Al's Transmission

Review: After towing my truck to a local transmission repair shop to rebuild the transmission, I was quoted an estimate seven days later after dropping my truck off for repairs. From my initial estimate I was called by the transmission shop and given a quote for parts and labor and was asked for a deposit of at least half the total to begin work by the next day. From that point I had zero contact from the transmission shop for another seven days until I contacted them to check on the vehicles process. When making the phone call the receptionist told me it would be ready the following day and they would call me when it was ready. The following day I received a phone call from the transmission shop in the late afternoon letting me know the truck was finished and gave me my total. Well my total was approximately 215 dollars more than the initial estimate cost. So between the seven days of delivering the deposit money and pick up date I had never received a phone call for the revised estimate cost increase to approve such parts. His records show he contacted me and approved over the phone when I have no record of such calls or even a voice mail since I can not receive calls during work hours or I would have answered or returned the call to approve. Thus you can not purchase parts unless given consent and your estimate can not be revised without notification of the customer. So when picking up the vehicle I had to either pay the full amount and take it then or leave it over night and dispute it in the morning the following day with the transmission shop owner.Desired Settlement: The desired settlement I would like to see happen is the refund of the difference of estimate increase because the transmission shop did not call to approve the revised estimate.

Business

Response:

Business states that they have contacted the consumer and addressed their concerns accordingly. Business believes complaint issues have now been resolved.

I think that [redacted] estimates a low price to get you in and then raises the price. You are handed a lien if you don't pay for the higher total. He has formal complaints with the better business of a similar nature in the last year. Be advised that I think that he is very untrustworthy.

Review: I trusted that Al's would fix my throw out bearing. I drove my car in for repair in the morning. They gave me an estimate for 600.00 and I agreed. Later that day I received a call stating that it was going to cost 863.00. I told them that the estimate was 600.00 and their response was its only 263.00 more. I told them that I was not budgeted for that amount and not to complete the repair. He said them come pick up your car and your car is disassembled. This sounds like the other consumer that complained less than a year ago.. He was quoted a low price and then the end result was a much higher total. This is very deseptive and when your cars torn apart you have no choice. I told them that I would just pick up my car and requested that it should be in the same condition that I brought it in. They refused and said that they would place a lien on it if I didn't pay. My understanding is that the car must be improved to place a lein for repair. I am in sales and in my opinion Al is a master at the hard sale. I think he is high pressure and uses scare tactic on his customers. I didn't see a lot of customers at his shop and that should have been clue one. It seem like Al's is almost doing a bait and switch by quoting a low price then dismantle the car and hold you hostage for a significantly higher price or face a lien. I see this is the second complaint in a year so I am not alone. Every customer that complains there is at least 100 more that don't. Thanks in advance and I know Al' will win but maybe one consumer may read this and change their mind about where to get their car repaired.Desired Settlement: They have been in business long enough to know what a repair will cost. I would like them to complete the repair as estimated or a reasonable 10% range of error price. In my opinion Either they are not very intelligent or they are deliberately deceiving customers and then holding them hostage. Most businesses have a code of morals, ethics and integrity and I didn't see any of those at Al's. Thanks

Business

Response:

