I initially reached out to mechanics to get an estimate and work done on my CTS Caddy with windshield wipers that wouldn't turn off. Eddie from La Mesa Tires responded fast with follow up questions and a fair quote about replacing the wiper motor. About 517 dollars was the amount.
Okay, since my elderly mom lives with me, Jesse had a tow truck pick up the car for 80 bucks.
Once at the shop, I needed a couple of spark plugs and coils replaced. Mr. Jesse told me that the technician found a rat's nest near my intake and a couple of wires needed replacing, but he'd do that for "free."
At the end of the day, I took and Uber to pick up the car..1,480 dollars for the work was the damage. Okay, I'm teacher and trusting, and I'm always hauling mom to appointments so, I needed the car functioning well.
On the drive home, I flipped on the wipers and..they weren't working. I called Jesse back and told him. I had too many appointments for mom the next day, but he agreed to fix the wipers the following day.
So, the following day, I brought the car in for the job to be done right. I had a leak in my power steering so Jesse said he'd give me a fair price. I asked that the wipers be fixed first and then we could talk about more work.
The techs fixed the wipers...I text them a few times. So Jesse and I talked business about the power steering. At his computer and phone, he looked up and told me that the steering system needed two parts replaced; one was a main hose and another had to do with another part (I believe to was a pump). He looked up the parts, called right there for their price and wrote up and invoice. Parts and labor for the two parts....598 dollars...he said a flat 600 and we call it square. I agreed, and Ubered home.
So I Ubered back to the shop before closing and no Jesse ( the owner). One of his guys was there to accept payment. He asked me for the 600. I asked to see the parts that were taken out, and he came back with the one pressure steering hose. I asked about the other part, took pictures and started protesting about the two parts that were written down and quoted the part price and labor for.
The tech called the boss, Jesse, who called the shop and spoke to me. When I broke everything down, he explained that when taken apart, I didn't need the other part and so I was only going to be charged 408 dollars. Isn't it odd that I texted with this owner, about going to pick up the car, dropped 1500, all cash, two days before, was patient about the wiper not being fixed properly the first time, and I wasn't given the courtesy of a call or text about the car needing less work and parts?
The car drives well, but the jury is still out. I'll let the readers make a fair assessment of La Mesa Tire, based on "The Facts." My wallet is way more skinny.
Signed,
A very uncertain if he'll use this place again. read more
