Things that make me go GRRRRRRRRRRRR
My Pontiac Firebird is nearly finished and for the last couple things, my husband and I decided to take it to a local restoration shop to button up those things. It cost me $95 to get it towed to the place. We explained the couple things we wanted done and what had been done already. Everything was new or rebuilt on it; I mean everything. There should be no replacement parts necessary. Even before we put the new parts on it, we tested what could be tested to make sure the new / rebuilt part was good. My husband and I have been working on older cars for decades, but somehow this guy thinks we're stupid or something. First of all, he didn't even talk about the things we'd mentioned when we took the car in. Then, he came back with a "guesstimate" of 10 -11 hours labor at $110 / hour and nearly $800 in parts! He wanted me to replace a carburetor, a trans pan gasket, a fuel filter, distributor, kick-down cable, return spring kit and any / all hardware involved and fluids. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE NEW!!! That doesn't include the 2.5 hours of "diagnostics" that I have to pay for already!
We owe $247.50 for NOTHING! Plus the $95 for it to be towed to that shop and now to be towed AGAIN for the return. $437.50 for nothing but high blood pressure and no answers. Before he even touched the car, I knew he'd be telling me to replace the carburetor because he doesn't like Edlebrock. He made it clear that he only uses Holley. Well, guess what assclown... I'm not replacing a perfectly good carb because you only go with Holley. So what if I have to pump the gas pedal a couple times to get my car to turn over. Who gives a shit when it's a car that's only getting about 5-7 mpg anyways!?
I felt my blood pressure rise while reading that email from that shop. I told my husband that he needed to call [and I explained why], because I was about to explode... and I had a meeting in 15 minutes. You know... I was simply trying to get the car done and thought supporting a local business owner would be a good thing. I generally prefer doing business with local small businesses when possible. Most small business owners don't try and screw people. I know SO MANY car people in the area; he screwed with the wrong person. I don't think he understands how screwed he is; I get it, he's slow and needs work, but I'm not the person that's going to pay for his employees to return to work nor am I going to keep his lights on and pay his enormous rent in an elite neighborhood. I'm blue-collar. Now he's lost all of my potential business as well as anyone I know.
I can't wait to find out how the discussion went when my husband called. I'm kind of hoping that my husband's boss decided to help and tow my car instead of me paying for another $95 tow... such a rip off.
So frustrating!!!!
Go get him, Tiger.
Nice car, BTW
Thank you. I'm not going there. I would do something that would get me arrested and then I would lose my concealed pistol license... I don't want to have to deal with all that. This time, I'm letting my husband handle it.
smart
It's ok. I will take the car off your hands. : )
Uh... No. I've put my blood, sweat, tears, and LOTS of money into that 'bird! I WILL be driving it!
If I may give you a tiny bit of advice on this. If most of the work is done and all you needed was a ''button up'' job. You should explain everything you've done to the car and don't want any changes. Just do what we ask and give me a price before you commit to anything. That is how I used to handle it and it always worked out well.
BTW, why did you have to have the car towed to the shop?
Back in the day all the restoration work that I had done on a couple of cars and a motorcycle was done by Chip Foose in Huntington Beach, CA. Expensive but top of the line work. He now has a TV program entitled ''Overhaulin''
Sorry that the experience sucked. At least he didn't do any damage to the auto.
I'm very aware of who Chip Foose is. I can't afford to send my car to Cali and then have him work on it!
We needed some help with a minor electrical issue and the car wouldn't stay running because of it; hence, getting it towed there. We explained in detail what we wanted done and he decided to give me a parts list of the way he wanted it done and nothing to do with what we asked for in the first place.
I lived in HB than and my house was 5 miles from Foos shop.
Sad to hear that you were explicit in your needs and he didn't pay any attention to you. Seems he was out to cash in on what he thought would be easy money.
No, I never met his dad, but you might find this interesting.
I did meet Gale Banks the top expert on diesel engines. I took my 1996 Ford F-250 to be tuned up at his facility in Glendora CA. My truck had the V8 Turbo Diesel in it. When they were finished with it, it kicked out 375 HP and 650 lbs of torque. I could outrun most SUVs, cars, and trucks.
He has a huge facility in Glendora CA and I was there waiting to pick up my truck and has looking at the world's fastest diesel truck, 222 mph. Gale came into the area and I was checking out the interior of the truck and Gale was talking to someone whose voice I thought that I knew. I looked up and Gale was talking to Jay Leno and Leno wanted to buy the truck. Gale told him,''Jay, you don't have enough money to buy this truck''....LMAO.
Nice car! Still worth the money!
Yes, but I may as well have wiped my ass with that nearly $450.