GDS Garage Door Service CO. A-1-A Garage Door Service, Bait & switch ripoff tactics Carlsbad, California

My garage tension spring broke, so I got on the yellow pages and found Garage Door Service CO. (a.k.a A-1-A Garage Door Service). Their advertisements states “Lifetime Warranty!” and “$10 OFF on all written quotes”. I called their 760-433-4491 number and was quoted over the phone a range of $69 - $109 for each spring and quoted $75 for labor. This included the lifetime warranty which they said others will no do!

 There is a $30 dollar service fee for them to come out to my house, but it’s waived if you go with them. So I was looking at a total of $293 (Springs & Labor) without tax. I called other places which came close or lower by $43 dollars, but I decided to confirm because they have the “Lifetime Warranty”. 

Once the technician arrived he took a glance at the broken spring and said that there is a center barring that needs to be replace and the cables as well. Of course this is additional cost for parts and labor. And that if this did not get replaced there is no “Lifetime Warranty” given. I was now looking at a bill of $400.

This was not disclosed over the phone! This is plainly unethical behavior. They mislead you into thinking you’re getting at a fair price, but stick it to you when they show up.  If I tell them to take a hike I get stuck with a $30 bill for having them do nothing. Dishonest companies like this one should not be in business. 

I was no way going to fork out $400, so after arguing with the technician about their misrepresentation and my neighbors listening he called his manager. They agreed to only replace the springs. I ended up paying $298.

This bait and switch is a bad way to do business. I wonder how many folks are getting gouged by this company and their tactics.