• Report: #663865

Complaint Review: South Valley Auto Group Inc. D.B.A. as AAMCO

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  • Submitted: Friday, November 19, 2010
  • Last Posting: Friday, November 26, 2010
  • Reported By: GOTME — SUN LAKES Arizona USA
South Valley Auto Group Inc. D.B.A. as AAMCO
6948 W. Chandler Blvd Ahwatukee / Chandler Arizona 85226 United States of America

South Valley Auto Group Inc. D.B.A. as AAMCO AAMCO Transmissions They got me for the $550 GUESSTIMATE. Ahwatukee / Chandler, Arizona

*Consumer Comment: “We have to reinstall it”.


2Author 3Consumer 0Employee/Owner

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They got me for the $550 GUESSTIMATE. I checked the Better Business Bureau rating on these people too late.

18 complaints have been filed against this group of AAMCO dealerships in the Phoenix, Arizona area during last 36 months. Six of these complaints were not even given the courtesy of a response. This outfit has an F rating by the Better Business Bureau.  The previous owner John Lindsay Sr had recently died but this has not changed, in my opinion, unethical and confusing business practices.
After dropping the pan from my transmission I was informed that the fluid was burnt and there are metal shavings on the magnet. They then informed me they need to pull the transmission out so they can find out what is "really wrong" and I quote" We don't have x-ray eyes around here"   I agreed to pay $550 so that I would find out the cost of necessary replacement parts and how much additional labor was needed. I did approve transmission removal and inspection.  After finding their extremely poor BBB business rating and receiving a verbal quote for $2351.95, I told them to stop all work.

South Valley Auto Group Inc.( AAMCO ) provided me with an invoice that stated $1634.34 was necessary to provide "Reconditioned Service”. Hard Parts and Other Components if necessary are Additional Cost. I opted not to accept this open-ended service recommendation with the base fee of over $1600.

I find it unacceptable that for a charge of $550 which includes the cost of "Disassembly and Examination of the Transmission” I was not told the cost of replacement parts. I agree no one has x-ray eyes but when you pay to have a transmission disassembled and sitting on a table for inspection a principled SAE certified transmission mechanic could tell me what parts were needed.

If you want a GUESSTIMATE for $550 and want to sign an open-ended service agreement... the South Valley Auto Group Inc.of AAMCO dealerships is the place for you.  They are doing business as usual.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 11/19/2010 8:03:20 AM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/auto-repair-service/south-valley-auto-gr/south-valley-auto-group-inc-d-63658.htm. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
2Author 3Consumer 0Employee/Owner
Updates & Rebuttals

#1 Owner of Company

No Guesstimates!

AUTHOR: John - Chandler (United States of America)

SUBMITTED: Wednesday, November 24, 2010

IN regards to this customer's complaint or "ripoff": We fully disclosed the cost to remove and inspect the transmission for the cost of $550. Which includes the cost to reassemble the un-serviced transmission. You then authorized us to remove the transmission. We always fully explain our service before beginning repairs. We gave you a fair price to completely rebuild your transmission. It was only after you saw our BBB rating when you felt uncomfortable with our establishment. Did you have a problem with our shop before you saw our rating? I thought we treated you with the utmost respect and professional courtesy. You must try to understand that we see over 12,000 customers a year. Having 18 customers out of 12,000 complain to the BBB is less then 1/2 of a percent of our customer base. We can't be perfect, only strive to be. If you have any real concerns about the service you personally received from our AAMCO Center, please call me personally. My number is 480-705-0996 and ask for John. I'll be happy to address any issues you may have so you can feel satisfied.
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#2 Consumer Comment

Master Mechanic Jim here

AUTHOR: Jim - Millbrook (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Wednesday, November 24, 2010

ALL transmission pan magnets have metal shavings on them, that's what they're for, it's manufacturing shards and NOT A SIGN OF TRANS TROUBLE. (Of course since people don't look in Oil pans and Mechanics do, this SCAM continues to Make Tranny Shops rich.

Believe me that's NOTHING in transmissions that doesn't HAVE to be there, it's to keep those shards OUT of the Sensitive very close tolerance valves and servos ,and is absolutely going to have metal dust stuck to it, it's manufacturing grit that can't be ALL washed out. (Yep they try, but the magnet Is Still needed.)


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#3 Consumer Comment

Jim is correct..

