I clicked “recommend” but make sure they do what you want, and check the bill carefully. Read the following if you wish:
On January 21, I brought car in to Griffins because the engine service light was on and the engine ran rough on cold mornings. The inspection and service cost $692.14 which seemed to focus on the 120,000 mile service, and not the concern I had merely recommended replacing the idle control motor (another $300.00) which I declined to have done.
A week later the engine service light came on intermittingly and then remained on. I did not return to Griffins believing the problem to be the idle control motor and we were moving to sell or donate the car, but the car failed its smog check on March 14 with two specified OBD faults.
In conversation with Mr. Abraham Chavez on March 14, he said that a diagnostic check would be $250.00, and not much else if the check revealed that there were only a simple small (control/sensing) hose, or hoses to replace.
On booking the car in on March 16, later changed to March 17, I spoke to Craig would said the cost would be $108 (I later found out that this was the approximate hourly rate for the garage).
On arrival March 17, I was required to sign (to guarantee payment) an estimate of $272.20, but Craig advised that if the repairs to the car to fix the problem (two OBD system faults) were undertaken by Griffins this cost would be waived. I handed over both the Smog check result listing two OBD faults, and a coupon for $39.95 discount valid for 30 days from March 1.
During that day I was called by Craig twice to say that some hoses needed replacing first bringing the total to $550.00, then second to $570.00. I gave my consent to the work.
On picking up the car on March 18, the bill contained the Inspection check at $249.95, plus 2 hours labor at $108.88 per hr, and Parts $156.63 less a discount of 10% ($62.43), then tax on the parts of $11.28. Total was therefore $573.19, but stated that this included $467.71 for labor alone.
I feel
a) that there was an inconsistency in amount stated to be charged for the diagnosis/inspection viz $250, $108.88, then $272.20.,
b) that it was, in my mind, questionable that any diagnosis was needed since I gave them the Smog check sheet which stated the faults,
c) that there was no value waived against the diagnostic check, and clearly the final bill incorporates this cost as labor.
Lastly, I feel
d) that had a proper job been done in January, when I described the occasional rough running, the visit on March 17/18 would have been unnecessary, and
e) that the billing did not take into account the loyalty that my wife and I have given to Griffins since 2008 viz. 13 visits paying Griffins $6,433.14 in total.
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