Repair shop from hell

[Laser0385]

Ok, so today I take my care into Midas to have the idiots re-fill my coolant tank and check for leaks and check the squeaky brakes, which they did less than a month ago mind you anyways. The bonehead decides to take my $1K wheels off with an impact wrench instead of the standard stick torque wrench. After the SOB is done, I check out the wheels having some indication the idiot has ruined them, sure enough, the guy has completely removed all the exterior surface of the wheel from all 5 lug holes on all 4 wheels, just a ring on the inside of dull, flat silver. I have no idea what to do but I am pissed off and need some ideas to take back to them with me tomm. when I have cooled off a little bit. I mean telling them to fix it is not going to accomplish anything and legal action could prove too expensive for the damages. Ideas? Thanks

 

[biddybengbeng]

well, go into the shop and ask for the manager. above all, BE CALM HEADED. trust me, coming from a manager of a very high volume store, my "nice, calm, collected" customers will get about a thousand times further than the ones that are pissed and act like it. just think of it as... it's only a little thing. sure, it sucks, but it could ALWAYS be worse. they could have cracked a wheel, forgotten to put on axle bolts (which REALLY sucks, trust me) or about a million other things that would put your car out of commmission the second something slipped just a BIT if that's the worst thing that happens to you, consider yourself lucky. just be calm and collected, and speak to them like a person. i'm positive they have some sort of way of either cutting you a check (little #@%#@%#@%#@% gets broken all the time, believe it or not). they have ways of reimbursement, just speak with the manager of the place and i'm sure you can work something out between the 2 of you.

good luck!

 

[biddybengbeng]

and, no, that's not the repair shop from hell. i shattered the differential in the tranny in my probe once... sucked, but i knew it was coming eventually (way too much clutch for the car ) so i brought in another transmission, no problem. they get it in, works great, for about a half hour. they forgot to put tranny fluid in it... crunch. they had to buy another tranny. they put that one in, and filled it. however, this time they didn't replace the axle nuts... all this #@%#@%#@%#@% came loose, the axels slammed up into the transmission, broke both axels, the axle seals, royally f'd both front wheel bearings, and a several other things... after about a month and a half i finally got my car back, and i sold it 2 weeks later cause i didn't ever want to deal with that piece again! like i said, it could be worse than a couple smudged wheels

 

[Laser0385]

Yeah that is true. But, regardless, what do I say to the manager? As he was present at the time and I spoke with him and the mechanic worked on my car and I took the car home and now if I return the next day it would be feasible that he say I merely tried to secure the lug nuts and maintain the torque specs and that I scratched them up. So, I guess it's kinda just tough luck for me but, it sucks as I'm only 17, working for minimum wage and it took a little while to save up money for the car and wheels.

 

[Sully944]

Ok listen allow me to point out where Midas failed the customer.


There is a special sleeved plastic coated impact set made for deep well high dollar rims or Any rim with a nice finish that does NOT scratch. I'm a manager of 3 tire stores. It will not be enough that I'm telling you they screwed up. You will need to cordially point out that he didn't use the proper impact on your rims and the tech damaged your rims because of this. This should be the first thing you point out it will arrest the fact that They made the mistake that caused the situation in the first place. Things happen then ask them to make it right by replacing your rims or ask them to getting them refinished.

1. I personally would be as likeable as possible.
2. and firm as hell

I practice what I preach. I installed a set of break pads on my wifes van last week. I had to take the passanger side brake pads off tonight after watching my wife pull in the drive way with a bright red smelly rotor. When I removed the pads I couldn't help but to notice that the rotor was gouged horribly. I looked at the inside of the rotor and it was perfect. The outside pad had three chunks of metal embedded in the pad. I called the store where I bought them and breifly told them what I was experiencing and left with a new rotor and new set of pads "different brand". The pads where contaminated in the manufacturing process end of story. Good luck if you keep it simple and stick to the facts in a situation you should come thru it fine. Ohhh and be nice. Nobody likes to admit being wrong

 

[Laser0385]

Thanks Sully, that is good advice for my visit with them tomm. Thanks, lets all hope for the best.