1 Star - Quoted $200, Charged $300 After the Work Was Done…read more
I would strongly caution anyone--especially women traveling alone--before doing business with 24/7 Armstrong Tire Shop & Auto Repair located at 1201 N Claiborne Ave in New Orleans, louisiana.
My friend and I stopped here because we had been told we needed two rear tires before driving back to Indiana. Before they touched my vehicle, I specifically asked for the total price to install two rear tires. The employee clearly quoted me $200. I even jokingly asked if he'd take $175, and he replied, "No, $200." Based on that quote, I agreed to have the work done.
When it came time to pay, the card terminal showed $300.
When I questioned the amount, the employee completely changed his story and insisted he had quoted me $300 all along. Another employee backed him up and pointed to price stickers that I had never seen before. My friend witnessed the entire conversation and confirmed that the agreed price was $200.
I explained that if I had been quoted $300 from the beginning, I would have declined the work and gone elsewhere. We had recently purchased another tire for around $100, so I never would have agreed to pay $300 for this service.
Instead of trying to resolve the situation professionally, the employees became argumentative. They claimed the conversation was recorded on camera, and I welcomed them to review the footage because it would confirm the $200 quote.
The situation escalated when they threatened to remove the newly installed tires from my vehicle. At that point, I no longer trusted them to work on a vehicle I was about to drive hundreds of miles home, so I told them not to touch my car.
We contacted the police. Dispatch advised that it was likely a civil matter but instructed us not to engage further if we felt uncomfortable and said an officer would be sent. Because my friend was becoming overheated in the extreme Louisiana heat, we waited inside our vehicle with the air conditioning on, as dispatch had advised us to avoid further confrontation.
After waiting for quite some time, I called the business from my vehicle while still on the property so I wouldn't have to approach them again. I informed them that I was leaving, that they already had my card information, and that they were authorized to charge the $200 we had agreed upon. If they believed they were entitled to the additional $100, they could pursue the matter through the proper legal channels. We then left without any further incident.
What upset me the most wasn't just the money--it was the fact that they changed the agreed-upon price after the work was complete, because we were two women!!! They would never have tried this stunt on a man, period!!!
As two women traveling from out of state, the entire experience made us feel vulnerable and taken advantage of.
Businesses should honor the prices they quote. If there is a misunderstanding, it should be handled professionally--not by changing the price after the work is completed or threatening to undo the repairs.
Based on my experience, I would never recommend this business. If you decide to use them, get your quote in writing before any work begins. It may save you from experiencing the same situation we did. And if you're a single woman, DO NOT go to this shady business, period!!
