AMERICAN MUFFLERSAmerican Brake And Muffler Shop RipOff Dishonest Gary Indiana

that is interesting. I thought something was odd with the report but hadn't put it together. I was a little distracted by my other thoughts about his complaint...

I think it is funny when people say "they ran diagnostics" or "they did the "Diagnostics" implying that it is a one-shot deal that will find all the problems, rather than a labor service that is specific to the problems the vehicle is having.

Maybe that is why people think it should only cost 50 dollars or whatever to tell them what is wrong with their car. That is, of course, when they are willing to pay for it at all. After all, Autozone does it for free, right?

A lady the other day told me "They usually charge 45 dollars to do the diagnostics" hmmm do the diagnostics? I wonder who "they" are... and even more I wonder what "they" are going to do for that 45 dollars? Hook it up to the machine? That must be what people think- we just hook it up to a machine and stand back and wait until the machine tells us everything that is possibly wrong with your car.

People would have a much better experience if they understood that an experienced mechanic is going to TEST the vehicle for the problem. He is going to perform a series of tests and inspections to find the problem. This requires tools and equipment, and of course, knowledge. It requires labor time, just like any other repair or service you want done. So why on earth should it cost less than the regular hourly charge? How do you really expect someone to find out what is wrong with your vehicle, what is causing your exact problem, in a set amount of time, or in the same amount of time it would cost to find someone elses problem? They can't possibly know until they get into it and start getting some information. They may have an idea of what is going on, but without doing the proper inspection and testing to truly know, you see what that gets you right?

Next time, find yourself a mechanic who doesn't just "hook up the machine" or "runs the diagnostics". Find someone who explains what he is going to do and how he is going to do it. I have only found 2 shops (not including those chain stores) that say there is a flat fee for it, and neither one could explain what they were going to do really. Every other shop I have talked to say it starts at a certain price, for the initial testing, but depending on what they find it could require more time, more money.

I have a couple of questions. Why would you take car that was an obvious electrical problem to a place called American Brake & Muffler? Does not the name imply that they specialize in the above? Why mention Simon & Simon Repair as being good guys and totaly honest? Makes me wonder if you own the place or work there. For me your complaint would have more validity if you did not mention Simon & Simon.