Regarding the complaint from [redacted] On March 3rd Mr. [redacted] called and spoke with the manager regarding the 2000 Ford Mustang. The manager asked the mileage and history of the 2000 Ford Mustang. Mr. [redacted] told the manager that the 2000 Ford Mustang had 166,000 plus miles and he did not know the history of the 2000 Ford Mustang or if the clutch had ever been replaced. The manager told Mr. [redacted] that if the 2000 Ford Mustang needed the clutch replaced it would be in the price range of $800.00 to $900.00 but without calling and getting pricing he would not be able to give Mr. [redacted] an exact price. When Mr. [redacted] was told the price for the clutch replacement which would include a throw bearing. Mr. [redacted] said that sounded reasonable. On March 4th Mr. [redacted] brought his 2000 Ford Mustang to us asking to have the throw bearing replaced. The 2000 Ford Mustang has in excess of 166,000 miles. Upon removal of parts the throw out bearing fell apart into pieces. At that point we figured out what it would take to repair Mr. [redacted]'s 2000 Ford Mustang as the clutch was in poor condition at best. As a business owner I would never replace one item when a clutch is in the condition that this clutch is in. I have been in business for 27 years and take pride in taking care of my customers. I then contacted Mr. [redacted] and explained the situation to him and quoted him the following prices as this what was needed to repair Mr. [redacted]'s 2000 Ford Mustang: Pivot Ball $22.95 Clutch Kit (which includes a throw out bearing) 240.00 Clutch Fork 122.54 Total parts $385.99 Sales tax 29.43 EPA 25.00 Labor (no additional charge for labor for installing additional parts) 400.00 Total $840.42 We did not quote Mr. [redacted] $863.00 as he states in his complaint. The amount to complete all the above is $840.42. As there was no way to know the extent of the damage to Mr. [redacted]'s 2000 Ford Mustang until the parts were taken apart to replace the throw out bearing we would not have been able to quote him anything other than what we did as Mr. [redacted] stated that was all that was needed. Mr. [redacted] was told that the $600.00 would only cover the throw out bearing and that if there were any other problems there would be an additional expense. On March 8th we spoke to Mr. [redacted] and asked him if he would like to supply his own parts but Mr. [redacted] stated that he did not want to supply his own parts. On March 9th at 11:10am Mr. [redacted] came in and wanted to pick up his 2000 Ford Mustang at that point there was no one in management that was available to speak with Mr. [redacted]. He waited a few minutes and then stated that he would be back at 2pm to pick up his 2000 Ford Mustang and then left. On March 9th at 1:15pm Mr. [redacted] called and spoke with the owner of the company stating that he would be picking up his 2000 Ford Mustang at 2pm. The owner advised him there would be a $200.00 charge for labor not the $400.00 that had been originally quoted. Mr. [redacted] then told the owner that it was going to cost him a lot more than $200.00 in the cost of lost business after Mr. [redacted] contacted the newspaper and picketed in front of his business. The owner then stated that sounded like a threat to me and at that time the owner stated that he would like that in writing. At that point Mr. [redacted] laughed and stated that you can ask for anything you want, but that doesn't mean I will give it to you. Again the owner stated that, that sounds like a threat to me. At that point Mr. [redacted] hung up. On March 9th at 1:25pm the owner called Mr. [redacted] and asked if he wanted the car put back together, if we put it back together we would charge an additional $200.00 in labor for a total of $400.00 plus the price of a throw out bearing or he could provide the throw out bearing himself. Mr. [redacted] was also told there was no way to put the 2000 Ford Mustang back together in one half hour as Mr. [redacted] stated he would be picking up the car at 2pm. Mr. [redacted] was told that it was up to him as to how he would like to receive his car. Mr. [redacted] stated that "He was not your typical customer" and would not respond to hard sell tactics and wished that we could come to a resolution at 10% and that if we are not willing to do so, that was fine and he would be here at 2pm to pickup his 2000 Ford Mustang. On March 9th at 2pm Mr. [redacted] showed up to pick up his car and when we asked him where he would like the parts for his 2000 Ford Mustang. Mr. [redacted] was asked several times what he would like us to do with his parts, Mr. [redacted] refused to answer and stated that he was done communicating with us on the matter of the parts. Mr. [redacted] stated that he wanted his 2000 Ford Mustang moved to Montana Street and that he wanted his keys but refused to sign the repair order nor would he state what he wanted done with his parts. We did not charge Mr. [redacted] for anything regarding his 2000 Ford Mustang. He asked to have his 2000 Ford Mustang released to him without signing the work order. All customers have to sign a Work Order in order to have their cars released to them regardless of work done to their cars. At this point he called the [redacted] Police Department and told them that we were refusing to release his 2000 Ford Mustang unless he signed the Repair Order. Mr. [redacted] walked outside to wait for the police to arrive but after a few minutes left. At 2:30pm the [redacted] Police Department called and spoke with the owner to find out if the matter had been resolved and the owner told them it had not. The [redacted] Police Department advised us that if the Mr. [redacted] returned to call dispatch and they would dispatch an officer to the shop in order to deal with the matter. On March 11th at 10:30am Mr. [redacted] came to the office and offered to pay for the repairs for the 2000 Ford Mustang. But at this time after all of threats and arguing and his calling the [redacted] Police Department we decided it would be best that Mr. [redacted] take his 2000 Ford Mustang elsewhere to have the repairs necessary. Mr. [redacted] was told at that time that we would not be working on his 2000 Ford Mustang. Mr. [redacted] said that was fine with him as it got him off the hook with his wife, as his wife was making him pay for the repairs. On March 11th at 10:45am [redacted] called and requested to speak to "Someone in Charge", she then spoke with the manager and was told the same thing Mr. [redacted], her husband, was told that we were not going to repair the 2000 Ford Mustang. That we need to know what you want done with the parts, where you want your car put and that the Repair Order must be signed in order for the 2000 Ford Mustang to be released. [redacted] said that was fine and that she would take of it and at that point hung up.

Consumer

Response:

I am rejecting this response because:Al's put a lot of opinions in his response but when you trim away the fat it simple. 1) the only written estimate is 600.002) he refused to give my car back in the same condition that it came in.3) he repeatedly misquotes estimates on the low end to gain business.4) when your car is torn apart you don't have a choice and he knows that.5) he would not release my car even after I offered to pay the bill.6) it's been a week that I am renting a car so I called the police to recover my vehicle.7) I just want my car back and have offered to pay but he is making me sign a statement that I don't want to sigh.8) I will sign a release but not one with incorrect information.

Business

Response:

Customer picked up his 2000 Ford Mustang on Monday, March 21, 2016 at approximately, 2:30 PM. He signed the Repair Order and drove his car off our parking lot. We did not charge him for the repairs to his vehicle.

Fast and friendly. Got me in and out in minimal time. Good, proper repair with a warranty makes me feel better about the whole deal.No complaints.