some pill residue. Amazing! I love how he almost forgets to put the cap back on the pill container.

Now Im not blaming the owner here at all but honestly why would you give them your pill container with your keys? When I bring my car in they get the car keys and thats it. I dont even give them the normal part of the keychain. 1 key on a single ring and the remote is all they get and I would never leave any money in the car either. I know it shouldnt be but thats just asking for trouble.

I went back a few weeks later with a similar deck, except I crazy glued some razors to the housing and secured the deck with some pishing line so someone had to give a big tug to free it. Had to get the upholstery cleaned, but it was worth it.

Still brings a smile.

[cgi.ebay.com]
[cgi.ebay.com]

And a guy on Youtube by the name of Ashens reviewed that spy pen -

This is amazing. First off, hats off to the OP. Great letter in tone and content. I wouldn't have been as patient as he was, the first time stuff was stolen, I would have escalated it to Toyota Corp. and the State Atty. General. To be ignored like he was with a legitimate complaint was inexcusable.

But, as he did catch them red-handed is incredible. I think the dealer didn't do nearly enough for him, he could have totally ruined their rep. with his video and prior experiences. He should have at least gotten lifetime free oil changes. But I would really wonder how good the mechanics are at that place, given the scum they seem to hire there.

I love posts like this that prove the point of the consumer and show how we are being ripped off in practically every corner of what we do.

I had a friend who's high-end aftermarket stereo was stolen by someone in the dealership service department. They claimed he didn't have a stereo when he brought it in. He was out of luck.

He went to buy a new one, and before he installed it, he soldered razor blades, business side facing out, on the back of the stereo. Then into the dash it went.

Long story short, the stereo stays put everywhere he goes, until his next service appointment at the dealership. He goes to pick up his car, and there's clearly been blood wiped from the console.

He never found out who did it, but he got his revenge.

The OP's evidence and your post both display a serious breakdown in personal standards.

Thanks for the clarification. & K-Bo, you raise a good point with bringing up those hired in their places, though I don't recall the article mentioning anyone else being hired.

I haven't read the other comments yet so don't know if your question was answered.

@TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave: I never give the dealer my entire set of keys. They need the one for the ignition and that is all.

@computerwiz3491: Well, it means that they will certainly be looking for recording devices in the vehicles they service.

Ha ha, I LOVED that!

I haven't had any trouble with the place I take my car, but there's a big window in the door to the shop right there and I can stand in the waiting area and watch the whole entire time.

We lucked out when we moved to our current address, there's a garage 5 minutes away and the owner is very trustworthy, reliable, and his workers are cut from the same cloth. Every time I bring my car in I get it back in the same condition and/or repaired without having to go back right away for some other mystery issue occurring.

I expect to be able to leave $100 on my front seat and still have it there when I get back in car. Having said that, I've learned now to take a picture of my odometer because a dealer rented my car out and drove it over 2,000 miles! I had no actual proof that time. I also remove any items from the car I don't stolen, even though I would expect it not to get stolen. I will not pay for repairs I don't authorize. Period. Dealers are horrible, but they must adhere to the law. Sorry.

@jpleonard: I assume the pills were prescription meds. You have responsibility there

I am going to link to the pictures:

[i68.photobucket.com]

[i68.photobucket.com]

[i68.photobucket.com]

[i68.photobucket.com]

Pink and SPARKLY?!

Imagine, honest car repair because they never know then they are being watched...

Yes, we know people steal from cars, trucks, etc. So am I the victim or the guilty party?
Should we blame someone for driving and getting hit by a drunk driver? I mean, we know people drive drunk, so who is at fault here?

When working as a tech I always felt the change in the ashtray was some sort of honesty test. I did get in trouble for throwing out what looked like six months worth of fast food containers from a car that was so messy I had to vacuum it before I could work on it, aparently the owner had winning game pieces in there, so I had to go dumpster diving and he got $100.00 credit from the dealership.

If they want, they're welcome to listen to the radio, but that's about the only entertainment they're getting from my car.

You just HAVE to be trolling with logic like that.

#1. They ARE responsible for lost valuables, no matter what their sign says. They just hope people won't question it.
#2. So if my doctor rifles through my wallet and takes $50 out while I am under, that is ok, because he is there for the money.

-Anyone who does not have at least 3 locks on all their doors is asking for their home to be broken into.
-Any woman wearing a skirt wants to get raped.

