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Getting screwed by shop??
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CanOpener
New User
Nov 13, 2011, 6:00 PM
Post #1 of 4
(1893 views)
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Getting screwed by shop??
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Hi, I'm new here. Now, I'm not entirely sure which part of the forum I should be posting this to, so mods feel free to move if this is the wrong area.
Long story short, I had some trouble with my car last week. Brought it to a new shop, and I think I'm getting screwed over.
(1998, Dodge, Intrepid ES, 3.2 LE, 156,000 miles). I posted the details about what was wrong with it on Yahoo Answers.
(( can't allow links ))
I ended up getting it towed to a shop about 4 miles away. Did a bit of looking online, and they had a couple of good reviews on Yelp, and decided to give them a try (since I've lost a bit of confidence in my long time mechanic). I have AAA but they refused tow, and this new shop recommended another company for towing. They said the tow company would bill the shop, and that would end up reflected in my bill from the shop. So I get it towed to the shop. I tell them everything that seemed problematic about the car. I also gave them a list of everything that was replaced or fixed that I knew was good, and everything I knew was bad. Basically a history of the car, so they had more information with which to determine what was going on. The couple that runs the shop seemed very nice, and they said when they finished diagnosing the car they would call me, and then I would be able to decide to go ahead with the repairs.
This was Wednesday almost 2 weeks ago. I called them the following Monday, and they still hadn't gotten around to my car. She said Monday is busy for them, but Tuesday is slow, so she would make sure he would look at it the next day. She calls back Wednesday morning (after a week of my car being there). She says they had trouble duplicating the original problem (small amounts of white smoke, with a burning smell, from engine). But he had found a couple loose radiator hose clamps loose. I was not surprised, my old mechanic just replaced the radiator a couple of months back. The quality of their work has been lacking, and this would be why I'm looking around for another mechanic in the first place. So he tightened the hoses. But she then went through a list of other issues with the car, and things I might want done. So the list was kinda as follows:
harmonic balancer (and the v belt and serpentine belt?) 275
new break switch (which causes the check engine light to come on an off) 127
oil change (the car had been sitting, the oil was rather dark) 68
fuel injector cleaning (I had mentioned the car was running rough) 69
oil cooler line leaking (dont remember how much, but it was significant)
And a couple other things I don't recall because I thought them irrelevant to keeping the car running.
She said that to go ahead with everything was 850!!
She hadn't even gotten half way through the list before I really started feeling anxious that they wanted to sell me stuff I didn't need. I had a budget of 400, and the only two things she said I that I felt needed to be done were the harmonic balancer (because the main shaft had a bit of a wobble) and the oil. So I told her that's all I wanted done. But I wasn't in a position to consult with anyone at the time, but 68 dollars seemed high for an oil change (i didn't realize at the time it was obscenely high). She said the total would be 354. 275+68 = 343. I figured the difference was the tow. Feeling it was pretty high, but not being too sure, I reluctantly agreed to go forward with it.
Unfortunately the next day I found out I had a bill go through that left me with 315 dollars. And after talking with my dad, realized I was pretty much getting ripped off with the oil changed, and now I was wishing I never said okay to it. So I was a bit panicked because I had to come up with 40 dollars I didnt' have. Then on Friday, she calls me and said she neglected to put the amount of the tow into the total, and that the tow costs 75! The new total was 431.93! I was just dumbstruck. Unfortunately I'm rather shy, and not the assertive type, and just meeked out 'okay', despite really feeling something was completely wrong here, and not being happy with this at all. I could have picked it up on Friday, but I told them I couldn't and I would come Monday.
So tomorrow I have to go pick up the car, and pay what I believe to be an unreasonable amount. So I guess what I'm posting for here, is whether I'm just cheap, or if this is indeed unreasonable. And if it is unreasonable, advice on how to haggle with them to lower the price. Like I said, I'm kinda sheepish, and I can't go in there and argue the price with them if I have no idea what the heck I'm talking about.
Much appreciated if you read this (much too long) post.
-Can
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Nov 13, 2011, 6:23 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 13, 2011, 6:32 PM
Post #2 of 4
(1878 views)
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Re: Getting screwed by shop??
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I have no idea why the oil change was so much but I suspect they sold you synthetic oil instead of regular. In that case the price would be reasonable but probably not really necessary. Your big problem now is that you authorized the work and it's just too late to have buyers remorse. That is something that you should have done before approving the work. Granted, they probably were a bit over zealous with the selling although there probably was some truth to the need, just exaggerated a bit. In the future, do your research before approving the work. They have no choice but to wait for you.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 13, 2011, 6:33 PM
Post #3 of 4
(1874 views)
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Re: Getting screwed by shop??
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Welcome but hey - you want us to go to another site to read details! Not. Why did AAA refuse the tow? If nothing else they will reimburse you up to now about $30 if another is used.
All questions - sorry. Why did all this take so long?
I believe this car uses spring hose clamps for cooling system. Just how short of replacing a bad one do you tighten that? Placed incorrectly is a maybe but I smell the fish right thru the monitor on this one,
T
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Nov 13, 2011, 6:41 PM
Post #4 of 4
(1867 views)
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Re: Getting screwed by shop??
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I can't comment on the repairs because there just isn't enough info here. Most of the pricing doesn't seem out of line.
As far as the oil change goes. If they used synthetic oil, then that is in the range, if it was just bulk oil then it seems a bit high but then again I don't know what services they are including in their oil changes so even with bulk oil, I would need to know more...
The driveability problem sounds a bit odd but then again I don't know the whole situation....
The best advise I can give you, in a situation like that, if you are unsure or just don't feel right....Don't agree to the repairs.... If they can't explain it to you in a way you feel comfortable with, then talk to someone else you trust before authorizing any work.... Any shop I've worked at, the quoted price is good for 30 days.
Most shops will inspect vehicles. If they are presenting you with a "laundry list" that gets confusing just tell them your main concern is with the problem you brought the vehicle in for. You just want to know about items related to the problem. After you've addressed that, it's not a bad idea to at least look at the "list" they may have spotted a problem you weren't aware of that could cause problems down the road...... While a leaking cooler line probably isn't related to the driveability problem, left unchecked it can cause serious damage down the road if fluid levels get too low....
You've authorized the repairs so you are going to have to take care of this.....This doesn't sound like a case of being ripped off. It sounds more like you really weren't sure of what you were agreeing to....I know some situations can be real stressful and you may not be thinking clear.....In those situations, just step away and think about it, if they need a "yes" right now & you can't think about it....That's a red flag......
Probably not the answer you are looking for but without hearing both sides.....it's the best one I can come up with...
(This post was edited by Sidom on Nov 13, 2011, 6:46 PM)
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