My wife brought her car here for a state inspection. They failed the vehicle, and told my wife that her front brake pads were almost to the wear bars.
They told her that she could take the car to have the pads replaced (either at another business, or personally), and bring the car back within 15 days for them to reinspect without additional charges.
The other option they presented to her was for them to replace the front pads, and while they're at it, replace the rear pads too (because they had "only about 10% life remaining"). They told her it would be able $99 plus taxes, and so she agreed to have them replace the pads while she waited.
Fast forward 3 hours, they tell her she is ready to checkout. My wife walks up to the counter, and is presented with a bill for $1,099. They not only changed the pads, but also the rotors, and even performed a brake fluid exchange! My wife was shocked, and immediately rebutted the bill, as she did not authorize all of this work. She spoke with the service advisor/technician that worked on her car, and he assured her that he had told her that all of the work performed was recommended, and that she had okayed it.
My wife, unable to gain any kind of recourse for this classic case of take-advantage-of-women-who-don't-know-cars, called me and told me what happened. I drove to the store to voice my displeasure, and attempt to come to some sort of a resolution.
Once I arrived, I walked into the lobby and greeted the young lady at the desk, telling her that I'd like to speak to the person who told my wife she needed a $1,000+ brake job. She goes and retrieves the gentleman, and with him is the assistant manager. The technician proceeds to explain that he did tell my wife that she needed all of the services that were performed. Classic he-said-she-said. I asked him if he gave her any pricing or an estimate, and did he measure the rotors to confirm that they needed to be replaced (I knew the pads needed to be replaced). He replied that he did not measure the rotors, but that they had wear markings on them and they were recommended to be replaced. He also said that he didn't provide an estimate, but instead verbally told my wife the general cost.
After a few back-and-forths, the technician walks out in frustration. The assistant manager tells me that he'd like to help us out, so that we're happy. He offered to give us the rotors for free, and just charge us for the pads, fluid swap, and inspection - totaling $530. We agreed, and left.
This place would be getting 1 star, but only because of the assistant manager's calm professionalism and willingness to right a wrong, am I giving them 2 stars. Beware of these shady business tactics, and always get an estimate in black-and-white! Not recommended, obviously.
PS. They tried the same tactics on 3 other customers while my wife was there. read more