RandomGuy
10-10-2006, 11:56 AM
Background:
My wife and I have two old vehicles. One small SUV (honda passport) and an old cop car I bought at an auction (don't laugh it is in great shape)
Both are a bit older, and we have them with the realistic expectation that we will have to fix them from time to time.
We have a mechanic 2 blocks from our house. Small shop that is part of a minor franchise local to texas. We have used them for a few minor things for about 3 or so years.
Part 1
The truck's A/C gives out. We save up money for several months to fix it.
$1550.
We get it back.
Less than two hours of functionality, and POOF! It goes out.
We give it back to them.
They "fix" it, at no charge, and we get it back again.
POOF!
We give it back to them. They say they can do another temp fix, but will need to get their A/C specialist from another city to come in and fix it. OK, we will wait until we can leave it with them.
Part 2, In the meantime:
Part of the transmission in the car starts to go out. It runs, but makes a nasty rattle noise. It is a plate that acts as the "bridge" between the engine/transmission and the drive shaft. If it breaks the car will not move when you press the gas pedal, but the engine still runs.
We give it to the same mechanic, as this is much simpler, and they have been fairly nice about the whole thing so far, and haven't charged us for any extra work.
$410.
Part 3, the kicker:
I get it back. I drive it partway to work this morning and it craps out, leaving me stranded, during rush hour in the rain, with a work laptop, to walk through mud to get to a convienience store. I call a cab and wait 1hr and 15 minutes for it to show up.
Cab shows up, and I get to work $30 poorer. I leave my cell phone in the back seat and hurt my knee running after it (unsucessfully). I do get it back eventually, so that wasn't too bad.
Synopsis:
We have given the mechanic $2100 and not only not gotten the problems fixed, but my car is now in worse shape than when I gave it to them, as it is undrivable.
I am muddy, 2 hours late for work, my knee hurts, and I am now out $2100. :bang :flipoff :cuss :makemyday :soapbox: :smchode:
The shop has been pretty accomodating, apologetic, and has obviously been upset about this, but my patience is gone. I am a nice guy and I will give them ONE more shot at fixing this crap, as they have said that they will not charge for this.
After this, I guess I will take it someplace else (I do have another good mechanic in Austin who ISN'T incompetant), and sue the snot out of our neighborhood shop. (sighs)
Anybody else feel free to vent here as well.
My wife and I have two old vehicles. One small SUV (honda passport) and an old cop car I bought at an auction (don't laugh it is in great shape)
Both are a bit older, and we have them with the realistic expectation that we will have to fix them from time to time.
We have a mechanic 2 blocks from our house. Small shop that is part of a minor franchise local to texas. We have used them for a few minor things for about 3 or so years.
Part 1
The truck's A/C gives out. We save up money for several months to fix it.
$1550.
We get it back.
Less than two hours of functionality, and POOF! It goes out.
We give it back to them.
They "fix" it, at no charge, and we get it back again.
POOF!
We give it back to them. They say they can do another temp fix, but will need to get their A/C specialist from another city to come in and fix it. OK, we will wait until we can leave it with them.
Part 2, In the meantime:
Part of the transmission in the car starts to go out. It runs, but makes a nasty rattle noise. It is a plate that acts as the "bridge" between the engine/transmission and the drive shaft. If it breaks the car will not move when you press the gas pedal, but the engine still runs.
We give it to the same mechanic, as this is much simpler, and they have been fairly nice about the whole thing so far, and haven't charged us for any extra work.
$410.
Part 3, the kicker:
I get it back. I drive it partway to work this morning and it craps out, leaving me stranded, during rush hour in the rain, with a work laptop, to walk through mud to get to a convienience store. I call a cab and wait 1hr and 15 minutes for it to show up.
Cab shows up, and I get to work $30 poorer. I leave my cell phone in the back seat and hurt my knee running after it (unsucessfully). I do get it back eventually, so that wasn't too bad.
Synopsis:
We have given the mechanic $2100 and not only not gotten the problems fixed, but my car is now in worse shape than when I gave it to them, as it is undrivable.
I am muddy, 2 hours late for work, my knee hurts, and I am now out $2100. :bang :flipoff :cuss :makemyday :soapbox: :smchode:
The shop has been pretty accomodating, apologetic, and has obviously been upset about this, but my patience is gone. I am a nice guy and I will give them ONE more shot at fixing this crap, as they have said that they will not charge for this.
After this, I guess I will take it someplace else (I do have another good mechanic in Austin who ISN'T incompetant), and sue the snot out of our neighborhood shop. (sighs)
Anybody else feel free to vent here as well.