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Report: #1038429

Complaint Review: AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care - Birmingham Alabama

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  • Reported By: 205lilone — Birmingham Alabama
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  • AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care 1730 Crestwood Blvd Irondale, AL 35210 Birmingham, Alabama United States of America

AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care RUDE, LYING, RIPOFF ALERT!!! DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR HERE!!! Birmingham, Alabama

*UPDATE Employee ..inside information: What Actual Repairs Consist Of

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TERRIBLE! If I could award NEGATIVE stars I would. I had my mechanic take my car here to do a simple diagnostic since they had such rave reviews. The store clerk Bratt/Brad told my mechanic that I had a catastrophic system failure in my transmission.
I had originally taken my car to this mechanic to have a new motor dropped but my overdrive light kept flashing afterward and he wanted a second opinion. However, when I call down there and tell the man that before I had a new motor dropped the Dino said my heads were warped... Nothing about my transmission. Bratt from Aamco then says, there was no way for you to get a correct diagnosis from a diagnostic if the motor is not running at 100%. I then remind Bratt that if this new motor is not installed correctly and is CLEARLY not running at 100% then how can he correctly diagnose the issue?
Bratt then became VERY rude with me as if he had taken the question personal.
I am a hardworking veteran, wife and mother of two. I don't have $1500 for a new transmission directly after paying the same for a new motor. I feel as if they r just trying to get you're money and don't care how.
I assured Bratt/Brad that I would no longer be doing business with that particular store. He said fine and then hung up on me. I then contacted the Aamco in centerpoint and the mechanic there told me I probably had a pinched wire so I will be taking it to him instead. PLEASE don't take your hard earned money to the crestwood location. ANYWHERE else is more trustworthy and honest.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 03/27/2013 07:52 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/aamco-transmissions-total-car-care/birmingham-alabama-35210/aamco-transmissions-total-car-care-rude-lying-ripoff-alert-do-not-take-your-car-he-1038429. 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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#1 UPDATE Employee ..inside information

What Actual Repairs Consist Of

AUTHOR: Center Manager - ()

POSTED: Tuesday, July 02, 2013

While I do understand the frustration of the original message, there are some facts that must be taken into account before the report is taken to heart. 

First: this customer was not a customer of AAMCO of Irondale.  She was not charged for any of the diagnostic work that we performed on her Town Car.  In fact, she never came to our shop.  Her car was sent over.  She was not charged anything at all as this particular AAMCO does not charge for diagnostics.  She was the customer of Excel Used Cars, a local dealership that she had done business with.  Excel replaced the engine in her car (information they shared with us), then noticed the transmission symptoms.  When the car was brought to us, we were given instructions for starting the car, which required that the key be turned to the 'on' position, then an exposed, red wire that was sticking up from the left side of the engine was to be touched to the positive terminal of the battery.  This was a strong indicator that the engine installation may have been less than complete. 

Second: the engine installation was incomplete, and much of the data needed to diagnose the vehicle's woes was unavailable as the car's systems had not been restored to nominal working order.  When a transmission shop (of any repute) runs diagnostics on the transmission, it is necessary that the rest of the car be in proper (or near proper) working order.  As with dominos, one falls and the rest follow.  If the engine isn't running correctly, the transmission cannot respond correctly (or may respond correctly until it begins to suffer damage from the other component).  Just as one's stomach can eventually affect the heart, the engine affects the transmission (sometimes vice-versa, unfortunately).   Third: The customer bereated the center manager to lay accountability upon Excel Used Cars. 

The center manager (Brett) refused to do so.  While it was apparent that the installation of the engine was incomplete, no one from AAMCO of Irondale had any knowledge of the methods or professionalism employed in that installation.  Therefore, Excel's reputation could not be effected.  While the center manager's responses may have seemed rude to the customer, he was attempting to provide clarity in his intent to not tarnish another business based on the opinion of the customer.  This particular customer called after hours several times during the center manager's family time (the phones are forwarded for emergencies as a convenience to customers).

Repair shops can offer and facilitate repairs of many kinds on motor vehicles.  Most do not restore vehicles, necessarily, to 'new' condition, but address customers' specific complaints.  Many offer to look over the entire vehicle to make customers aware of the cars' needs, and, of course, offer additional services.  This particular AAMCO center enjoys a very good reputation locally.  Most of the customers have been referred by other customers.  It is well known for not charging initial diagnostics or the obnoxious 'shop fee'. 

The center manager even tells the customers as much as is possible up front so they can be prepared for the potential costs of their cars' needs; no shifty sales pitches, no manipulation.  As a result, the center had its best year ever in 2012 (2013 is looking pretty good too!) with the model of "more cars for less money than fewer cars for more".  We believe that if you do well in the service of customers that other elements of being in business will happen organically.  Fix the car. Make it work. Try your best to keep the customer's costs within their expectations.

I am very sorry this customer's experience was perceived to be so unsatisfactory.  I'm grateful that this forum supplies a feature for responses.

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