Shaffer's Muffler & Automotive South Bay Muffler & Automotive Fixed first vehicles A/C for $1530.74 Wanted a lot of money to fix the second one as they said it was like the first vehicle and they needed to basically replace the whole system for $1200.00 before taxes. Second vehicle for A/C repair, second shop and the only thing wrong was expansion valve, no where near a system replacement for $1200. So how bad did they screw me on the first job? Corpus Christi Texas

I am a disabled Veteran living on a fixed income and went without the A/C in the truck for some time and in South Texas that is not a good thing. Finally had saved up a little money and with my Doctors advice went to have the A/C fixed. I picked a shop that I have been familiar with since 1977 or 1978 When a wrecker service I worked for did the towing for this shop. Towed vehicles into their shop on and off for more than 15 years. I even carried their business cards and always recommended them when someone asked if I knew a reputable shop.

I took my 2004 Dodge Dakota SLT 4 door with the V8 engine to them to get the A/C repaired. Talked with the people I know and explained the whole thing. Very little money, fixed income etc. They said they would take good care of me. When the estimate was done it was going to be around $1600.00. I did get 10% taken of as a Disabled Veteran that was a good thing. So I told them to go ahead and fix it. I was a little leery of the diagnoses and the price but the system had been down for some time and I know a little about A/C repair as I have done some in the past. But hey I know these guys they are friends I am going to trust that they know what they are doing and they are being fair with me. They fixed the A/C and all I had to do was bring it back once so they could do something to an air door that was not working right. They did it and I told them it would be a little bit but I would bring the Chevy Aveo in as it's A/C was out as well. Things were good or so I thought. Read on!

When I took the Aveo in I told them that it had been working as my son had ought one of those cans of Freon and adapters to fill the system at Wal-Mart and the A/C would work for a while before it would quit again, so I figured it had a little leak. They said they would look at it and let me know. I told them I cannot afford another $1600 dollar JOB as I really did not have much savings let at all after paying them to fix the Dodge.

When they called to let me know how much it was going to be the first thing that I was asked is if I was sitting down? That right there told me that I was not going to be able to get the cars A/C fixed. Good thing I was actually laying down as he told me that it was the same thing basically the whole system needed to be replaced and it was going to be $1200 dollars. I told him that there was NO way that I could do that kind of price. He told me I could come and pick up the car no charge for the estimate as I was a good customer Really I thought!!! don't worry it gets better read on

I took the Aveo to a different mechanic that I know and asked him to look at it and tell me what was wrong and how much to fix it. I told him what Shaffer's had said and how much they wanted to do the job and he said he would check it out and get back with me. He called me the next day and told me that the only thing bad was the expansion valve. That's it nothing else whatsoever. And that he had already fixed it so I asked him to repair the rear door handle which I already had the replacement in the car. He agreed to and did so. With parts and all total was less than $200.00 Total before taxes!!!

My concern is that if Shaffer's wanted to replace my system for $1200 and the only thing that needed fixed was the expansion valve. How bad did they screw me on the $1600 dollar job on the Dakota? The problem is that I will never know because it has already been done and there is no way to find out. I am glad that they only screwed me on the one vehicle and were not allowed to take advantage of me on the second. If they treat someone they have known for so long and someone who over the years has sent them a lot of business how do they treat others?

I am going to share my personal experience with Shaffer's Muffler and Automotive with everyone I know and every way that I can. And that is going to include any and all available internet resource so I can do my part to make sure that no one else gets taken advantage of like I did by Shaffer's Muffler and Automotive repair!!!