Walter's Auto Sales & Service [Mercedes]
Walter's Mercedes ripoff

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a two-part commentary. The first part of this letter explains what occurred in August and the bottom part of this letter contains the update.

On August 8 I left my Mercedes 1984 190 E at Walter's Mercedes at 3213 Adams St., in Riverside, CA for the purpose of having the air conditioning system filled with Freon. When I picked it up the next day, the system was still not blowing cool air so I returned it for additional investigation. I was informed that the necessary repairs would run some $1,800. Declining the repairs, I picked up the vehicle on August 12.

A few miles after I left Walter's Mercedes, I found tucked under the radio console, two straws, and a receipt for 2 egg McMuffins and 2 cartons of milk from the McDonald's near the repair shop on Indiana Ave. Furious that someone from Walter's had taken my vehicle for a joyride, I returned to the dealership to have a little conversation with the manager.

The manager had the audacity to call the mechanic into the office in order to face his accuser. Completely flabbergasted by the manager's action, I did not have the internal fortitude to question one, why was MY car used for the detour to McDonald's and; two, in what manner was it driven (i.E. Gunning, popping wheelies, racing)? Nor, I was I able to render the tongue-lashing that the manager should have given the mechanic. The mechanic did admit to a breach in professionalism and apologized for his actions, but as I told the manager, this is a matter that should have been between supervisor and subordinate.

The manager seemed to think that a mere apology should suffice for all my inconvenience and trauma. It took a good bit of cajoling on my part to secure a paltry $75 in service credit.

On August 14, I sent off a letter to the owners of Walter's Mercedes describing what had transpired, but they never did reply.

Update 2004

Not wanting to invest $1,800 in repairs as recommended by Walter's Mercedes, I mothballed my 190 E for a few months. At the end of January I took it to M& B Mercedes Shop (909-943-3541) in Perris, CA. For $300 M & B conducted a FULL inspection of the air conditioning system and the compressor, and found nothing wrong other than the fact that my car needed Freon.

So it appears that when I left my 190 E at the Walter's Mercedes dealership in August for the purpose of having it filled with Freon, the mechanic was so consumed with the joy ride to McDonald's that he forgot to attend to the Freon. I paid some $277.00 to Walter's Mercedes for absolutely nothing.

Company: Walter's Auto Sales & Service [Mercedes]
Country: USA
State: California
City: Riverside
Address: 3213 Adams St
Phone: 9096883332

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