The only law broken here that I can see (IANAL) is the petty theft of 75 cents.

Jason - can you post a picture of the camera you used? I'm curious how they missed it sitting there.

That being said, I am not condoning any behavior by Hampton's dealership. However, this was a case of petty theft folks. The police won't touch this with a ten foot pole.

@selianth: They are probably just smart enough to know not to steal anything of significant enough value to REALLY piss somebody off. They figure they can get away with petty theft, but steal the video camera and trouble will almost certainly follow.

(Of course, I wouldn't want to blame the victim or anything, but why the dude kept going back there is kind of beyond me too. But I do understand that it wasn't his fault the service dept. was full of thieves and low-lifes!)

Then just take a piece of scotch tape and put it on (somewhere out of direct view if possible). If the tape is broken, you have your proof. I have my gas cards and other stuff in my car.

I don't carry a bunch of stuff on my keychain (other keys, etc.) on my key loop anymore, but I used to remove my car key from my keychain out of an abundance of caution when I left my car somewhere for service. Still, if I had an emergency med bottle on my keychain and left it with service professionals, I should be assured that they are NOT snooping through and pawing my medication.

God I'm so skeeved by that.

Everything else was just horrible customer service and Jason did the right thing.

I never had such a problem but then I always remove everything from the console, glove compartment etc. I just assume they will snoop/steal.

I'm curious what videocamera he used for this; despite what it says in the letter it's hard to imagine it went unnoticed by otherwise theiving employees if he left it in plain sight.

@TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave:

Good luck with the breaking and entering and illegal entry idea after you gave them your keys.

July 2, 2009

Hidden camera catches dealership's attention

Automotive customer videotapes employees to get action on complaints

Jeff Moore
jeffmoore@theadvertiser.com

When phone calls and letters failed to get a local business to own up to its mistakes, a local man used the power of technology to catch employees in the act.

Jason Leonard of Lafayette placed a video camera in his truck after he suspected Hampton Toyota employees of stealing money when he brought it in for service.

The camera recorded what appears to be employees digging through the truck's compartments, pocketing loose change and emptying a medicine vial attached to his keychain.

Leonard, 33, posted three videos on YouTube on Wednesday morning, and within four hours, they had generated more than 300 views a piece.

Leonard later removed the videos, but not before receiving an offer for a $2,000 extended service warranty on his truck.

"I think it took something like this to spark them to pay attention to it," Leonard said. "The proof is in the pudding, and I think I got a nice jar of pudding right here."

Leonard purchased a new truck from Hampton Toyota in 2007. When he brought the truck in for its first oil change, he noticed more than $10 worth of quarters were missing from the driver's side door compartment.

The next time he brought in his truck for service, Leonard noticed more quarters missing from the same compartment.

He complained and sent letters to the dealership on both occasions, but never received a reply.

During his third visit, Leonard decided to take matters into his own hands. He placed a small, digital video camera in the passenger side door.

The camera recorded what appears to be three separate employees rifling through various compartments, pocketing loose change and watching what sounds like pornography on a diagnostic computer.

All three of the employees were fired after the dealership received the video, along with its service manager, said Hampton Toyota business development director Randall Mann.

The dealership has also showed the videos to other employees as a means of caution.

Hampton Toyota owner Mark Hampton and Chief Financial Officer Mike Perry apologized personally to Leonard. They offered to extend his service warranty for his trouble.

"Obviously, we're embarrassed it happened," Mann said. "But we feel like we responded the best way we could with regard to the customers and employees."

Leonard has continued to bring his truck to Hampton Toyota for service, and said he plans to accept the dealership's extended warranty offer.

He said he removed the videos at the dealership's request, but may post them again in the future.

"It opened a giant can of attention, which is exactly what I wanted to do," he said.

Sharane Gott, president of the Better Business Bureau of Acadiana, said this is the first time she's heard of a consumer using a video camera to capture poor service.

It's natural, however, for customers to become frustrated when their complaints are not resolved, she said. Hampton Toyota has received an F rating from the bureau for failing to respond to previous complaints.

Gott said customers should check with the Better Business Bureau before doing business with a company. If their complaints aren't resolved, she suggested taking it to manufacturers or other sources up the chain of command.

"The great thing is there is more than one company to do business with," she said. "Consumers have a choice."

