Is Service Optional?

furpod, that's not normal.  I routinely have my cars warrenty work done at dealerships other than the one I purchased from.  In fact, I'd have to do some reading, but I think they are required to perform the work whether they want to or not.  

I was reading in the local newspaper about the Mercedes A(Smart)-car...the little two-door car.
Mercedes has pulled all warranty repair for the A-car out of Minnesota...if you own one in MN...the car has to be repaired in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Hundreds of miles and hours away.  Mercedes will haul your car from MN to Milwaukee...but after it is repaired the owner has to go to Milwaukee and drive the vehicle back to MN without compensation (since the car is now working correctly).
This is why it is important to check on warranty work for any expensive item you are looking to purchase (what's covered and who is willing to do the warranty repairs)!

It seems to me that one of the best ways to "educate" a dealer that will not honor a warranty from a rpod bought at another dealer is to expose them on this website.  Let them know that you will be informing other potential buyers that they will not honor the rpod warranty unless you buy from them.  I don't believe many dealers will welcome that kind of exposure.  Your certainly within your rights to post their names if that is their stated policy.  Might want to first chat with the dealer owner to verify that policy before posting.  We're all consumers and need to inform ourselves on all policies of dealers that is not in our best interest.

I agree with you.  However, since most dealers are aware of what other dealers are charging to purchase an rpod they are trying to make a case for buying from them.  No purchase from them, no service.  In these trying economic times, most buyers should do their homework before making a major purchase.  Exposing shoddy warranty practices will make dealers think twice about restricting their warranty work to just customers who bought from their dealership.  My local dealer, upon questioning the salesman assured me that they would honor the warranty even if I didn't purchase from them.  Will want a little stronger assurance before I order mine from whomever I purchase mine from.

Originally posted by furpod While it may be illegal, I know from experience it has always been a problem around Army posts. Not just with VW either. We don't normally own "new" cars, but this was bought because my wife was running back and forth to Chicago a lot for work, and we figured rather than drive a 175k mile Explorer.. (which NEVER left us stranded) we would get a brand new car.. the rest as they say, is history.

Well, it's an easy problem to solve.  Call VW.  I'm sure they have a customer service division, and tell them the local dealership is refusing to honor your warranty.  They'll come around in a big hurry.  I have to say, not only did I work in the auto repair industry through college (I was both a service writer and a mechanic), I'm pretty much neck deep in the auto enthusiast scene. 

While I hear about people getting warrenties denied due to modifications pretty frequently, I can't remember reading about anyone running into a dealership that refused to perform warranty repairs other than your post.

If I were you, I'd be going way out of my way to cause some serious trouble for that dealership.  VW has a massive online community, report it to them.  Call VW and complain.  Don't believe it won't make a difference...it does.  I had an issue with my local dealership when we bought two new cars from them earlier this year, I reported it to ford, and I know they heard about it because I got phone calls and letters from the dealership afterwards.  If your problems are legit, VW will get your back.