Inspection okay but overcharged for the work…read more
ORIGINAL POST (reply to owners comments attached at the end)
1) Broken Axles labour rate is $110 per hour. I had a 25% discount reducing it to $82.50. The Ford dealership was $150. Based on difference of $67.50 per hour, and 7 hours of labour, I thought I would save $496 over the dealer, and didn't bother to get other quotes. That was a big mistake. Ford quoted $283 for 2.5 hours for labour. Broken Axle charged $440 for 4 hours. They were also almost double on the parts (a requirement to get the 25% off).
2) Although it was an estimate, not a quote, there was no adjustment for actual hours. I was told the job could cost me more if there were complications, but when I called after a few hours I was told the job was done and went smooth, I was still charged for 4 hours.
3) When I asked the owner about the difference between the Ford estimate (2.5 hrs) and the hours I was charged (4) I was told: 1) I approved the estimate (yup, my error) 2) We allowed you to combine our 2 offers which we wouldn't ordinarily do. If they don't normally allow you to use the 25% discount, then their pricing is even further out of line 3) They use an estimating program and add on extra time for any vehicle over 5 years old, in case they have unforeseen problems. I have no problem with them estimating high, to prepare me for worst case scenario...but if everything goes smooth, I would expect a reduction. Otherwise I have been charged for potential problems that never came to be. They estimated 60% higher than the dealership
4) I was estimated 1/2 hour to change both cable connections for the battery. They decided that only one needed changing, but when I asked if they were adjusting the labour portion, I was told there would not be an adjustment.
5) My estimate from Broken Axle indicated $770 for 7 hours of labour. When I went to pay, I was told that the discount did not apply to $150 of the labour.
6) I was having my spark plugs changed because I was buying a vehicle that was a 2005 Ford with faulty spark plugs. They are a 2 or 3 part plug that can cause grief if you wait until 100,000 miles to change them. The person I purchased it from had no idea if these faulty plugs had been changed. I told Eric that when he pulled the first plug, if it wasn't the faulty plugs that they may have been changed out, and he didn't need to change them. They did the full change. Eric then told me on the phone that he had good news. That my van did not use the faulty plugs. But I had called a Ford dealership and they told me all vehicles had them initially. So my assumption is that Eric forgot to stop pulling plugs, and that I paid for a full spark plug change that was not required.
They seemed nice and the reviews I read were decent, so my best guess is that they discount the inspection to get you in the door, and quote you a reasonable labour rate, but make up for it in the number of hours billed for each job. Get several quotes before approving any work.
One the plus side, they did spend about 25 minutes speaking to me, and Eric was very helpful.
UPDATE AFTER OWNERS COMMENTS: Since my 'Ford' estimate was so far off from what the owner says he obtained, I asked Universal Ford for a written estimate. I have attached that to their home page, along with my Broken Axle invoice. Without the 25% discount I would have paid $127 more at Broken Axle for these 3 maintenance issues. Spark plugs alone, I would have paid $184 more at Broken Axle. With my 25% discount I saved $17.00 over the dealership...yet their quoted hourly rate was $67.50 less per hour and they charged me for almost 7 hours of labour? I should have saved over $460.00. Their parts, which were a condition of getting the 25% off, were billed at almost double the dealer price.
I found out Ford dealerships do not all charge the same rate.
The owner never ever dealt with my one question. Why does it take you 1.5 hours more to do the job? Is it because they claim to be a specialty shop, and were unfamiliar with my vehicle? They claim that they use the same estimating program as the dealerships, so why were they 60% higher?
At no point did the owner attempt to discuss my concerns. Instead he told me I approved the quote...period. Definitely get more than one quote.