Village Golf Carts Beware of Service Dept.
 

Word of caution about The Villages Golf Cars in Brownwood. I took my gas cart there last week for my annual service. Technician called and said I needed a new battery and he would install one for $115. Since the battery I have is less than 2 years old, I said "no don't put in a new one" he said, "I'll put one in ok?" I repeated NO!Today I removed the battery and took it to Sams Club to purchase a new one, but the tech said let's test it first. The battery passed all tests with flying colors and they assured me I didn't need a new one. Today I called and spoke with Brian who is in charge at Goedkins. He shucked and jived and made excuses why their tester was better and maybe this maybe that,etc I had already spent 3 hours on this issue today ( I am not retired), so I got fed up and said I no longer had faith in them and likely would not do business there. He said yeah ok. Good customer service (not). So be careful of getting the shyster treatment there. I'm done with them.

I hope Brian's boss reads this.......Brian would be gone if it were may business...........

Sorry for your issues, but having had my cart serviced (not to mention having accessories added) since 2014, I've had nothing but excellent service from the Brownwood location. And, not to doubt you, how do you know the Sam's tech was correct in their determination?

Bring it to Spanish Springs figure out who the top dog is and hand them a $25 Dunkin Donuts gift card. You'll never have a Getting Charged! (Battery) Again. The service is good over here. Could have been a blip at your place. I don't see them risking the Good Name of a major operation to try to clip someone on one battery. If I was gonna cheat you it wouldn't be a battery! Hope things work out for you.

When it doesn’t turn over is the time to get a new battery.

Have used The Villages for years and never had an issue.

The batteries for gas golf carts seem to have a lifespan of 4-5 years, YMMV. When there is a delay in starting (after you depress the accelerator), then the battery needs replacing. If you have a Striker speedometer/odometer, there is a low voltage light that will flash when the battery is getting weak. If you have a Yamaha gas cart, they take a group 24 battery. You should be able to pick those up at any number of locations.

:bigbow:I agree

Carts
 

OK, thanks. Before buying our cart, I went into them, at SS and also at Sumter. Well, i caught them in many awkward and devios moves, before I finally gave them the money for a new cart. I left and will not go into any of their 3 locations. Long story, but I am sure I made a good decision. OH, by the way, after getting my Electric cart, elsewhere, I walked in there to Village carts, and asked them if I needed anything at nearly a year. OH, yes, I needed about 200 dollars of first year mandatory checkout!!!! Well, I called two mobile cart guys, briefly they both said this: Is every thing OK? Yep, so they both said, see you maybe in two years.
That gas pump seemed to bring a disease into the area.
:a040: :duck:

Did you buy your cart from them? I have never felt the Villages policy is to sell you something you don't need.

Have bought three carts from Villages (Sumter) over last 7 yrs. No maintenance issues on any of them. Service department fine, except for delays in scheduling during "snow bird season".

Real Funny
 

I took my cart into Sumter Landing for some batteries and their check up, etc. Picked it up and was walking out with the bill receipt and noticed I was charged for Oil change, etc. I am not a mechanic but even with my very limited mechanical abilities I know that you don't change the oil on an electric cart. Went back in and asked for the Supervisor and he said he was sorry and that I should not have been charged for an oil change. His explaintation was the mechanics had a "code" they used to charge and they used the wrong code. Oop's. No problem as I sold him a bridge in Brooklyn and we were even. :ohdear:

They have been good so far on my five visits, and the prices were good. Batteries are not made to last very long in the heat in FL.

I understand your story. We had a similar situation. Our cart was diagnosed with needing a new battery and bushings. My husband was a little cautious and called another service company who came directly to our home. It turned out there was nothing wrong with either item and he felt there was no reason to charge me for a service call. I’ll

My experience with the Brownwood location has been top shelf....however I was only in the area for a total of two weeks...and...it was not service related.

Long story short - they provided me with a cart for three days for my visitor....no charge - during snow bird season. That’s the best customer service ever!

Great experiences @ BW for me.

Same here. Bought new in 2014, and have taken it in for annual service since then, not to mention a few add-on's. I've never experienced anything but great service and customer support.

Yeah...that's not true....
 

a delay in starting can be the starter switch, or accelerator switch. It sure wasn't the battery when mine had a delay for over 4 years...replaced the battery...same delay.

Not everyone here knows of what they speak.

Battery testers are NOT what they were years ago. Worked on cars and tried many different ones, sometimes failed the battery sometimes all was good. I put no faith in a tester.

Local Carts
 

REPLY:
Three years ago, I nearly bought a cart from them. Actually, i caught them in 3 shoddy deals and did not buy their slangy cart. So bought electric from out of state, and it is great. Also,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, no service required for at least two years on electric. According to mobile cart guys, 2 different ones told me that.
:bigbow:

What is a slangy cart?

:shrug: I thought they sold YAMAHA and CLUB CAR. Never heard of a Slangy Cart! :gc:

Brownwood carts
 

I also had a very bad experience with the service manager at Brownwood. Very dismissive of my concern that I had been overcharged, despite providing him definitive proof. When I mentioned that I bought my cart from Villages because of my belief that they had reputable service, and his actions were making me regret my choice, he said that was too bad, but it was my problem. Will be getting service elsewhere.

A couple of years ago a competitor was miffed when he was no longer invited to be part of golffest. Rented a plane and flew over the event with a banner, if I remember correctly. You never know when you read something on an internet forum just who is posting and what their agenda is and whether or not what they write is exactly accurate.

Me and mine....We think well of The Villages Golf cart...sales and service.

$12.00 for a quart of oil never again!