March 17th Allied Collision received my car for repairs after a major collision that morning. I am assured they will do right by me even after telling them that I am the pickiest person on earth. The swear up and down about their parts and labor warranties. So off they go.
Fast forward to the middle of May. I finally get to pick my car up. Upon close inspection during a detailing... I find overspray on my wheels. 15" Sportmax 501s to be exact. So I go back the next day to Allied Collision and inform them that they got overspray all over my immaculate wheels. I take this car to car shows so I know every inch and have never curb checked a wheel. I am told that the repairs will take a few days... No problem. I drop the wheels off at the beginning of June.
I come back 2 days later and there is still overspray on my wheels and now the lips have scratches and buffer marks all over them. I inform the guy at the counter... His name is Jimmy. The General Manager Michael Qutob is sitting on the couch around the corner listening to the exchange. I informed them that I am giving them yet another chance to fix my wheels and that if its not right that I would like them replaced. The shop manager (who never would give me his name) tried to tell me that he did not like the way I was talking to him and to take the wheels and leave. Mind you, my temper remained stern and I did not raise my voice.
Finally the shop manager agreed to my terms for replacement. I asked for that in writing and he would not give it to me. The General Manager, Jimmy, and the secretary all witnessed this exchange. I turned to the General Manager and he said that if they still were not right when I came back to just come and talk to him.
Over 110 days later, and after numerous calls, I call them and they tell me my wheels are back and ready to be picked up. HOORAH!
Upon my arrival I am helped by Jimmy. He and another shop worker roll my wheels out to me. I get out my microfiber towel and get to work checking for overspray and scratches on the lips. The overspray is gone... The scratches on the lip, however, are not. So naturally everyone but the General Manager is out there with me looking at the wheels. The shop manager is trying to discount the scratches by saying they are normal and that when I wipe any wheel with anything those scratches will happen. So I break out the dirtiest microfiber I can find and my trusty Meguiars Quik Detailer. This microfiber towel had seen about 10 wheels at a car show the prior week so it was VERY dirty. I sprayed the wheel that was bolted to my car and wiped it off... Much to the shop managers dismay, there were no scratches. He tried to show me the scratches but was only pointing to the machined lip underneath the clearcoat. I detail a lot of cars... I know what he was saying was just him trying to wash it under the bridge.
So here is where the situation escalates. The shop manager informs me that the wheels are fine and that is all they are willing to do to them. What happened to their warranty? If its not right they will fix it? Well this isnt right... Now I am being shuffled out the door.
So I remind him of the agreement that we reached about replacement. He denies me that guarantee and I remind him that I did ask for it in writing and now he is denying me. He told me "get your wheels and get off my property or I am going to throw them in the f*king street and have your car towed." I exchanged some not so nice words with him at this point... And demanded to speak to the General Manager, Michael Qutob. He quickly told me that he IS the general manager and that I needed to leave. He walked inside to find a tow truck to come tow me. I asked him for his name but he would not give it. I informed him I was calling the police.
As I was on the phone with the Sheriffs office I loaded my wheels into my car and moved it into the street. I did not think anyone would show up as technically it was a civil matter... But 1 sheriff and 2 constables arrived 10 minutes later. I explained the situation to them and they got a story from the shop manager. I do not know the story although I am sure it was falsified. The sheriff explained to me what I already knew... It was a civil matter and that I would have to take them to small claims court. Fine... But at least now the shop manager realizes that I follow through with my threats to call authorities.
So this is where it stands.
I have a set of wheels with scratches all over the lips and was told to f* off by a shop that got over $10,000 from my insurance company for a car crash that I did not cause.
Unlike the shop though... I am not going to pay $99/wheel to have wheels refinished that only cost $88/wheel shipped to my door. Yes, I did inform them of this before they sent them out for refinishing... Did they listen? You make the call.
SyntheticgtHouston, Texas
U.S.A.
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