I took my car in on October 31st for a new battery at 9:00. I was told by their service writer that it would take an hour to an hour and a half to put in. I left my car at that time and gave them two phone number of where I could be reached and said that I would wait for their phone call.
At 12:00 after not hearing from anyone I called down to the store and was told that they had done the initial diagnostic and that they would be installing the battery soon. I called back again after 1:00 and was told that the battery had been installed but they needed to do one last diagnostic on the car.
At 2:30 I called again and was told that I needed a new alternator. They said that they had tested the car and that it showed that not only did I have a bad battery but that I had a bad alternator as well.
I went back to store to pick up my car but told that since I work nights that it might be unsafe. I asked them to please order the part and that I would drop off the car in the morning I was then informed that they could not order the part if the car was not there and that it may take them longer to get to my car. I decided to leave my car there and asked them to please order the part. When I asked them what time my car would be done I was told that it would be completed at 12:00 the next day.
I called the service department at 3:30 the next day afer not hearing from them all day and was told that it was still not completed and should be done after 5:00 and that again they would call me when it was finished.
At 5:30 11/1/06 I again called and was told that my car was finished. I went to pickup my car and asked the service writer for my old alternator back. He said that he was not allowed to give it back to me. He then told me that I could have the part back but that I would have to pay for it.
After talking rather loudly in the store another service writer/manager came to see what the problem was and they said they would find a way to get me the part and not have me pay for it. I am guessing at this time that they just wanted me out of the store.
I had the alternator checked at two different places on 11/10/06 and was told that it was fine and there was nothing wrong with it. I then had my boyfriend walk the part into Pep Boys and have it checked. He was told that it was fine and that there was nothing wrong with it. He then went back to the service department and asked why we were ripped off and sold a part that was not needed.
He was told that they did not understand either and that there was not anyone at the store at that time to authorize a refund of 420.00 but that they would call us back the next day before 1:30 and that we would get a full refund.
11/11/06
We call Pep Boys and after asking them about the refund and explaining to another person what happened we were hung up on.
We went down to Pep Boys and spoke to Danny the Service Manager and my boyfriend was told that we were not going to get the refund and that they were never planning on giving us our refund and that they basically were told that so that we would leave the store. I then myself went into the store and demanded to know why I was sold the part when not needed making sure to let every customer in the store know what they had done to me and how I was charged for a part and service that was not needed.
Danny then called the store manager and let him know of the situation. After dealing with the store for over 5 hours that I day I was finally refunded my money and had the old part put back into my while my boyfriend stayed in the service bay and watched them put my old alternator back into my car.
I am absolutely outraged that I was ripped off. If I had not asked for my old part back I would never have known. I work hard for the money that I make and to think that I can be taken advantage of so easily absolutley disgusts me.
There were also suggestions that were on my bill such as an oil change, new air filter, new windshield wipers. I had just taken my carin for an oil change before this happened and had just changed the air filter and windshield wipers. When we asked them why they thought this was needed I was told that they make these suggestions by looking at the mileage not by actually checking to see if these parts are needed.
I want to know how someone so well known as Pep Boys can do this to a customer.in fact the reason that I went there in the first place is because they are so well known. How can they get away with charging a person for something that is not needed just because they are female and unfortunately dont know enough about cars. What an outrage this compay is.
Veronica
Corona, California
U.S.A.
0 comments