AUTHOR: Ronny g - North hollywood (USA)

SUBMITTED: Wednesday, November 24, 2010

However it is also stated the fluid was burnt. Now obviously this transmission had symptoms of a problem..otherwise why would the OP have brought it there in the first place and agreed to have it removed and inspected?

...just keeping an open mind to both sides. The reply from the owner of the business seems reasonable so at this point if I had to choose a side, I would lean towards the business. Certain components of a vehicle do not require such expense to diagnose..and consumers do get ripped off in those cases no doubt..but a transmission removal and tear down/inspection can be quite a labor intensive job.

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#4 Update By Author

light bulb didn't go on

AUTHOR: GOTME - SUN LAKES (USA)

SUBMITTED: Friday, November 26, 2010

I stated that I agreed to pay you $550 for removal and inspection of my transmission. And I did pay you in full. I agreed to pay $550 so that I would find out the cost of necessary replacement parts and how much additional labor was needed.  Let me repeat that... I agreed to pay $550 so that I would find out the cost of necessary replacement parts and how much additional labor was needed.  When your salesman Ben gave me a " verbal " quote for $2351.95, I told him to stop all work.  And yes, your companies F BBB Rating did factor into my decision.  Remarkably there are other AAMCO franchise holders that have an A+ Rating here in the Phoenix area.  I wonder if they got that rating by giving open-ended quotes that do not state the total cost? The written invoice provided me stated $1634.34 for "Reconditioned Service”. "Hard Parts and Other Components if necessary are Additional Cost". If necessary?  Didn't I just pay you to take the transmission apart? A principled, ethical SAE certified transmission mechanic could tell me what parts were needed.  If the clouds have not parted for you yet John and just in case the light bulb didn't go on or you just"don't get it"... this is the rip-off. When does someone get something that tells them the cost of parts and what reconditioned service is? Remember, my car was driven over there and was doing 70 miles an hour on the freeway with absolutely no problem all. We were trying to find out why there was a little shutter when shifting at approximately 35 to 40 miles an hour. I personally think that the transmission was never disassembled when your employees started their sidestepping routine. My transmission was not at the shop where I dropped it off. "It's been taken to one of our other shops"I guess I should've asked where you were going to work on it because I did want to see it Disassembled."You cannot pick it up because it is against company policy" " We don't want to be charged with missing parts" “We have to reinstall it”. This F rated AAMCO store follows company policy??? You cannot believe anything any service company quotes verbally and then will not give you a total price in writing…  Stay the hell away from businesses that refused to give you total costs. The owner may have died but when I asked the employees how long they have been with this outfit the answer was anywhere from 3 to 12 years. One guy behind the counter told me he knew the old man Lindsay Sr for 30 years. Is this you John? Then there is no need to call you I've already spoken to you and you know my opinion.  I don't need to try and understand what 12,000 customers a year mean.  Do you really have approximately 30+ customers a day seven days a week? You're running a multimillion dollar franchise. Congratulations.  Call me when you have earned an A+ BBB rating. Until then nothing has changed but you have inspired me.  In my personal opinion, if “any person” can really do business this way I am eager to open up my own transmission repair shop. I already have a name for it.  I am going to call my shop South County Automotive Maintenance Inc.  Bring your checkbook and make your $575 checks payable to SCAM Inc.



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#5 Consumer Comment

“We have to reinstall it”.

AUTHOR: Jim - Millbrook (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Friday, November 26, 2010

A FLAT LIE that's your property, not theirs, At this point make them put it in the trunk unassembled (As it stands RIGHT NOW) and before they can "Accidentaly" Overhaul it, They've fucked you out of $550 right now, and if they do ANY more work the price will Jump to 3 grand or more.

Unfortunate that you let them disassemble it, Now they GOTCHA,  the "Remanufactured" part they want to install IS YOUR TRANS

If you can, show up at their shop with a cop or a deputy and INSIST they put it in the trunk, they'll squeal and balk but DO IT them find a decent trans man (Perhaps the other AAMCO?) to see what's really wrong with it (If anything)

As it stands right now You're going to need somewhere around 3grand to "Fix" it, DON'T LET THESE THIEVES PROSPER.

Do NOT give them "Permission" to procede (And be careful, they'll trick you into saying something like "Well If it HAS to be overhauled" THAT'S PERMISSION TO SCREW YOU)

You're in trouble, right now they've got your  car as hostage, GET IT BACK.

 


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