Of course I did not look at usacomplaints. Coms until it was too late! Do not make the same mistake. My 2001 Lexus RX300 stopped going to gear a couple weeks back. I towed the car to the Lexus dealership who inspected the car and said the transmission needed replaced (Lexus will not repair - only replace). The quote for this was $3385. I decided to check on having a rebuilt put in it.
I called the local Cottman shop in Duluth and spoke with the manager - Paul. Paul told me that he had been doing transmissions for 25 years and had personally worked on over 15 Lexus RX300's. He explained that he had never needed to replace one - they were all repairable. The dealers just will not do that. I told him my quote from Lexus, and he chuckled, stating even if had to replace the transmission it would be 1/2 of what the dealership said. He said most likely he could repair it and said the maximum he would charge was $595.00 labor plus parts. Worse case scenario he would have to put a re-manufactured one in the car, but he would keep the labor the same, and the transmission would be no more than $1500.00. I unfortunately agreed to let them tow my car from the dealership.
I got a call the next day from Charles at Cottman. He explained to me the parts that were damaged in the transmission and gave me my quote for repairs - $3280.00!!! Amazingly only $100.00 less than a NEW transmission being replaced from the dealer! After my barrage of comments to Charles explaining my conversation with Paul, the manager, I was told that Paul had been let go the day before. I asked to speak with the owner and was told that Charles was in charge now. I told them to put the car back together and I was having it towed back to the dealer. Charles stated that was fine, and asked if I wanted to pay the $595.00 on my credit card!
I explained to Charles that I would be there in 30 minutes and he could charge the accompanying police officer's credit card before he could use mine. With this threat, Charles quickly offered me his "employee discount." This brought the quote down to $2400.00. Now my options were pay cottman $600.00 and then pay lexus $3300.00 or just pay cottman $2400.00. I repeatedly said - so bottom line, out the door, taxes, warranty, everything, NO MORE THAN $2400.00. He said that was the best he could do. I agreed to have him fix the car.
Surprise, surprise, surprise!!! I go to pick the car up and my bill is $2483.00. Charles tried "real hard" to get it to $2400, but just couldn't do it. Sucks for him since their company ethics statement says, "We Pledge to Honor your Quoted Price." Since hey failed to do this, I paid the amount on my charge card and have now filed a chargeback for services not rendered as agreed!
I encourage everyone out there that has transmission issues to go to Cottmans. That is correct. I urge you to use Cottman's. But since you are almost certain to get scammed in some way by them - hence the nearly 200 consumer complaintss alraedy filed on them - pay for their services on your American Express Card. AMEX will ensure that you get your money back if their work is shoddy - if they overcharge you - if they just do what they are doing everyday!!! We can all fight back!!!
I am also sending copies of this report to: Atlanta Better Business Bureau; Better Business Bureau; the Georgia Insurance Commissioner's Office; Clark Howard at WSB750; and every email list I have in my computer (which fortunately includes over 20,000 employees of my company around the country).
GOOD LUCK COTTMAN's! You guys are an embarrassment to Terry Bradshaw!
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