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Report: #131705

Complaint Review: Precision Tune Auto Care - Golden Valley Minnesota

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  • Reported By: New Hope Minnesota
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  • Precision Tune Auto Care 2520 Winnetka Ave. N. Golden Valley, Minnesota U.S.A.

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I went into the Precision Tune Auto Care on February 17, 2005 in Golden Valley, MN. I had a coupon for a oil change, new oil filter, tire rotation, and brake inspection for a total of $11.99.

As they took the tires off the head of the store for that day, Wayne Willams, told me that my rear calipers and brakes were frozen and rusted and needed to be replaced. He said they could do it right away for an initial estimate of $580. I told him that the brakes were just worked on. After some discussion I told him that I did not want the work done right now because of my finances. He said to me, we can do a payment plan. I declined. He then said, "Fine, I don't think you'll be able to drive that car much more though, you're driving around with one brake constantly on." I have not had a problem with this, and will be getting this inspected soon by another shop.
Here's were the problems arise. The mechanics had a hard time opening the hood of my car, so they said. I thought maybe the cable froze, which had happened about a month prior to this. They said nothing else about the hood, finished the oil change, and sent me on my way with a bill of 14.51 after fees, parts, supplies and tax.

I stopped back at home to open the hood and put in windshield washer fluid and check the oil. I noticed that the lever for opening my hood was missing. Funny thing was, it was there when I brought it in that morning.

I drove back to ask if they removed it to maybe fix the line and forgot to put it back on. He became angry and extremely confrontational and defensive stating, "It wasn't on there when you came in." We began arguing over the fact that it was on there when I pulled in, and he kept denying it.

Finally he said, "It's usually under the seat. It comes loose and falls under the seat." We walk to my car and he searches under the seat and found it. He said, "See, under the seat," and began walking away. I said, "Is this something I can put back on myself?" He replied, "No, now you have to open your hood with a needlenosed pliers." He then walked back into the shop.

At this point I didn't want to continue arguing and going nowhere with him so I came back home to call up PTAC's customer service. I had to leave a voicemail and am waiting to hear back from them.

So the kicker is, they broke off the lever, said I came into the shop without the lever, and "magically" found it under the seat and refuesed to take responsibility for this. All I want is for them to fix the lever, and admit what happened. It wouldn't have been so bad if they broke it, fixed it, told me and did not charge me. But it appears that they broke it, put it under the seat, made no mention of it, and when confronted about it denied any responsibility.

Andy
New Hope, Minnesota
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 02/17/2005 10:37 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/precision-tune-auto-care/golden-valley-minnesota-55427/precision-tune-auto-care-ripoff-pushed-unnecessary-repairs-broke-handle-on-inside-of-car-d-131705. 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. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
7Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#7 UPDATE EX-employee responds

opps

AUTHOR: Kurt - (USA)

POSTED: Thursday, September 24, 2009

i know wayne and he has a hard time with people sometimes. But i do agree they should have just fixed the handle, but that would of cost them $100.00. Heres my problem you said that a month prior you had problems with the hood, i am guessing you did not tell wayne about it so he could warn the tech not to just yank on the handle because the cable is sticking, this happens once a year with me and the handle ends up breaking. Is this now my fault?, i agree i should be gentle but sometimes you get busy and have to move fast and thats when mistakes happen, as for hiding the handle and not owning up to what happened that was stupid on waynes part but if you failed to mention the hood cable sticking it's also your fault. I have a rule that if it breaks coming apart it's your fault if it breaks going back together it's my fault. I haven't worked for them since 1999 and haven't talked to wayne since 2002 so i am not sticking up for poor decisions on there part, but feel you should have alittle understanding if you didn't warn them.

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#6 Consumer Comment

We do sometimes too... If we like the customer

AUTHOR: Jennifer - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, August 27, 2006

We charge 34 to 38 for them and don't get complaints either. But we do inspections, clean battery terminals, and top everything off so I don't think it is a bad price. It takes us about a half hour to do. We don't do a ton but who wants to change oil all day? Besides our customers like the inspections and trust our recommendations when we do make them.

I like the sign that states:
You have three choices here, choose any two-
Cheap, Good, and Fast.

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#5 Consumer Comment

I give them away...if I am not asked, and the customer spends enough money

AUTHOR: Robert - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, August 27, 2006

I get $24.95 for them. You get a good 10W30, filter, top off of fluids, etc. I don't do many, but I also don't have angry customers.

CHEAP gets CHEAP. GOOD gets GOOD. You know the deal.

