Went here for an inspection because everyone else was too busy and I needed it done right away. I went in with a crack in the windshield, knew it was there, and knew any inspection station was likely to at least question it. Because of this, I looked up the policy for cracks in the windshield which state they should only fail the vehicle if the crack is in the driver's field of vision.
I sat in their waiting area and Gene Kohler came out with a work ticket and my inspection report. With a smirk on his face, he said "everything looks great, except that crack in the windshield".
I said "Ok, but you aren't going to fail me because of it, are you?" He quickly replied, "yeah, I have to". I told him that I disagreed, and offered to show him the PDF (https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/MVI/documents/MVIRegulationsManual.pdf) on my phone of the MO highway patrol safety inspection checklist that states the crack must be in the driver's field of vision. I felt this was a point in the inspection that has some leeway, and is more of a judgement call than a hard line rule to follow, and when sitting in my driver's seat, you barely saw it. He appeared irritated, and refused to look at the documentation I provided, and said that his documentation said if the windshield wiper touched the crack as it swept the windshield, then it was in the field of vision, and thus should fail. I asked him to show me the documentation which stated this, and he blew up on me. He yelled at me that he wasn't going to argue with me, that it wasn't his fault that I had waited until the last day of the month to get my car inspected and that if I didn't like it, I should contact the State Highway Patrol.
I again asked him to look at the document I was providing, and he refused. I countered by saying I was going to refuse to pay for my inspection, then, and he got even more angry. He said I was obligated to pay them, and quite frankly I knew that I was. So, to Gene, I said "fine, it is clear my only course of action in settling this is to contact the highway patrol, so I will." He said "Please do".
I got my wallet out, got cash to pay my bill, and handed it to the cashier as I shook with anger at the way I was being treated. As I turned to leave the building, I saw Gene staring at me menacingly from around the corner of the service station office. I asked him "are you just going to stare at me the rest of the time, or what?" He said yes, he was going to stare, and then started going off on me again about contacting the highway patrol if I didn't like his decision. After finishing my transaction with the cashier is when, I admit, I lost my cool and said something I shouldn't have. I approached the door to leave, and said to Gene "Just shut the F$%K up already, I am done listening to you, I will be calling the highway patrol".
He followed me out the door, and as I got in my car told me to make sure that I mention to the highway patrol that I had told him to "Go F%&K himself". I pointed out to him that is NOT what I told him, when I used the curse word to him I was at my wits end because he kept griping at me. I could and should have left it out of my wording, and my point would have gotten across just as well. But I didn't, and he will now use this as a point of defense against his actions I am sure.
I got in my car, started the ignition and put it in drive to leave, when I checked my mirror and saw him coming at my car. I stopped, got out, and asked him if he had something else to say, and he got up in my face like he was going to hit me. His toes were touching mine and I could feel his breath on my face he was so close. As soon as he did this, I said "What, are you going to hit me or something? Go ahead, I'm sure the highway patrol would love to hear about that". He turned away muttering the F word at me again.
I called the station up after my windshield was replaced, asking to speak to the owner, and hoping that they could help me out with who I assumed was an employee of theirs. I found out that Gene was in fact the owner, and he was just as rude to me on the phone. It is his belief that I was rude to him, and thus his actions were justified. So he kept daring me to complain.
I disagree with Gene that I started this by being rude to him, and I know that it is my word against his. But one simple fact remains, and that is that even if I was a completely ignorant customer and shouted every name in the book at him, he should have NEVER followed me out to my car, or gotten in my face and threatened to hit me. Do you want to deal with a guy like that? Me neither.
These guys may or may not do good auto work, but I wouldn't trust them any further than I could throw him (and he's not a skinny guy). read more
