They lied to me, outright. After years of recommending people, and my own neighbors, friends and family telling me to go there. Flat out lied and frankly ripped me off.
I called about a full front end brake job - something I can easily do myself, but with a rust-welded-on seized caliper and no lift at home, would not be fun laying on the ground in the dead of summer.
When I called, I gave a run down of what was needed. I asked about coated rotors - what were the shops opinions on them, would they install them? I'd prefer them because of New England rust and my very open-profile rims, but being newer to the market I hadn't had personal experience with them other than a friends recommendation.
The person quoting me told me that they LOVE coated rotors, my quote DEFINITELY includes coated rotors - in fact, he said, they had a SPECIAL DEAL direct from the manufacturer for a full brake job including coated rotors. He quoted me a price that was not too much more than if I was to buy the parts and do it myself.
When I dropped the truck off, I filled out a form - included in the description of services to be performed? COATED ROTORS.
When I picked up my vehicle I didn't notice anything strange... some coated rotors are gray or black around the edge, others are silvery like mine were, so I assumed I got what I paid for.
When I got home, I looked at the details of my bill, and - surprise! While no models or makes were listed, the parts numbers were immediately recognizable. The calipers were the CHEAPEST remanufactured models from the local auto parts store house brand. The rotors were the CHEAPEST non-coated option from the same store. The pads, inexplicably were a better quality from that store brand. How do I know? I managed stores from the same chain for years!
The next morning, I stepped outside to find one of the calipers, just due to dew over night, was covered in surface rust - because it was cheap, and poorly painted (special ceramic paint at the factory) the finish didn't even last a day in the elements. The calipers were also beginning to rust on the edges.
I went and bought some coated rotors to install myself, and when I tried to remove the wheels... surprise! They were torqued on so tight that I couldn't move them with a wrench. Or a breaker bar. Or a torque gun. I finally got them to crack using an eight foot long piece of black iron pipe on a breaker, by hitting the end with a sledge hammer! I got them off to find the tone rings for my rims were missing - what the hell?
Note to Harry Homeowner - start your lugs with a torque gun, finish them with a wrench (no, ASE says it but you don't need a torque wrench or specific specs). Overtorqued wheel lugs can warp your rotors - these did - and can damage your studs - thankfully these didn't.
I called and was told they would call me back. This was the peak of COVID scares, so there was no "stopping by to talk". I never got a call back, and didn't pursue it because... guess what. It was not a mistake - it was a flat out lie. This wasn't "whoops we ordered the wrong part" it was a tall tale about manufacturers that don't exist.
I have told and will continue to tell my neighbors (who've brought all 3 of their cars to Jarmo's for 30 years that I know of) and anyone who asks... go to someone else. read more