So here's my experience... I dropped off my 2001 F150 on 1/28/17 due to a transmission line leaking. I also requested a price for tires and advised them that I rarely drive the truck, I usually just use it to haul stuff for projects on the weekends. I also requested an estimate for a manifold leak repair and an idler arm replacement. I told them I would not be able to get the truck until the following Friday, so there was no rush. So far, so good.
On Monday I receive a call advising me that the tires are on the truck. Really??? I did not pick a tire, I was not given any options, I was not advised ANYTHING before they put the tires on. I even had a coupon for Goodyear, but the put on IRONMAN tires. (Raise your hand if you've ever heard of Ironman tires.) They were $140.08 EACH.
Things got worse from there. I was then told the trans lines were seized in the radiator and I may need a new radiator too. I was given an estimate of $1000, with a worse case scenario of $1500.00 if I needed a radiator. The NEXT call I received advised me that my truck was ready and the total was over $1750. They stated they had to fabricate something for my rusted out radiator support. (Ok, no problem, welding and fabrication can be expensive, I thought.)
I go to pick up the truck on Friday 2/3/17, of course I'm not happy about my increased bill and the tires being put on without my permission. The tires looked ok, but time will tell how they perform. The fabrication job was two blocks of WOOD... $250 to put two blocks of wood under my radiator, and the mechanic said it took less than an hour. Of course I contested, and they took $121.01 from my bill. At this point, I was STILL NEVER GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR IDLER ARM. I take it that they felt they milked me for enough and wanted to just move on now, that's how I felt anyway. As I checked out I asked about the estimates, and the clerk gave me two off the top of his head ideas of what he thought it may cost; not really an estimate.
So here's the tally:
Tires: $563.52
Radiator: $283.08
Trans Cooler: $125.00
Labor: $556.66
Trans line 1:$ 61.29 (The thing I needed replaced)
Trans Line 2:$ 71.80
Trans Line 3:$ 42.60
Shop supplies:$35.00
Sales tax: $66.83
Total after $-121.01 discount: $1684.77
So that was my experience. Sad, because I was really hoping to find a GOOD garage in the area since I maintain 3 vehicles and a motorcycle and I am just getting tired of turning wrenches as I get older. I do not feel that I was treated right for all of the aforementioned reasons. I should have been given options for the tires BEFORE they put them on my truck. I may have went elsewhere. I should have been given the estimates that I asked for, or at least a response that they were not going to do the work, but I was completely blown off. I think the work was a bit pricy, and I guess the next repair I have I will think long and hard about doing my own work again. All I need to do is look at the bill I got from Granados.
I raised them a start due to their follow-up customer service. On 2-14-17 the clerk that assisted me indicated that his boss saw this review on Yelp. He was very professional and we had nice discussion. However, I really wish we could have resolved this matter at the counter while checking out, to where it was fair and mutually beneficial. read more