Unreliable, Incompetent, Expensive and Rude Service.
Up Front: Micha's is a scam artist who drives up the cost by any means necessary. When I shared my story (below) with coworkers and friends, I heard three similar experiences. I was promised day-of service, and ended up with a week-long tragedy of events.
July 28: Our Journey Begins
Having previously made an appointment today at 1300, I promptly showed up at 1250. Germans are punctual and being a guest in the country, I would be as well. No Micha. 1315 rolls around and so does the crew, finally. Back from a late lunch - as I found out later, Micha's is closed for lunch from ~1100 to ~1300. This is NOT advertised on their website. The receptionist told me that my car would be finished by the time they closed. I was in for an oil change, a parking brake adjustment and to have the glow plugs replaced. She also informed me that they would call when it was ready for pickup. I received no call, so at 1650, 10 minutes before they closed (or so I thought) I gave them a ring. I also learned that day that Micha's hours are more of guidelines than set hours as the shop had already closed for business.
July 29: Broken Promises
My wife called the following morning to ask for a status update. "Everything is done except the glow-plugs. We have to order parts and it will be done this afternoon," says the receptionist. Cool. I'm off of work, we have things to do. No worries. Glow Plugs are tricky anyways...right? 1430, we call back. " No, the parts took too long to get here. The car will be ready tomorrow," she says. Okay, understandable. Part dealers can be unreliable sometimes. They might have had to special order these glow plugs, because they're a very unique part...right? Google tells me no. They're actually super common. Come to think of it, it's actually weird that a mechanic doesn't have a stock of these things on hand.
July 30: What Have I Done?
We call, first thing in the morning. "No, it will be ready this afternoon." It's cool. I hear that cardio, like the riding your bike to work is good for you. I like the freedom of not having a car. I tell myself a string of lies to keep from bursting into tears thinking about the horror I have unleashed upon my beautiful BMW. My wife calls that afternoon. Some time, I assume, between lunch and siesta. "No, the car is not ready. We'll have it finished tomorrow."
@#%(&%@(#$&%@(%@%(&@&%%^@(%!!!!! "Okay, I'll call back in the morning."
July 31: What Have YOU Done?
Today is a day of reckoning. I don't actually know what that means, but it sounds epically bad, and that's the kind of day Micha's gave me. My amazing wife, calls in the morning. "Is it ready?"
"No, we replaced four of six plugs, and one is bad, likely has fallen into the engine."
"I want you to put everything back the way it was so we can take it to another mechanic." I love my wife.
"Okay, but you may risk your engine blowing up," they retorted.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
My wife calls at work to ask what I want to do. "Put everything back together so I can take it to a competent mechanic". She relays the message, and they tell her it will be done that afternoon.
As I pay, the mechanic tells me the same story and that they need to take the engine apart to assess any damage, typical fear tactics. Out of curiosity, I ask about the cost. "It would not be unreasonable to think at least 1,500 Euros."
"Of course not."
I pay, walk out to the car and notice 1. two cars parked in front of mine and 2. half of my engine is sitting in my back seat. Walking back into the office is a chore. I ask the receptionist to please have a mechanic resolve the issue. She argues that there is no issue, the car is ready to drive off. "No, half of my engine is in my back seat." I tell her.
"No, it's ready."
"Can you please go look for yourself?"
She goes. She looks. She talks to a mechanic.
"Umm..." she awkwardly starts. "Can you come back on Monday? We're about to close."
@%@&%&^)@*%@)*@)%*&@(^&@(%&@)*@)@*$)@&$@$)&@%&@%(!!!!
August 3: End of the Tunnel
They call at 1100, I'm shocked. "The car is ready." I go back in. They give me the bill, the same bill I paid on Friday. I tell them that I paid on Friday. I pulled out my phone to verify. "But we have no receipt."
"That sounds like a business problem, not a customer problem." I think of the best things to say after the fact.
There are still cars parked in front of mine. They move one, leaving me to maneuver out of the tightest parking space possible on my own until one of the mechanics comes out to spot me. "Finally, some customer service!" I think as I drive away.
Micha's is a money pit, a self-licking ice cream cone. They only want your money and they don't care how they get it or how much they inconvenience you in the process. Stay away from these crooks and go to a reliable, honest mechanic. I recommend Vergölst (http://www.vergoelst.de/LANDSTUHL) read more
