To whom it may concern, I had my Chevy 1500 van serviced at Buddy Chevrolet's establishment in late September. I didn't want to do a review of their service until I had facts to back up my suspicions.
The only word that I can think of for their service is "SCAM". Buddy's service department scammed me out of $927.05 dollars. The following are my reasons for believing this.
I turned my van into the service department on the morning of Friday, September 19th. The vehicle's brake and Trac-control lights were staying on, and its cruise control had stopped working. After no word that day or Saturday, I returned to the service department that Sunday to find my van still sitting where I had initially parked it on Friday, the 19th. The Service Manager informed me that a service technician would start work on my van first thing that Monday morning. That Tuesday afternoon, the Service Manager told me his technician needed about three more hours to complete his assessment of my van. On Wednesday, I physically went back out to the service department and found my van parked out in a back parking lot. And it still wasn't ready. When I inquired about the technician working on the vehicles, I was told he had gone to lunch. That whole week, I was led to believe that a technician was working on my van every day, which I found hard to believe (8 hours a day for an entire week? No way). At best, I figure someone looked at the van maybe one or two hours, and not every day. There was no concern for my time. This should have been wrapped up within two to three days. On Monday, the 29th of September, I was informed that Buddy Chevrolet couldn't repair my van. It required an aftermarket harness that they were unable to acquire, which I fully understand. But when I asked for a part number for this harness, the service manager couldn't provide one (another red flag). In fact, he said it might be either one of two different harnesses, a Master Cylinder or an Engine harness. Later that day, he specified that my Van needed an Engine harness and that it would require additional major work, but they would install it if I found and purchased the harness. The following day, I arrived to pick up my van at a charge of $900.06 (with a 10% military discount), plus an additional $27.00 surcharge for paying by credit card, for a total of $927.05. As I prepared to make this payment, I noticed and questioned why there was no harness part number on my paperwork. After all, you've had my van for a week and a half, and it's in the same shape as when I turned it in, yet you are unable to make any repairs. So, in effect, you're asking me to pay you $927.05 for no more than the identity of a necessary engine harness. To my shock, the service manager didn't have this information ready for me. He had to dash to the parts department, hastily write the number on my paperwork, and get it to me.
Recently, I contacted a mechanic from my past to look at my van. He said the story I told him about Buddy Chevrolet didn't sound right. I dropped my van off at his shop late Sunday evening on the 16th of November 2025. Two days later, on the 18th of November, he had my problem diagnosed, and the following day, on the 19th of November, he had my van repaired. The very next day, I picked up my van, repaired for far less money, which is why I'm writing this report. Why did Buddy Chevrolet have my vehicle for well over a week just trying to identify the problem, when this one mechanic located and repaired the problem with my van in three days for far less money? Either both Buddy Chevrolet's service technician and service manager are totally incompetent, or my whole experience with Buddy Chevrolet was one big elaborate SCAM to take advantage of a senior citizen veteran. I'm not above paying a fair amount for any services rendered to me, but what your service department did and charged me was criminal. Within the next two weeks, I will personally deliver a copy of this letter to the owner/president of your company, and shortly thereafter, I will be filing a formal complaint with the General Motors Corporation against Buddy Chevrolet. For me, it may be too late, but I plan to do everything legally possible to prevent your company from doing anything of this nature to another senior citizen.
My final word on this matter is in a question: How would you feel about losing the use of your vehicle for a week and a half to a repair shop, only to be told at the end of this period they're unable to repair your vehicle, but they will still be charging you $927.05 to get your vehicle back? Then, later, have a second mechanic look at, find, and repair your vehicle's problem in three days. And oh yes, for far less of a charge. How would anyone feel about something like this? SCAM.
Sincerely Yours
Stanley J Maffett read more