Aamco gave a verbal estimate of $1,000-$1,500 then after $590 tear down charge, provided actual price of $2,486. Aamco should have stuck with $1,500 initial estimate.
Enclosed is a letter I wrote to Aamco Repair Shop at 1406 N. Milwaukee, Libertyville, IL, because I feel as a customer I was ripped off. A company that has been repairing transmissions for as many years as Aamco should be able to estimate a repair close to actual cost based on historical data and road tests.
But to provide me with a verbal estimate of $1,000.00 to $1,500.00, then charge me $590.00 to tear down the transmission and tell me it will now cost $2,486.00 is taking unfair advantage of the customer and certainly is not ethical.
I feel that the repair shop should have discounted their parts and labor to reduce the repair costs in order for the bill to be closer to the $1,500.00 estimate. But in talking to the general manager, Mike Burdi, on June 10 he would not agree to reduce the charges. On June 17, I talked to Dana of Aamco of corporate offices and she understood my concern and would talk with the Aamco repair shop in Libertyville. She called me the next day and said she talked with the general manager, Mike Burdi, and he refused to provide any reimbursement.
Aamco
1406 N. Milwaukee
Libertyville, IL 60048
ATTN: Chris
I was hoping to see you in person a week ago Saturday, but I got in town after your shop was closed. So Im writing this letter.
As a customer of AAMCO I feel I was put in a position that I had no choice but to go along with your final price of $2,486.87 for the repair of my daughter's 1998 Honda transmission, even though you gave me a lower verbal estimate.
I first took the car to the Honda Dealer, and they wanted $3,000 for a rebuilt transmission (installed) as they don't repair the transmission, they replace it with a rebuilt transmission. That was too much money to put into a 10 year old car with 155,000 miles, so I came to your AAMCO shop because I knew and you confirmed that you repair only what's wrong with the transmission, and the cost is therefore much lower then a total rebuilt transmission.
You took the car on a test drive to do an external diagnostic service and determined the first gear was defective and second gear was slipping. But in order to determine the actual problem and actual cost I would have to pay $590.00 for removing the transmission from the car and taking it apart to determine what parts needed to be replaced. But before I gave the go ahead I asked for an estimate of what the average cost has been for a Honda transmission with similar trouble symptoms. You said $1,000.00 to $1,500.00 but if something is wrong with the reverse gear it could add as much as $300.00. Nothing appeared to wrong with reverse, only first and second gear when driving, so based on our conversation I felt comfortable that our cost of repair would be between $1,000.00 and $1,500.00, as you indicated.
Two days later after removing the transmission and determining what need to be fixed, you called me stating the price would be $2,486.00! That is a long way from $1,500.00, but at this point, our vehicle is in pieces, and there is no turning back.initially if you had given me any idea that the price would be in the $2,400.00 price range, I would not have given you the okay to proceed with the repair of the transmission. That is why I did not give the Honda Garage the go-ahead to replace the transmission. Our plan was to trade for a new car, rather than put $3,000.00 into a 10 year old vehicle with 155,000 miles. But since you gave me a verbal estimate that the price of repair would be between $1,000.00 and $1,500.00, we decided to go ahead with the repair.
Therefore, I believe you should live with your price estimate of $1,000.00 to $1,500.00 and reimburse me for the difference.
Byron
Nineveh, Indiana
U.S.A.
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