This is a classic BAIT and SWITCH auto repair scheme. Call for a price quote on a new clutch for a 1995 VW Jetta and receive $455.includes tax, turning flywheel, new OEM Clutch "kit" and everything out the door. He states that his mechanic hears a noise in the tranny and offers that as long as the clutch is disconnected from the transmission he could "service" it for additional $68. Which we agree to.
That afternoon we drop the car off, he says he will call when he gets to the car. Greg calls the next morning with a new and improved (for him) price. $816. Plus tax. I protest asking what happened to the original quote. I ask for a breakdown of the pricing. His quoted $255. Labor charge stays the same but the parts (quoted at between $150-$200) are going to be $404. (plus tax), and he sends the flywheel out to be turned (he never mentioned this at all) at $89. Plus the transmission service at $68. And we are now at: $816. Plus tax. A far cry from $455.
I go on the internet and find the exact OEM clutch kit for $132.inCLUDING shipping and call him back. Greg grumbles that he already bought the parts and they cost him $208. I order the parts and bring them in, he tries to tell me that these aren't OEM parts (they were) and would not work (even though his mechanic wouldn't back him up on that) but agrees to install the parts and we'd workout an agreeable price.
I tell him my supplier will sell the same parts to him for under $100. And he tells me to buy the parts and he will install (with NO GUARANTEE) for $485. LABOR plus the $68. Tranny service rounded down to $542. Cash only. My "other" option is to pick it up and have it towed somewhere else but still pay him $255. Labor for tearing it down.
After installation he says that "it doesn't work", I ask what doesn't work? He says "the parts you bought don't work". He will have to break the car down AGAIN at his OWN EXPENSE to find the problem. I ask him if it could possibly be his installation causing the problem, he says that there's only one way to install the parts. The next day, it's done, everything works fine. I ask what changed in one day? He tells me that some obscure tech bulletin they read gave them the needed fix to MY problem.
Now to the new pricing... I protest, he says that he records all phone conversations and videos all customers (for obvious reasons... A real honest professional here) I assume because he gets so many others complaining about his tactics. This is classic bait and switch - stay away from this company!
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