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I just wanted to take a minute to complain about how i've been bentover and f#cked the other day. So i took my vehicle to licensed exhaust company, TMA, the other day to have some work done for $661.44. After investigating what all they did i see that they failed to hook up just one hose. They managed to do everything else right, good welds, no rattles, just the one hose. Now maybe i'm out of line but when i hire something done i expect it to be done right. Especially if thats your career. I could understand them missing something like that if there regular line of work was fixing windshields, but it's not. Theyre supposed to be professionals at exhaust work and still they can't get the simplest thing right. What really pisses me off is that they quoted me maybe $600, and when i get there it's $661.44. I didn't cause any problems because i figured well at least its done right, but it wasn't. So all in all im just posting a thread to vent about how bad some companies are. If your gonna quote a price overquote so theres no budget shock, and do your work right. Now i'm leaving the floor to everyone else here as im sure im not the only one this happens to.

HOSE? on an exhaust system??? better explain a little better---

$600 plus taxes?


Bill S.

Well, I've been there also more than once, and sadly to say my
30 years I spent in the auto industry I have seen it happen many
times. I can see a quote on something that has to be checked out
and then discover something else wrong, but exhaust should be a
pretty simple quote, especially for plus $600.00.....Last year I
needed a sensor replaced in my car, and since the mechanics were
slow, one of them wanted to do it on the side, but he needed the
money in advance, and I trusted him..Two weeks went by, and he
was always going to slip me in as soon as he could...He up and quit
suddenly and I haven't seen him since. That is just one of many
stories I could tell, and I know how you feel...But on the flip side
of the coin, there is a guy on this forum who built me an engine and
he went the extra mile to make me happy andI will not forget him.

Whenever I see a whizzing contest over a price charged over a "quote", I can't help but think back to my last business. EVERYTHING we did was on an "estimate", not a quote............but that didn't stop people from confusing the two terms. The paperwork always said estimate, our discussion verbage was always estimate, but people sometimes change terms in their head. Don't know if that's what happened here, but.....

Of course none of that excuses not completing the job correctly. On the other hand, mistakes happen. No doubt an aggravation and inconvenient. It's how the business makes it right that counts.

Have to ask.....did they fix it right with no questions and at no extra charge??

I don't usually estimate as i work by the hour (the only way with hotrods) but if i do estimate and get within 10% either way i reckon i've nailed it.

In defense of the shop it seems like you are over reacting. Anyone can make a mistake, even the best techs. And I think legally a shop can go 10% over the estimate without calling for approval. Local laws may vary.
How did they handle it when you took it back to get the hose hooked up? If they dropped what they were doing and got right on it, and appologized, I'd say it was handled well. If they blew you off or wanted you to make another appointment to get it in then I wouldn't deal with them again.

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

HOSE? on an exhaust system??? better explain a little better---

I suppose it's possible for one party or the other to get hosed in just about any business transaction.


Jim

Z28, did you return the car to the shop to reinstall the hose? I cannot imagine which hose they might have knocked off but, you did give them a chance to fix what you say they broke, didn't you? Or, is it remotely possible the engine might have backfired some time and blew off that vaccuum hose? (If it was a vacuum hose?) In that case - the shop isn't even responsible! And now I'm curious if they gave you a quote or an estimate? I always make sure any work I want done is quoted with a not to exceed price in writing. If they estimated 600 and came in @ 660. I wouldn't be to upset.

The only reason im complaining about them going over the estimate or quote or whatever you want to call it is because it wasn't done right. The hose that was used was supposed to hook up the EGR tube to the exhaust manifold. Now i imagine that this is an area that can get pretty hot since its only about 4 inches away from the number 4 cylinder, and any exhaust man should know that a rubber hose will not stand up to exhaust temps of 800 degrees or whatever it gets to. They might be able to make the argument that thats the hose that was on there to start with, but that doesn't excuse them from not putting the propper equipment on, or telling me we need to order just one more part. I hate it when people run a buisiness just to make money. Sure making money is a huge part of it, but a guy should have pride enough to say "oh that's not gonna work. better try something better." rather than just leave it halfassed.

Originally Posted by Z28Dylan

The only reason im complaining about them going over the estimate or quote or whatever you want to call it is because it wasn't done right. The hose that was used was supposed to hook up the EGR tube to the exhaust manifold. Now i imagine that this is an area that can get pretty hot since its only about 4 inches away from the number 4 cylinder, and any exhaust man should know that a rubber hose will not stand up to exhaust temps of 800 degrees or whatever it gets to. They might be able to make the argument that thats the hose that was on there to start with, but that doesn't excuse them from not putting the propper equipment on, or telling me we need to order just one more part. I hate it when people run a buisiness just to make money. Sure making money is a huge part of it, but a guy should have pride enough to say "oh that's not gonna work. better try something better." rather than just leave it halfassed.

Based on your explanation I'd say the shop did exactly as they should have. If the OEM hose is a rubber type material then that is what they should install on a new exhaust. It was engineered for the application and , it is the proper equipment, regardless what you may feel about it being appropriate. Regarding being in business to make money, sure a business must provide a service and good value, but if they are not making money they are not in business very long. That is the American way, pure and simple - good service, good product and priced fairly keeps everyone happy, provided the customer's expectations are reasonable. Your sales tax rate in SD is right at 6%, so it is entirely possible that they hit their estimate dead on, but that they did not include taxes which is often the case with estimates - price the work, not the total bill. I don't see that you have any gripe with them, but that's just my opinion.

I agree with Roger on this. If a shop gives me a ballpark figure for cost, then as long as they are within ten per cent once taxes have been calculated, I am satisfied. Now if the shop refused to fix something that was not done right or wants an additional charge to fix it, then I would say you have grounds to complain.

Originally Posted by Z28Dylan

The only reason im complaining about them going over the estimate or quote or whatever you want to call it is because it wasn't done right. The hose that was used was supposed to hook up the EGR tube to the exhaust manifold. Now i imagine that this is an area that can get pretty hot since its only about 4 inches away from the number 4 cylinder, and any exhaust man should know that a rubber hose will not stand up to exhaust temps of 800 degrees or whatever it gets to. They might be able to make the argument that thats the hose that was on there to start with, but that doesn't excuse them from not putting the propper equipment on, or telling me we need to order just one more part. I hate it when people run a buisiness just to make money. Sure making money is a huge part of it, but a guy should have pride enough to say "oh that's not gonna work. better try something better." rather than just leave it halfassed.

Did you take it to them and point out that they may have broken it? Or was it broken when it came back and you found it? In any event, if they blew you off, then that would be bad for them and their reputation but, if you didn't show it to them, then you don't have much to stand on. If the factory used rubber hose as original equipment, then maybe blame them?!?!

Seems to me you have little to complain about. So they screwed up and didn't connect a hose - that's legit, but is it just a hook up situation? Seems the price is about what they quoted/estimated and the hose is what is called for, material wise.

I think you have too quick a fuse.