Good help is hard to find - Shop Advice

[telenerd]

Story time grab a cold one,

Looking for advice on some recent work done on my Bronco. No names used but here the story goes.

Where I live any reputable 4x4 shops are over 1 hour drive away. I was going to a decent 4x4 shop but their senior mechanic retired and the new technicians didn’t do as good as a job last time I had my rig worked on. So I decided to try another 4x4 shop that was well known and been around a very long time.

I had Rear Upper and lower Control arms installed. Labor was $975 plus the alignment and taxes. When they got done with everything the work looked good from the initial once over and the Bronco drove great! Unfortunately I didn’t do a close inspection of everything before I left the shop!

I first noticed they forgot to install one of the air box filter bolts which was unexpected and is part of the their “full inspection”. Then after digging deeper I noticed one of my gas tank bolts was barely hanging on and several bolts were loose! None of the bolts were paint marked and to top things off the upper control arms were installed upside down so the adjuster is a pain to adjust and not to spec according to the instructions! Lastly they did not paint mark any of the caster/camber bolts after the alignment or the tie rods. Then their printout of the before and after alignment specs was not given to me and they said it was going to be emailed to me. Well the email didn’t have any of that alignment information. I guess on the plus side the Bronco does drive great and is nice and straight.

So I called the shop and the owner apologized and from what little I know the guy that did the work is probably fired. He offered to get me in on Monday which I have to take off work for. Which is fine. Then offered $250 back on labor, new air box bolts, and I will inspect everything on their lift before I take the Bronco home. I was going to do the install myself but didn’t want to deal with the gas tank.

Most people would not of inspected in great detail and I can’t imagine if I went off-road and my gas tank fell off! I also don’t see why the technician installed the uppers the wrong way when the instructions clearly show and it’s way harder now to adjust the way he has it installed because the bolt now is near the brake line!

Does this seem reasonable for how the shop is going to handle it? They will have another technician on the job and one more to check things over. Or should I just cut my loses and have them pay another shop to do it right?

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[Iceman62]

IMO - they should offer more...at least 1/2 off labor (more like $500). Think about how much your time is worth (missing day of work X your hourly rate = ???). I'm sure your time is worth more than even $500. Off-road shops should be stellar with impeccable service as they're normally adventure enthusiasts who enjoy wrenching and upgrading vehicles to enhance performance. I'd discuss more in-depth w/ the manager and explain how this impacts your time & could've turned critical if the fuel tank caused an issue, amongst other things. Good luck & hope you get things straightened out.

 

[TPadden72]

IMO - I'm sure your time is worth more than even $500.

If your time is that valuable, why waste it. Take what they offered and move on.

Tom

 

[Iceman62]

If your time is that valuable, why waste it. Take what they offered and move on.

Tom

My government salary is $65/hr so if I miss one day of work it's $520. OP stated this is his case (take day off for appointment). I'd say his time's worth the $$$ taken to correct shop's error...

 

[TPadden72]

My government salary is $65/hr so if I miss one day of work it's $520. OP stated this is his case (take day off for appointment). I'd say his time's worth the $$$ taken to correct shop's error...

I'd say if he or you have to take a whole day off for a discretionary vehicle work/service appointment his or your time isn't very valuable.

Tom

 

[23OBX2.7]

Demand a full remedy within X days or full refund and take to other shop.

I will personally never deal with indy shops unless they are proven and recommended by friends, because there is no one to escelate an issue to besides small claims. I prefer just to DIY and at times with paid assistance from master techs.

I recently spent CAD 2100 on five new Firstone Destination XT with "extended warranty / road hazard i got for $15 a tire, at a legacy mid sized regional chain. Frankly, everyone working in these shops appear stoned on weed and exhaust fumes.

They seem to have dropped a lift on a tire sidewall puncturing and tearing it along with leaving huge witness / abrasions which they installed on the spare.

After a week of run around at three of the stores who all recognized rhe damage I reached out to an executive who solved it in a day.

Same at the Ford dealer, after getting screwed around and escelating on Mustang 10R80 Im now friendly with owner and have his cell #. As soon as I walk in and he sees me, he greets me and ensures I get premium service. All the workers notice this and give me white glove service that everyone should get if the shop wants to prosper.

 

[texbronco25]

This seems to be a normal experience from what I’ve seen these days. I wonder how many folks have work done and have no idea of the lack of quality.

 

[MayhemMike]

My government salary is $65/hr so if I miss one day of work it's $520. OP stated this is his case (take day off for appointment). I'd say his time's worth the $$$ taken to correct shop's error...

