This whole charade started in June when my car broke down close to the Meinke store. I told them my car has been sputtering and acts like its going to die, especially when its cold or wet outside. They looked at it, replaced the battery and said they "fixed it".
A few weeks later, my car started sputtering again and would die on occasion. I took it back to them again, stating my car is doing the same thing. They took my car for about a week, did $2200 in repairs, and again said, "its fixed."
In the meantime, my car continued to sputter and die on me. Since the repairs were under warranty, I'd take it back. The mechanics would look at it, tell me they fixed a vacuum hose and fixed exposed wires. They told me, "Whoever has been working on your car did a crappy job." It was the Meinke mechanics! They never once logged in the computer the times I came in and what they done to my car for my records. They said since they aren't charging me, "its easier this way." I came in atleast six times for the SAME problem they said they fixed, and not ONE record of it.
The last and final time I took my car to Meinke for the SAME problem was in November. I figured since I've spent over $3,000 in their store since last year, that they would help me. The owner, Jerry, said he'd take care of the cost for diagnostic testing, and since I've spent so much money there, he's going to make sure it gets "fixed" this time. At this point I was getting aggravated and rightfully so.
They took my car in for 11 days. After the 3rd day, I would call to check on progress. The person I spoke to said they didn't know anything, and that diagnostic testing is a "pain in the ass". He told me, "Whoever worked on your car did a shoody job." That's the SECOND time I was told that by one of their own workers! Apparently, they were putting parts on my car that didn't even belong on my car! I was told they corrected that and was still diagnosing the problem.
A couple days later, I was told their computer said that my idle air control was malfunctioning. I asked if it needed replaced, and he told me, "No. We tested it out and it works fine". He then said they went ahead and replaced it. I didn't understand what was being told to me, so I asked to speak to a mechanic that can explain things to me better. I was told that its their policy that the mechanics don't talk to the clients and that whatever information I'm being told is being relayed from the mechanics, to him, to me. I asked if he was a mechanic, and he told me he is a "B mechanic" and some of what the mechanics tell him sounds "Chinese" to him. Ok. So WHO can tell me about my car? I asked to speak to the owner several times, only to get told he wasn't there. I asked to speak to the manager, and he said, "I am the manager." Nobody seemed to know what was going on. I'm a single mom, with no car for several days, and nobody could give me answers. He told me they were going to fix the problem at "no cost to me."
On the 10th day, I called to check on the car, and I was told the idle air control needs replaced and then the computer in my car needs reflashed. I again didn't understand, because he told me they just replaced it! I asked to speak to the owner again and was told he wasn't there. I truly didn't understand what was being told to me and was getting extremely agitated. He told me they replaced my idle air control with a used model to see if that was the problem. It wasnt, so they put my old one back on. I began raising my voice and admittedly started cussing. I then was told, "Bottom line, we need your permission so we can get this shit fixed!" Another $330 bill. I was so upset, I was crying because I didn't understand what was happening, no one would give me answers and I was told it was being done for free. I understand the idle air control and reflashing my car was NOT under warranty and an entirely different job. However, why was I told numerous times the sputtering of my car was fixed, only to find out it wasn't?
When it was time to pick up my car, I brought my father with me. He started asking them questions, and he was greeted with rude responses. Turns out, there was another manager this entire time, who handled the situation in a professional manner and was appreciated. I was told who I was talking to the entire time was probably afraid to tell me about the other manager, because the other manager was the "B mechanics" boss. I made it very clear I would never take my car to Meinke again, and I would still like to talk to the owner about this chronic situation.
The manager called me back and said he spoke with Jerry. Jerry's solution was to give me and my father a $70 Meinke card. What?! First off, they talked me into buying one a few months ago, and I told them I wasn't taking my car back to them! It was a slap in the face, and the owner never once talked to me during this ordeal. So, I've spent almost $4,000 all together since LAST year at Meinke, almost $3,000 of that going towards the SAME problem I was told was fixed. Its now December 3rd 2012. MY CAR IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS! Please guys, do yourself a favor, and DO NOT take your car here! Lesson learned on my part. Jerry, you can say this is a personal attack all you want, but you know what I'm saying is the truth. I have the receipts and witnesses to back it up.
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