I've got 2 questions though (or maybe a question and a statement). Why is your Toyota at the dealer so often? I would expect that of a Chrysler maybe. Secondly, as Consumerist has pointed out, extended warranties are pretty much useless (although if you are at the dealer that often, in your case it might be useful).

They refer to him as Captain Jergens now.

@jpleonard: I'm concerned for your safety.

That's what I was thinking. Even if the dealership has the lame "not responsible for theft" sign up...they are still responsible for theft...especially when they are doing the thieving.

Any business, dealerships, service centers, parking garages, relies on some implied level of trust. Their entire business is based on people entrusting them to take care of their car and possessions in their absence. If that trust is betrayed, they are essentially out of business.

Other posters are right. If this happens so often with so many people, it is probably ingrained in the dealer's culture.

Customers should avoid this dealer like the plague. The dealership should fold from lack of business and put all the employees out of work so they can consider whether this 75 cents was worth everyone's livelihoods.

All three of the employees were fired after the dealership received the video, along with its service manager, said Hampton Toyota business development director Randall Mann.

@CameraShoe_GitEmSteveDave: Breaking and entering? Illegal entry?

Good luck with that.

The sad part about all this is that those dealership mechanics are paid pretty well. They probably don't need to steal his 75 cents. It's not like they are the $7/hr grease monkeys at jiffylube - these guys probably make $50 -$60k. They steal just to do it. That is the same mentality that would lead to doing subpar work or no work at all on a car that comes in for service.

Why leave your money in the vehicle? Yes, it is an inconvenience, but you wouldn't leave money lying around in your hotel room would you? I use a maid service, but I make certain that all our jewelry and valuables are either locked up or someone is present.

If the owner is smart at all he will put in some cheap cameras to keep further people honest.

@Riff-Raff: Regardless, if I were Jason, I would be extra cautious about bringing my auto there again.

Yeh - I would not think of going back there. One of the fired guys friends may do somthing to get back at you.

@backbroken:

True... sometimes Consumerist doesn't get it right and they don't always proofread before posting. This might be one of those times.

- We can't trust mechanics to fix the car without stealing something.

- We can't trust the baggage handlers to treat our bags nicely and load them on board without stealing something.

What else?

The theft would certainly be a misdemeanor, but the service manager intentionally injested some of the guys meds - even if it was just powder - that may be a felony.

@backbroken:

Please read the post again... fired all three employees AND the service manager.

Now me? I would have marked those coins and even some bills, wrote the serials/took pictures of the bills coins in an envelope, sealed it, then when I discovered it missing, called the cops to report breaking and entering, illegal entry, etc... and had them arrest people. Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice/three time? Meet Bubba.

It sounds like he at least got a slap on the wrist, not to mention the embarrassment from having to personally apologize.

Regardless, if I were Jason, I would be extra cautious about bringing my auto there again. At the least he needs to empty the truck of all personal belongings before dropping it off. At the worst, the manager may not be so forgiving of this guy's sleuthing. Just because the three employees were fired doesn't mean the chain ends with them. Jason needs to pay extra special attention to the way his truck runs just in case any future repairs and service are done improperly.

This is internet win.

The tone of the letter is just amazing. It was James Bond smooth, but without the British accent.

The Mercedes garage my uncle works at has been monitoring the service area for 10+ years.

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.

No?

"Soon after Jason sent the letter, the owner fired all three employees and the service manager...."

The service manager was fired....

Dang. Almost makes me wonder if an appropriate response is for dealers to place their own vid monitor in the cars. This is ridiculous.

I just leave gum and half-melted candy in my various compartments. It works great in combination with all the fast food wrappers and empty soda cans on the floor. They want to spend as little time as possible inside my car. If they are really desperate for some goo-encrusted coins, they are welcome to them.

I hate thieves and I hate being stonewalled. I'm glad the owner fired these idiots. I think I would take it a step further and file a complaint with the police.

Love the straightforward, yet relaxed tone of his letter. "I have been deciding what to do with this video footage." Too funny. Wish there'd been a video camera on the manager when he read this.

@backbroken: Ok. I reread the next to last paragraph and it would seem that the service manager is gone too. Something is still amiss however as I only count 3 guys in the story...not 3 guys plus the service manager. That was my confusion.

Ok, so the service manager is still on the job? Are you kidding me?