Um, as a government employee taking off cost you nothing. You still get paid for not being there. One form of leave covers the absence. BTDT.

 

[Felix808]

Um, as a government employee taking off cost you nothing. You still get paid for not being there. One form of leave covers the absence. BTDT.

But but but I lose a day of leave & that's my time .
Yep, sometimes you need to take time to take care of stuff you don't want to do .

OP, I would give them the chance to make it right instead of taking the next chance at a grab bag .

 

[wjtinfwb]

Story time grab a cold one,

Looking for advice on some recent work done on my Bronco. No names used but here the story goes.

Where I live any reputable 4x4 shops are over 1 hour drive away. I was going to a decent 4x4 shop but their senior mechanic retired and the new technicians didn’t do as good as a job last time I had my rig worked on. So I decided to try another 4x4 shop that was well known and been around a very long time.

I had Rear Upper and lower Control arms installed. Labor was $975 plus the alignment and taxes. When they got done with everything the work looked good from the initial once over and the Bronco drove great! Unfortunately I didn’t do a close inspection of everything before I left the shop!

I first noticed they forgot to install one of the air box filter bolts which was unexpected and is part of the their “full inspection”. Then after digging deeper I noticed one of my gas tank bolts was barely hanging on and several bolts were loose! None of the bolts were paint marked and to top things off the upper control arms were installed upside down so the adjuster is a pain to adjust and not to spec according to the instructions! Lastly they did not paint mark any of the caster/camber bolts after the alignment or the tie rods. Then their printout of the before and after alignment specs was not given to me and they said it was going to be emailed to me. Well the email didn’t have any of that alignment information. I guess on the plus side the Bronco does drive great and is nice and straight.

So I called the shop and the owner apologized and from what little I know the guy that did the work is probably fired. He offered to get me in on Monday which I have to take off work for. Which is fine. Then offered $250 back on labor, new air box bolts, and I will inspect everything on their lift before I take the Bronco home. I was going to do the install myself but didn’t want to deal with the gas tank.

Most people would not of inspected in great detail and I can’t imagine if I went off-road and my gas tank fell off! I also don’t see why the technician installed the uppers the wrong way when the instructions clearly show and it’s way harder now to adjust the way he has it installed because the bolt now is near the brake line!

Does this seem reasonable for how the shop is going to handle it? They will have another technician on the job and one more to check things over. Or should I just cut my loses and have them pay another shop to do it right?

I'm impressed they even admitted to the mistake. Offering to make it right and give you 30% of what you paid back seems more than fair. I'd give them another chance. Seems like an honest, if not perfect, shop.

 

[Brian_B]

Sounds like the shop is trying - and getting you in as fast as they can.

If you don’t want to take a day off just ask for a later date that works for you

 

[michelle227]

My government salary is $65/hr so if I miss one day of work it's $520. OP stated this is his case (take day off for appointment). I'd say his time's worth the $$$ taken to correct shop's error...

Umm...generally speaking, government employees have boatloads of time available, so there is no actual hit to the check.

My agency gives me 13 hours of vacation per month and another 8 hours of sick time. Add in holiday time and comp time (Im not eligible for overtime) and, personally, I could take off the next six months and still be getting paid.

Most people at our stations in life have some manner of time accrual.

 

[telenerd]

I will post back the results Monday. Thanks all for the feedback!

 

[23OBX2.7]

Umm...generally speaking, government employees have boatloads of time available, so there is no actual hit to the check.

My agency gives me 13 hours of vacation per month and another 8 hours of sick time. Add in holiday time and comp time (Im not eligible for overtime) and, personally, I could take off the next six months and still be getting paid.

Most people at our stations in life have some manner of time accrual.

Not the only ones... my hot GF at 32 works 35 -40 hrs week, earns $280k yr & 16 hrs mth vacation time + optional additional extra no one really counts, and in practice unlimited sick time, and takes time off for whatever when ever she wants working for mega private corp profit spinning business paying massive taxes.

 

[Iceman62]

Umm...generally speaking, government employees have boatloads of time available, so there is no actual hit to the check.

My agency gives me 13 hours of vacation per month and another 8 hours of sick time. Add in holiday time and comp time (Im not eligible for overtime) and, personally, I could take off the next six months and still be getting paid.

Most people at our stations in life have some manner of time accrual.

Ok...sure, but losing a day of leave costs me...a day of something.

Guess my example relates more to hourly workers vs. salary, but the point is $250 is peanuts for shoddy service.

OP - keep us updated on the final bill - hope things work out.

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