I had my 1970 Cadillac Coupe deVille towed to Sears to have a brake line replaced, my brakes bled and 4 exhuast manifold pipe bolts tightened on Sept. 09. During the course of SEARS having my car for almost 5 weeks and many calls from them telling me that Other repairs were needed, I went down to Sear's to inspect what they said was wrong... I met Richard the mechanic who was working on my car, While talking to him I felt I could trust him, and asked if he could be the ONLY one to work on my car.
Since an injury I had recently experienced it has prevented me to do my own auto repairs. After several of my visit's because someone from the Auto Center had called saying this or that had to be repaired and the outragous prices they wanted to charge. I would go see for my self!
In one of my visit's Richard told me that he doesn't like to see how the auto dept. Rip's off the customers. And stated that if they can get it up to 500 dollars they will hit the customer up again with something else to charge the people more, they like to get at least $1,500.00 for repairs if they can.
I was shocked that he said that. He showed me the car was in need of rear brakes and they wanted $720.00 to fix them. I got the cost of the repair reduced $500.00. The total bill was $241.61 but they got a bonus. They lost my battery!
For 3 weeks they were calling with outragous prices for things that were'nt needed. I always went down and looked at the supposed failed components. I guess they gave up. Because I didn't hear from them for the last almost 2 weeks. So I called and asked if it was finished yet. They replied that my car had been ready for 2 weeks!
No one bothered to call and tell me. I went down there that same day I called on Oct. 06 to pick it up. My Mom drove me down and charged it on her Sear's Charge Card and left.
I went to my car. I opened the hood before starting it because I wanted to check the fluids. I noticed my battery was missing. I asked one of the guys "Robert" (who turned out to be the manager) "where it was?" & I asked WHY was it removed from my car? (Richard was off work that day.) He said it was dead and it had to be put it on the charger. He (the manager) went and grabbed this old filthy corroded battery and started to put it in my car, I could tell he was thinking I wouldn't know one from another.
I said Whoa! That is not my battery! (I knew my battery because I bought & installed it myself and I always keep it VERY clean).
Out of all the time and phone calls... They never ONCE told me about my battery being dead!!! NOT ONCE!
I told them what brand and type I had and iI wanted MINE, after waiting about an hour, I helped them look around in the shop, it was no where to be found.By this time another hour had past and these guys were still jerking me around, they were getting ready to close and said that they would put a used battery in my car to get me home and to call them the next day to see if they had located it yet. As these guys (there was 3 of them by this time 2 were mechanics & 1 was the Manager) were setting this other used dirty battery in my car, I got out of my car thinking. I had better watch what they are doing and sure enough as I was watching... They almost hooked it up backwards on to the battery cables.
I stopped them in the nick of time. And they tried to tell me I didn't know what I was talking about. I had to show them that I did know! That kind of was a blow to thier ego's having a female telling them how to hook up a battery properly.
When I tried starting my car to drive off the rack... I first noticed that the ingition had been left in the on position, then in trying to start the car it would NOT start, I finally got it started with starting fluid I had in my car, I found out the hard way my car was in reverse but the indicator stated Park. I slammed on the brakes. Had to shut off the car because the exhuast pipes were extremly loud... The gear shift lever would not go into park. I ask them why the 4 bolts I had asked to be tightened wasn't done. They had my car almost 5 weeks & NOW they tell me they don't do that kind of work there. I told them that was ridiculous and had them put my car back up on the rack,
I noticed Power Steering fluid just pouring out from under my car. I showed them where the bolts were, in plain unabstructed view, and what size socket was needed!
They finally took 2 mins. To tighten them. It was late and I was fed up and finally drove my LOUD leaking barley running car home. I called the following day to see if my battery had been found, they said; "No! But they were looking". I gave them the exact information on the battery from my receipt from Auto Zone..
Remembering I had a 3 year FREE replacent and a 8 year warranty. I checked the date I bought it. The free replacement had ended Aug. 30. But I never had a problem with my battery! Because I hardly drove this car. The battery had approx. 6 months of use within the past 3 years and that is exaggerating. I would disconnect the battery cables when I wasn't using it for long periods of time. I drove my car the night before I had it taken to SEARS and the battery was as strong as ever.
