I brought my car to the Deptford Citgo across from the Deptford Police Station and told them I needed the rear. Rake pads replaced, I was told this by the tire center and they said that the rotors were fine as the were within in specs, and a quick resurfacing would leave plenty of metal as they looked fairly new. I figured I would take them to my local mechanic as the tire center said it was no rush and they still had a couple of good months on them.
As soon as I returned from vacation, I stopped in to get gas and inquired about getting the brakes done. "Charley" quotes me a price of $135.00 IF the rotors need to be replaced, now since I already had them looked at I know they are fine. I saw the nice smooth rotors with my own eyes, I worked as a tech/me Janice at a Nissan dealer for 5 years, I replaced rakes hundreds of times, I know what scored rotors look like!
Charley looks at the car from about 15 feet away and says, those rotors look bad, granted there are steel wheels and hubcaps on the car that you can not see through but I figured what the hell, I will pay the $135.00 and get all new parts. Well about an hour later I get a call from him saying that the rotors are suddenly scored and gauged really bad and will cost a lot more! I said Charley, the rotors retail for 15.00 a set and pads at pep boys are also about 15.00, so 30.00 in parts and 30 minutes in labor charges, should still be around 135.00 or so! He tells me No! I need to make money, business is slow! The best he could do is around 245.00! I figure, forget this, I'll do it my self! His answer... That is fIne but I have to charge you the labor for the diagnostics! That fee is 135.00! I tell him just put pads on at a cost of $15.00 and I'll pay the 135.00 as I know the rotors are fine anyway. He tells me no and the best price with new rotors is going to be 225.00! I figured oh well I learned a lesson and will never go there again and my wife and I will get service and gas elsewhere.
Now for the kicker... I go to pick up the car and it is fixed and ready to go but... They ask me how I am paying! I tell him check card, he pulls out a calculator and raises the price to $267.50!!!
When I asked what this was for, he says I was giving you a cash discount! He charges more for using a card, I tell him he can't do that and he changes it to, "if you pay cash, I don't charge you tax" correct me if I am wrong but isn't that MORE illegal? What a thief! Now just when you thought it couldn't get worse... I stop back to ask about the rubbing noise it is making and his answer is, $100.00 dollar diagnostic fee paid up front and he will look at it! Why, because he feels I may not want to pay him since I argued with him about his pricing policies! I give up! Learn from my mistakes!
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