Theres no integrity in the world anymore

[Jschmuck2]

It was probably an illegal immigrant.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
Why not price the parts yourself so you know what you're dealing with.
I had a mechanic I was using for years. He did good work and came across as Mr. Honesty himself.
Then one time I priced out the parts and realized he was robbing me blind.

i did that with the shop i had been using, then asked the gen manager how he slept at night with a 300% mark up on parts. he said he had no trouble at all, it was the companys rule not his.


btw, firestone is largely a franchise business here in az, a friend used to work there back about a decade ago. store to store is vastly different due to that.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: dud
The Internet (and Google) are your friends. Use them the next time your car needs service. Many chains (like Firestone) have been identified as scammers by consumer groups in the past. There are many websites that contain information/complaints about their shady dealings. I did a quick search and found about 100,000 hits just on "Friestone complaints". Here is an interesting site:


Consumeraffairs complaints about Firestone

most of their mechanics used to work on commission only, so that doesnt surprise me at all. gotta be there a while and maintain a certain level of sales before you can command a salary + commissions. doesnt surprise me at all that some mechs would stoop to recommending repairs that arent necessary.

 

[Squisher]

I got quotes from Toyota for a 5000 mile service on my Prius from $40 to $90.

I drove the 30 minutes to get it done for $40

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally posted by: Specop 007
So, I'm having some transmission problems with my Expedition. I figure I'll get the fluid changed, if it fixes it great and if not well then it'll get rebuilt.

So I call a Firestone by a mall so I can hang out while they do it. They qouted me $129. Cool. Well I didnt make it due to other things coming up, so I decide to take it to a different Firestone across the street from work this morning. They ring it up and its $250. WTF... Well, the parts came to $133. Maybe the 129 was parts only?

Sitting here at work I decide to call a third Firestone. Get a qoute for $161. I asked if that includes labor. He said yep, everything except tax.

WTF. How the hell can 3 different stores byt he same company have estimates that very by hundreds of dollars??

Theres no damn integrity anymore. Finally got fed up and called an actual mechanic shop. $80 for inspection, then they will tell me whats actually wrong. Screw it, I'm going with that option.

Fucking mechanics.

Keep profanity out of the titles

ATOT Moderator ElFenix

Specop,

Coincidently, i also have an Expedition (2000), the land Yacht.

There's more than 1 way to change the trans fluid.
The 2 most common ways is the Power Flush method, which uses a machine and then the
old fashioned drop the trans pan/loosen the drain plug method (A lot of vehicles do not have a transmission drain plug).

When the dealerships and other repair shops do the power flush, they normally do not change the filter, this is extra labor plus the price of the filter naturally.

On our Expeditions, if you drop the pan, you will not get all the fluid out, as there is still many quarts of fluid left in the Torque Converter.

Around here (New Jersey), a power flush can range from $80-200 and the drop the pan method is over $100.

When you call around for a transmission service, be sure to ask if they offer a power flush or the drop the pan method, they may even offer both.

That way you'll know what your paying for and can compare different shops prices

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Specop 007
So, I'm having some transmission problems with my Expedition. I figure I'll get the fluid changed, if it fixes it great and if not well then it'll get rebuilt.

So I call a Firestone by a mall so I can hang out while they do it. They qouted me $129. Cool. Well I didnt make it due to other things coming up, so I decide to take it to a different Firestone across the street from work this morning. They ring it up and its $250. WTF... Well, the parts came to $133. Maybe the 129 was parts only?

Sitting here at work I decide to call a third Firestone. Get a qoute for $161. I asked if that includes labor. He said yep, everything except tax.

WTF. How the hell can 3 different stores byt he same company have estimates that very by hundreds of dollars??

Theres no damn integrity anymore. Finally got fed up and called an actual mechanic shop. $80 for inspection, then they will tell me whats actually wrong. Screw it, I'm going with that option.

Fucking mechanics.

Keep profanity out of the titles

ATOT Moderator ElFenix

Using bait and switch tactics is how many shops make their money. They're shady.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Kaido
I'm SO glad I lease

for some that cost far more then buying and repair.

but odds are you are young, get a new car every 2 years, have a good bit of disposable income etc.


no way would i lease. i would rather buy a 1-2 yr old car and keep it for 4-5 years.

I like the convenience. Compared to my previous car's near-monthly repair costs, there is only a slight premium in monthly costs when broken down over 12 months. I think at the present time I pay more for gas monthly than I do for my lease (basic Saturn sedan). The shop does all basic maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations, etc.), major fixes (repaired my radiator, service recalls, etc.), and cleaning maintainance (interior vacuum job & car wash on every visit, free car wash every month). I pay for gas, insurance, and windshield wiper fluid. I get a loaner if needed, as well as shuttle service while at the dealership, plus gap insurance was included. I'm pretty happy with the deal overall.

I calculated it out when I was shopping for a new car...as long as I have a minimum wage job, I will be able to afford a lease on a basic Saturn sedan (including gas/insurance, plus with the down payment for the next lease spread out over the 3-year lease period). I can see how the diposable income argument would work if you had a higher-end car with a $400-$500 monthly lease, but if you don't need a flashy or fancy car, then it can be a pretty good deal, especially if you don't happen to enjoy or know how to work on cars.

 

[BoomerD]

Part of the difference in price is that in many cases, these Firestone stores are franchises and allowed to charge whatever rates they want...even national coupons may not always be honored at all of them...(offer valid at participating locations)

Do yourself (and your car) a big favor...find a quality, reputable mechanic instead of the chain shops like that.
I have all the work on my Ford Expedition done in a dealership's shop, the work on my VW Jetta done at the local VW dealer's shop, and the work on my older BMW done at a local European Automotive specialty shop.
(gawd I miss the days when I could do all this stuff for myself...it was SOOOOO much cheaper!)

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Originally posted by: K1052

They don't call them "Stealerships" for nothing....[/quote]

QFT!! When I went to pick up my wifes car, which had been towed to the stealership the night before, becuz of a bad alternator, that I wasn't about to pay $500 for, there was still a bill waiting for me for around $100. When I asked the mechanic what the bill was for, he said that they had already pulled the alternator, and had to put it back on, when I had refused the phoned work authorization. I then called the manager over, showed him the bill, and then tore it up. (wait for it),---- At the time we were standing over an engine compartment covered with oil and dust, and not one fingerprint could be found.
Recently, I was punished by another stealership for refusing to pay $300 for a pair of front shocks.
It was the only reason I was given for it not to have passed inspection on the phone. (Goodyear wanted $160, I did it myself for $50, & 30min. time) When I went to pick up the car, again a bill was waiting, $45 for a headlight adjustment!!! Thats a good one, "can no defense, grasshopper", or can you? Makes note to self, mark the set screws next time.