A few weeks go by, after several of my calls - the automotive dept. Said they found it. I wasn't able to go down there to pick it up and asked to please hold it. 3 days passed since I called, I asked my mom if she would go down and pick it up and return the bunk battery they lent me to get my car home with. She did. After she picked it up, it was in her trunk for another 4 days before I was able to remove it from her car. When I opened the trunk, I saw that this was still NOT my battery. I relocated my receipt for my battery and asked my mom if she would show them EXACTLY what I am missing because I wasn't able to physically, (When I say "I wasn't able to go.." it is from reaccuring physical problems, that I am experiencing, that prevent me from being able to walk.) My mom went down there the following day and was treated VERY badly, she was shook up when she got back home. She said that they were extremly rude (she's an old lady..) to her and told her that I had to go down there and talk to the Manager.
When I was able to... Which was Dec. 05. I asked to see the manager, they gave me the asst. Manager John. I told him I was tired of this run around I am getting and I would appreciate being compensated for them losing MY battery. The guy behind the counter said; "oh the Cadillac!"... The asst. Manager flat out refused and started saying that they had found my battery a month ago and I never came down to pick it up... (which was a complete lie) just then the manager walks in and tells me the same story. They both obiviously weren't aware that my mother had picked up the supposed found battery! I let them stick by thier lie. I asked if in fact the battery was found why AGAIN didn't anyone call me? The manager said that it wasn't thier responsibilty. And that they service 40 to 45 costumers a day... How were they to remember who it belonged to.
I said if no one knew who it belonged to... Why did the guy inside behind the counter say "Oh the Cadillac", when I mentioned lost battery? And I also said... You have computers that print out these receipts. Why wouldn't the information be there? I asked... If you supposedly found it and I never picked it up, what did you do with "my" battery. They both replied they got rid of it, and that they only hold batteries for 30 days. I said; "oh, you do this to other people too?" They were getting flustered. I said I have the WRONG battery that I supposedly didn't pick-up in the 30 day period. I stated again I want MY battery or a free replacement with a NEW battery. I informed them I lose my warranty without My battery. And I am NOT taking anymore of these sloppy seconds of used batteries your handing out. I want this resolved NOW! Robert asked to see the battery in the trunk, I showed him and I also showed him my receipt for MY battery. It was obivious the receipt and the battery did not match.
We had a few more words and Robert finally said to me; "ok! If you can go to Auto Zone and get the price of a new battery replacement IN WRITING, I will give you a battery. I asked if I could get what HE said in writing... He said No.
He also said I had to do it TODAY! Then they took the battery out of my trunk and I left.
I went to Auto Zone, explained to them what was happening, the the manager gave me the papers I needed. I went back to Sears, the kid behind the counter said he could help me I told him I was here to pick up a battery and here's the paperwork. He looks at it and says they gave you a free replacement and I can not do that. I said I want to talk to the manager. Robert would NOT come out, The asst. Manager John came out instead and told me regaurdless of what Auto Zone said, that he has to charge me as per Robert (the manager's) order's. He said Robert told him that right after I had left.
So I'm NOT to get a battery unless I bought it. I said: oh that's great! You steal my battery. Actually now 2 of them (in a way since I don't have ANY BATTERIES) and want to make me pay for a new one! With that John (the asst. Manager) ignores anything more I had to say, as he rudely turned his back and trotted off to his office closing the door behind him. 2 Months of getting the run around and still nothing.
This whole thing has created EXTREME hardship on me. I have been without my car running because SEARS refusses to replace my battery, That they lost. Is poor business. I went and tried to resolve this one last time Dec. 09 without any success, they were completely rude and unwilling to make good for thier mistake. And were trying to corner me into purchasing one of thier batteries at a pro-rated cost. The thing is I don't want to have to have anything to do with these rip-off artist's. I just want my battery!
T
Riverside, California
U.S.A.
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