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#4 Consumer Comment

lol Somehow I knew you would be the first to respond...

AUTHOR: Jennifer - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, August 27, 2006

I don't know what the going prices for oil changes are elsewhere but we charge way more than that, but we give way more than that also. And you know, we actually change the oil and filter and everything else we say we are going to do.
As far as I know, if you go after a 12 dollar deal like that you either aren't getting the work actually done, or they have to upsell. Otherwise they would be out of business.

My husband worked for one shop where the owner advertised the LOF and Tire Rotation for 9.99. He made recommendations that weren't needed and if they declined he would actually pull the mechanic off the car and "test drive" the vehicle before the oil got back in. Or break whatever he needed to. Obviously the next recommendation he made was actually going to be needed. And amazingly he is still in business.

I will never understand why people go after those cheapy deals, it is only logical that they need to sell more stuff to make money. Even before I ever worked at an auto shop I never went after those cheap deals. But I guess they say there are two type of people when you advertise. Some will always go for the deal and others know right away it is a rip off.

We advertised an oil change and inspection for 19.99 or whatever, we got 3 oil changes in two weeks! I guess the people in our town are weary of cheap prices like that. So luckly we don't have to do it anymore.

I would never try to sell someone something they didn't need. One I just can't do it, but two is many people are going to get a second opinion if they don't trust what you say and then you would just look bad. And never never would I say we did something that we didn't. Infact I am out in the bays all day bugging our mechanics to be sure everything was done completely that they said. It would only be a matter of time until they found out you didn't do the work.

Anyhow I guess some people are never going to understand. Next time I will wait and see how much "blunt trama" you use when you comment lol.

I have never heard of Precision Tune but appearantly it is a big chain that many people are unhappy with. I tried to go to their website, but sadly it is down. It seems from this site that brake recommendations are thier big money maker.

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#3 Consumer Comment

You're after my heart, Jennifer

AUTHOR: Robert - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, August 27, 2006

I have been saying the exact same thing for years now. You say it with less blunt trauma, than I do, but the meanings are identical.

We have a shop up the road that advertises an $8 oil change, including a tire rotation. He's packed. The customers had ALL better have about $200 on them though. That's the brake job they'll suddenly need.

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#2 Consumer Comment

You know why they wont take reponsibility right?

AUTHOR: Jennifer - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, August 26, 2006

Because you didn't buy all the services they wanted you too. That is the only reason someone would offer an oil change, rotation and brake inspection for 12 bucks. They lost at least $30 dollars on that deal and therefore needed to sell alot more to actually MAKE money. After they found out there was no money to make they could care less about your car. So no way are they going to put any more time or money into you or your vehicle by fixing what they caused.

I agree 100% that you got ripped off and that is a terrible way to do business! They had no idea at that point if you were going to come back and be a repeat customer (which you obviously aren't now) but they did know that you only came to them because of a very cheap discount and probably figured you get your next service done wherever you find a coupon for next time.

So while it isn't your fault at all and they shouldn't be in business, when people go for cheap deals they usually end up spending more (time or money) in the end.

Of course you had no way of knowing that they are one of those shops, but you should really get to know one shop and stick with them. We give our best deals to our repeat customers, even though we know they are going to come and pay anyway (and without any complaints) we are truely happy to see them come back to us and we feel good when we give them a better deal.

So even though you might not read this, others might and I just wanted to say find a good shop and stick with them.
By going in for a cheap deal like that you are telling the shop:
I don't care about you or your business
I just want my cheap deal
I don't care about my car either
I'll only be back when you have another cheap deal.

That's why you don't see good, honest shops advertising these deals- because it attracts MOSTLY cheap customers. So if you don't want to be viewed as the above just go to your regular shop and ASK for a deal. You will usually get it and a friendly face who listens to you.

(Again-just to be clear- I'm not saying it was your fault or that you are a cheap person. I hate to see people get ripped off by auto shops when they can usually avoid it. )

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#1 Author of original report

forgot to add another major point

AUTHOR: Andy - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, February 17, 2005

I forgot to mention another important fact to my post. They had me sign the bill which included the line, "(Precision Tune Auto Care) will not be responsible for loss or damage to vehicle..."

Funny thing is, they had me sign this AFTER they worked on the car. Usually they'll have you sign it before and if they break something, they will replace it at your cost.

But, they didn't have me sign that until after they worked on the car. And of course this was before I was given my car back and could see that they broke an important latch on the car.

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