Eagle Transmissions Total Frustration and Arrogance Mesquite, Texas

On 8/2/10 I took my 1998 Toyota Camry to the Eagle Transmission shop in Mesquite, Texas. I had spoken with a Gerardo on the phone earlier in the day to discuss the problems that I was having with my car. My car was jerking and would not change from 2nd to 3rd gear. He told me that it sounded as if the fluids were low and that he wanted me to bring the car into the shop. I took the car to the shop that afternoon and he stated that they would know something by 10am the next morning and he would give me a call.

On 8/3, 10am passed and I did not receive a phone call from them (this would become a recurring theme). I then call them and told them that I needed to know something about my car and they told me that Gerardo was out to lunch and he would give me a call back. Gerardo finally called me back and told me that they could not tell what was wrong with my car and would have to take the transmission apart would normally cost $489 but they were running a *special* and it would cost me *only* $389. I agreed to allow them to do this and stated they would know something the next day.

Again Gerardo never contacted me back as I had to call him. So I went into the shop to check on the car and they were still in the process of taking the transmission out car and he let me know something the next day.

On 8/5 he did not call me back so I called and he was like "oh yeah, I'm still working on getting the costs for parts from a Toyota dealership. I told him that I wanted to know something on this day and stated that he would let me know.

He called me back and told me that he had a price for the car, it would cost me $2500 for one repair plan or I could go with the premium plan and it would cost me about $2800 for this plan. He asked me which plan would work for me, now keep in my that this is a 13 year old car and the car had a blue book value of $1050, I told him that neither plan would work for me and that I wanted him to put my car back together. I told him that I could use the 2500 dollars to use as a down payment another a newer model car. He stated that they would put it back together and it would be ready on Monday 8/9.

On Monday 8/9 Gerard called me and stated that he could repair my transmission for a cost of $1700 and if this would work for me. I stated to him no and to put my car back to together so I could come and pick it up. I stated to him that the car was not worth what he was trying to charge me to repair.

 In a stunning twist, Gerardo then asked me how much would I be willing to sell the car for. He told me tht he would pay me the difference from the $1050 that it was worth and the $389 of the repair cost to buy the car because he was driving a Tahoe from Oak Cliff to Mesquite and he needed something that was better on gas mileage. Again, I told him No and that I just wanted my car back together. He said he would put it back together.

On the afternoon of Tuesday 8/10, Gerardo would then call me with one last ditch effort to get more money from me. He stated that they had a rebuilt transmission in the back that he could put in my car for $800. He also stated that he was leaving the shop for another location and that he was trying to get a "good deal" before he left. I then asked where was this transmission at when you were trying to charge me up to $2800 dollars.

Gerardo did not have a response and only asked if this was something that I would like to do. He stated "this is a good deal for you and it would not cost you as much money". I told him that I would think about it and call him back.

I then called him back with a counter but he did not answer the phone this time it was a Johanna, the manager. I told her that I would accept the rebuilt transmission at the cost of $600 dollars flat rate and a 1 year warranty.

Johanna stated to me "that there is no way that they do the transmission at this cost and that they had a lot full of cars and that my car was just one of them. Now keep in mind that Gerardo had come down from $2800 to $800 during this time frame. I told Johanna to not try to strong arm me with these antics as Gerardo had called me. I told her that I told Gerardo the previous week to put my car back together so that I could come and pick it up and it had not happened!!!!

Gerardo then got on the phone and stated that there was no way they could do the $600 and that they would push the car out of the shop and put the transmission in the trunk and that I needed to come and pick up the car.I stated to them that I drove the car to the shop and that I would be driving the car out of the shop.

On 8/13 ten business days later, I called the shop to see if my car was back together and Johanna told me that it would be Tuesday 8/17 before it was ready. I stated to her that I told Gerardo to put my car back together for the last time on Tuesday and that I would be coming to the shop to resolve this matter, this was unacceptable.

My wife and I walked into the shop looking for Gerardo she told us that he was on vacation. We then told Johanna that we had gotten the police and a lawyer involved in this matter. We told her that they were holding our car and would not release it. She stated then that the car would be back together on Friday 8/13 after earlier stating that it would not be ready until Tuesday 8/17.

We asked Johanna why on the phone that she stated Tuesday but when we show up in person and told her that we were involving the authorities and a lawyer  that now the car would be ready the same day. as with Gerardo she did not have an answer. We told her that we did not think that we should have to pay the $389 because of so much trouble that we had to go through. Looking shocked, Johanna stated that we would have to pay this amount since they broke the transmission down.

We came back at 3pm that afternoon and a mechanic was backing my car out of the garage after re-inserting the transmission into my car. I performed a test drive on this car with one of the mechanics who told me that they had put in a rebuilt into the car and itt wud not shift gears. He stated that the only thing that the transmission needed now was a 2-3 selonoid switch it should work fiine.

After paying and trying to run off the premises, I was approached by Johanna he stated that she has been working in the transmission repair business for 25 years and that this is not how she does business. And it is also the reason that Gerardo is no longer at the Mesquite location (keep in mind that she stated earlier that he was on vacation). If i wanted to get the car repaired later that they would break the car down free of charge.

Now do you really think that I would take my car back to this ship or refer anyone else to this shop? Stay away and find someone else to repair your car's transmission needs.