I never go to a dealer for service.

AutoZone

Vatozone- parts are so cheap you can’t afford to install them..

Happening in the Marine outboard industry as well.

I am pretty much with you on that. However, I have found that my local dealer is way cheaper on routine oil changes and such than our local Take5.

It has been that way for years now. Find a good repair shop somewhere and stick with them.

They're just follow the marine business... A lot of marina's don't work on older engines... And it' been that way for years over this way... Dan

Toyota has no problem working on my 17 year old Tundra. If they did, I’d find some place else. Of course, Tundras don’t need much work, thank goodness.

I have learned to use a trusted independent mechanic. The ones I use are $105 an hour + scans and what not. I think that's a bargain. I used to do all my own work, but nowadays, that is getting about impossible if you don't have access to all the diagnostic stuff. They use dealer parts at dealer prices. But their total bill is peanuts to what a dealership will charge. Have to make an appointment and usually 2+ weeks out, but there is a reason for that. It's a 4 mechanic shop in a 25K population town. My 08 F150 5.0 gasser was getting too frequent to be reliable and imo was throwing money down the drain. I upgraded to a 2019 with 34K miles on it from my ex boss. No more than I drive, that truck will probably out live me at this point with nothing but oil changes. Sure hope so because i suspect that one is going to be some really big $ if something like a turbo going out.

Are we rollin' down hill like a snowball headed for hell

Can one you guys post a picture of a document that's saying this?

That dealership is your first problem. Had a couple run ins with them.

There ya go....
Proof