It has begun...

[SlowwHand]

When your tranny starts to go, you're screwed.
Might as well give in and get a rebuilt installed.

[Pekka]

How do you prevent yourself from not getting screwed over by these car guys? Most of them are of course good and honest, but there are those rotten apples everywhere, so what can you do in the US?

You get a written deal, can you take the car to another place for second opinion or what? Or do you have to threaten them with horrible violence if you find out they worked you?

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Azazel
Plato: Figures. But the price changes a lot whether it's manual or automatic, right?

Yep. It shouldn't though...nothing very complicated about eithier one.

[Lancer]

When I was contracting I occasionally did a job below my estimated price, just to watch people freak out.

One guy I charged double. He had come up from California to put in a carrot juice place. Screwed alot of contractors out of their final payment. So, when he called me to redo his flat roof, I figured the bid, then doubled it. He paid for the whole roof job on the first payment, totally unaware. Then I found that one of the contractors had removed the nails holding the big new skylights...no doubt as thanks for getting ripped off. I lifted a skylight off and called down to the startled customer. I told him I'd nail down the skylights for free once he gave me the final payment. He did, so I did. Took about a half hour.

The biter bit, and no I don't feel guilty.

[orange]

If Just a Leak - $325...not so bad...
If New Transmission - $1,750...ouchies...

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Pekka
How do you prevent yourself from not getting screwed over by these car guys? Most of them are of course good and honest, but there are those rotten apples everywhere, so what can you do in the US?

You get a written deal, can you take the car to another place for second opinion or what? Or do you have to threaten them with horrible violence if you find out they worked you?

Pekka, sadly I have found that very very few of these guys are good and honest. You would not believe the number of times I have sat around with them and heard them laugh at how they gouged a customer.

Some good points to follow are:

1.) ALWAYS ask for a written estimate of ALL charges.
2.) Ask what the shops hourly rate for work is and then ask what the manufacturers standard time is for the work being quoted.
3.) Ask for a detailed parts list. Ask if any of the componets can be reused (many times most of them can be).
4.) Ask for a written warranty.
5.) Contact your local Better Business Bureau BEFORE any work is done. They will have a list of any complaints about this particular shop AND weather or not they have been resolved.

[DAVOUT]

A good mechanics is able to explain any amounts he intends to bill. Depending of your psychology, he will either underline this exceptionnal type of brake down, even unique, if necessary, or the totally natural, obvious nature of the problem. And, as you came to him, asking for his expertise, you can hardly desagree; if you do he will certainly make a light comment about the security of your passengers ...

Do not expect settling the case below 950 US$.

[Pekka]

PLATO, sounds like a good list of things to do. However sounds like lots of work too.. but if problem is bigger, it should be worth it. Thanks for the information.

[Ming]

PLATO1003... excellent advice.

My solution was to find somebody I can trust and give him ALL my business. It helps if he is an old buddy

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Ming
My solution was to find somebody I can trust and give him ALL my business. It helps if he is an old buddy

No doubt! Lucky You!

[Pekka]

I'm also lucky enough to have few buddies who knows all about cars, so they give me advices and I really can trust them. I haven't ever had to take my car to be repaired luckily, but my baby has had few problems in the past and my buddies have been skilled enough to help me out. Naturally I have paid them, but it still a lot cheaper and I can trust them in this particular matter.

[Lincoln]

$145.00

[PLATO]

JohnT: I just realized that you are in Knoxville. I can help...PM me and I will give you a name and phone number for a guy I trust.

[Pekka]

Good thing about having good reputation is that customers recommend you..

[rah]

Originally posted by Ming
PLATO1003... excellent advice.

My solution was to find somebody I can trust and give him ALL my business. It helps if he is an old buddy

Yeah, the guy we use went to school with us.
The first time I used him, I brought my car in and asked him to replace all the shocks. When I went to pick it up, he said he only replaced the back ones. The front ones were fine but one of the mounts was busted. He just drilled a new mounting hole and replaced the old ones.
CUSTOMER FOR LIFE>

Once I blew a head gasket and brought it in to him. After taking the engine apart, he called me, said he thought he could scam the dealer to fix it under warrenty. He put all of the engine parts in a box and arranged a tow to the dealer. AND convinced them it was legit warrenty work. No charge from the dealer, and he only charged me a 100 for labor.
CUSTOMER FOR LIFE>

Once I thought my muffler was starting to rust so I took it in to have him replace it before it blew. He just laughed and said he wouldn't do it. (since it was a stainless steel muffler)
CUSTOMER FOR LIFE>



RAH