just lost my temper with an auto shop - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

aklim · #13 09-08-2012, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dropnosky

oh I didn't pay for it, don't worry.

I feel kinda bad for the kid, because he was the victim of my wholly understandable rage.

They did the timing belt, and did a valve adjustment for me, then the owner of the shop went hunting for work, had his guys take off all the tires and look over everything, found a dragging rear brake shoe because of a broken pin. (i know because I saw it beforehand myself, im totally aware of all the issues with the vehicle)

Then he proclaimed it a safety issue, and told his guys to fix it adding something like 300 dollars to the bill for 3 hours of labor and parts taking apart the rear drums and adjusting.

Then he left for the day.

EDIT- what really drove me nuts is I heard the whole gambit of excuses from the kid, up to and including "your life shouldnt be worth 300 bucks" My response being "bull****, save that crap for someone else, no tires were about to fall off, and I don't want to hear about it. "

the thing has new wheel bearings on all corners, and they were all correctly adjusted immediately prior.

I agree with him it is a safety issue. I don't see a problem with him hunting for work. HOWEVER, he needs to understand that if you didn't authorize that, you are not responsible for it. Should he make you sign a waiver that says you were informed of the possible safety issue, I would go along with it. That is about as far as it goes for his "fishing expedition". This is why I won't let my wife deal with mechanics. All she is allowed to do is get the keys and drive it off. No talking to the people. Don't even look them in the eye. Car work is NOT her forte so she doesn't get to deal with it. Some things are not my forte so I simply nod my head and go along with whatever she wants.