Ah, yes. I've wanted to file this report for some time. Allow me to take you, the reader, down the long and winding road of Business Fraud:
In April of this year (02), I took my recently-purchased 90 Volvo 760T wagon to Mr. Transmission for an inspection, as the transmission had progressively taken longer and longer trips up the tachometer before shifting.in fact, on my way to Mr. Transmission, the transmission refused to shift into 3rd gear.
I was told by the manager, Mr. Al Lassiter, that my transmission would be checked, and that I would be called that afternoon with the prognosis.
36 hours pass.
I called Mr. Lassiter and was told that the throttle body on my transmission was shot, and that I needed a complete rebuild. Oh, and since it's a VOLVO, and some parts are only available from the VOLVO dealer, I would be forced to pay over $2,000! At this news, I nearly choked, and told him that I wasn't prepared to pay that much money, and would call him back later the same day with my decision.
A quick search of the Internet revealed I could purchase a used (less than 50,000 miles) transmission from a dealer in Texas for less than $500. Oh, and this used transmission came with a six-month warranty.
I called Mr. Lassiter again and told him that I'd sourced a used transmission and that I had ordered it, and that it would arrive the next day. This was MUCH to Mr. Lassiter's chagrin. Mr. Lassiter rudely did everything he could to convince me that I had made a poor choice, but I persisted, because I really didn't have the two thousand, anyway.
The transmission was delivered directly to Mr. Transmission, and I was told that it would be installed the next day. I was told this, again, with an unbelievable amount of rudeness, sarcasm and, frankly, the idiocy an undereducated Augustan jackass could provide.
FULLY 10 DAYS PASS. (Lots of rude, terse responses to my occasional phone calls.)
On day 10, I'm rudely told that the dealer in Texas didn't send the kickdown cable, and that's why my car is still sitting around. Of course, I'm left to ask why they haven't told me this so that I could resolve it, but I'm nonetheless told to piss up a rope. So I immediately call the dealer and arrange to have it sent next-day. Which it does.
ANOTHER 3 DAYS PASS. (More rude, terse responses to my phone calls.)
On the next-to-final day, I call in to see if my car had been repaired - if the transmission has been installed. This is the gist of the conversation:
"Hello, Mr. Lassiter?"
"Yes."
"This is Justin, with the Volvo station wagon. Just checking in to see if it's ready, or if there are any problems."
"You need to come down to the shop."
"Excuse me? What's the problem?"
"You need to come down to the shop. Goodbye."
Absolutely the worst treatment I have EVER experienced! I was furious! Raging, raging mad. How dare he!
I don't even remember the drive. I just remember the anger.
Once I arrived, I was told:
"You need to get your Volvo out of here. Your old transmission is in a box. Your new transmission is lying out in the driveway. Get everything and leave."
I'm not kidding!
It was at this point that I suffered a melt-down. I digress: please consider that I am active-duty military; I had just returned from deploying FOUR days after the attacks of 9/11; I was seven days away from deploying again; as long as this Volvo wasn't working correctly, my WIFE and 2-year old CHILD would not have dependable transportation.
Much yelling, finger pointing and threats ensued. The next day, my transmission was installed, and I was FORCED TO PAY $600 for "R&R labor (simple removal of my transmission and installation of my new transmission!)
Oh, but wait. It gets SO much better.
48 hours later, my wife calls me on her cell phone and reports that she and my daughter are stuck on the side of the road. The car will not start. I arrive, make an initial inspection, and have my insurance company arrange for a tow to my house.
Once there, I delve deep into my service manuals and discover something called a Crank Position Sensor. Guess what? It's on the transmission bell housing. Guess what? It had been completely destroyed by the incompetent, inconsiderate, fraudulent asses at Mr. Transmission. I perform an electrical repair and the Volvo is fine again.
More you ask? Oh, YES!
Two days later, the transmission begins behaving IN EXACTLY the SAME WAY it did before I brought it to Mr. Transmission in the first place!
I am now nervous, exhausted, drained, tired, angry, all of those things. I have to deploy soon!
I take it to the Augusta AAMCO (great business!) who reports to me that the kickdown cable needed simple adjustment, everything's fine now. Total cost for this service? $40!!!
In case you missed it, there's another lesson in that last paragraph. An adjustment to the kickdown cable was all that was needed. Guess what? That was ALL THAT WAS NEEDED the FIRST TIME!
$40 or $1100 (what I paid) or $2000 (what they wanted)?
AVOID THIS BUSINESS, BOYCOTT IT, PICKET IT, take pictures and post nasty doctored images on the INTERNET. Do anything but PATRONIZE it!!!
Justin
Augusta, Georgia
U.S.A.
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