I've used Bob's shop twice, a few years apart and boy did those years make a difference! After this last experience, I've gone to recommending them to everyone to crossing over to the side of reviews WARNING TO RUN, NOT WALK, AWAY!
First, I asked Bob for a payment plan, as I had another car needing a huge repair. Bob agreed to half up front then half in 30 days. The shop was very busy though so I would need to wait to get my car in. No problem.
In the meantime I find out my other car can't be fixed cost effectively, so I let Bob know approximately how much I have for: new tires, brakes, rotors, and what I thought was a new coil, as that is what had needed replaced before and what they had told me to expect to replace soon (different #).
They postpone my car again because Bob needs surgery, so I get my tires on-line after looking at Consumer Reports recommendation and they have Bob's listed as an approved installer.
Finally, after they have my car for 2 weeks (I was told to expect 2 days), and being told it isn't my coil and they have run a bunch of tests I didn't approve, added parts I didn't approve, that I had a bad cylinder and needed a new engine, but he had someone who would give my $1000 for my car but only that much because the seats were tore up! Also, it's too bad they did all that work just to find out the engine is bad.
Oh- the back calipers needed replaced too. So, I have a car with new tires, brakes, rotors, calipers and a battery but a bad engine because the mechanic saved the engine, which I did mention, for last.
I go to pick up my car after 2 weeks and having to spend money on rentals, and taxis, etc. and suddenly Bob doesn't remember the deal of half up front, half in 30 days. I beg him to at least let me pay half then and take my daughter to her doctor appointment it took 6 months to get into. Nope. All or nothing. Now, he knows from past experience that I'm a person of my word, because I had to do a payment plan last time. Somehow, because he had been getting screwed over by OTHER people recently, he finds it okay to start questioning my moral character!
During this 2 weeks, Bob was on any assortment of pain meds etc. and doesn't remember any of our conversations or agreements (thank God for texting) and then wants to know what happened to the money I said I had for all these repairs... which his bill, SURPRISE, is almost exactly equal to. I had to remind him several times that amount was before the tires and before I had to find alternate transportation for the 2 weeks, not 2 days he had my vehicle. He also sent me a text of the invoice and literally right below it was a message from him saying that some of the posts on the invoice were not actually in my car. However, when I went to get my car, he still expected me to pay for those parts and the labor for putting them in!
The best part? Whoever he was showing my car off to, trying to sell it...I STILL would have owed Bob's Automotive money but that guy would have been able to just drive off with my car!
In the end, I had to go get a loan to pay for all the repairs because despite me having the messages, there was nothing I could do. I had to cancel my daughter's appointment and reschedule for another 4 months out. I do plan on taking this to civil court for the hundreds of dollars in unapproved tests, labor, parts, and especially the parts he charged me for and then told me weren't even installed after all!
I guess the cherry on top is when he attempted to strong arm me and while I'm at the bank he send me a message to "bring cash." Ummm, no. I'm leaving a paper trail like no other! He wants to cook his books, that's on him but I have the invoice and the receipt and my card statement, thank you.
Now for a new, HONEST mechanic! read more
