I now know why I never take my cars or parts to shops now. I dropped my heads off on 2-5-04, they said it would take about a week, maybe a bit longer.

I called on 2-16-04, they had just now started working on them, and said hopefully end of the week.

So today 2-20-04, I called at 3:30 and asked whats up. They are waiting on the parts to come from crain cams.

WTF, why were these parts not ordered the day after I dropped them off. I could of had these parts myself weeks ago if it wasnt for the slightly lesser price he is offering them to me for.

They are now saying they are hoping the parts will be in monday, and have them to me tuesday.

Same crap that went on with the transmission on my car. Send it to the most "reputable" shop in the area, and get $hit service

Sorry, had to vent.

 

Well... thats why whenever I have to have something done at a shop, I get a VERY clear time table. I deal with 1 andd only 1 shop locally, and they know me by face, name, and voice. First time I took them something, I called everyday until it was done(on time insurance). I did the same on the second thing, ever since I have not had to do it

If not, I complain, and get a hefty discount.

 

Only time I EVER take something to a shop is if it has to deal with rusted exhaust bolts because they're a PITA to take care of. Don't blame you for needing to vent. I'd complain to him and give him an earful until he gave you a massive discount. Might even want to mention him giving you a verbal contract when talking to you on the phone and going far beyond the amount of time he said it would take. That might help you get a bigger discount, people sometimes freak a little when you say things like that. Worked once for me when the guy was 2 weeks late. Might help.

 

Well, he told me to my face, not over phone the time. I guess his "little more" is atleast double the orginal quote. I will see what kinda discount, but I doubt I get any. But he wont be getting anymore work from me.

Very few things I go to shops for.

Transmission rebuilds
Alignments
Mount tires on rim
Head work to do 3angle cause I dont have the tools.


Rest of it, I do myself, or have good connections to do it with my help.

So far, every place but sears I have gotten some from.

 

You know what really scares them? I had a shop give me the runaround like this, just bring a friend of yours who knows a little bit about cars and wears and suit and tell them this is your lawyer, they will make sure thier is not one grain of dirt on your butt once you do that. I had my father in law accompany me like that, I swear I was royalty at that POS shop.

 

I took my new rims to sears to get tires mounted and I had them put'em on my truck, I get home and take a look one rim has some really ugly scratches on it so I go back and they say it had it before they installed it.

 

Sears put my tire on my car and did a good job until I looked and they had put them all on backwards. So it took a whole day to get 4 tires changed twice. I know own my own tire changer and keep eye balling the balancer to match. Though it just a bubble balancer and a spin balance is better.

 

I'm not saying sears is best, I have just lucked out with them. I had a friend work their who told me about some crap. I worked at w-m oil change place, we fubared some stuff to.

I guess any shop that does a decent amount of work has problems. Just I always happen to be the one

 

I tend to inform the shops owner when they pull BS that I will be informing blah blah people (people that I KNOW use him) and are not that happy with the guy about my prob, and that it might just be the straw on the proverbial camel. (SNAP)

 

Sears is OK though. I might go back n get a re-balance. I know I paid for the lifetime one and the tires were done 11/18/00 so it might be a good time to do it.

 

Hey I feel sorry for ya, but look at it this way. I set off for new wheel center caps from the U.S. (I live in England) on 6th Feb and I'm still waiting!!
Sound's like you got naff car shops over there too though. Some garages I've been to in the U.K even forget that your even bringing your car in!! whats up with these guy's eh.....don't they want our hard earned money!

All the best, and good luck. . . Speed.

 

I understand what you guys are saying and service should be as promt as possible unless a job turns into a nightmare then its a different story. That machine shop should have already ordered your parts theres no excuse for that. Truth is if someone starts pushing me calling every 20 minutes I'm going to sit on that car until I feel like working on it again, Ive got other cars that need attention and a non pushy customer always get thier car back sooner. Besides when your in a hurry thats when bolts get left off things dont get tq'd properly or double checked. Quality takes time and if it takes an extra hour or two to get your car back to ****ing bad I'd rather have one go out late then wrong