Strauss Auto - R&S Strauss Insulted my intelligence & then ripped me off! Lakewood New Jersey

Here is my ripoff story, sad but true.

On 07/08/09 I took my truck to my local Strauss auto for a brake inspection. After a short wait the mechanic comes out & asks me what the symtoms are. I told him & he decided a test drive was in order. 10 minutes later he returns with my truck.

After confirming my suspicions that the brakes had problems he pulled it into the bay & performed the inspection. He then called me in to show me the problems with my brakes & inform me that they couldn't do the rotors or alignment because the truck was to big for their machines. OK, so be it.

At this point he was going to put the wheels back on & I would take it to a truck equipped shop. While waiting in the store at the service desk the mechanic comes in & asks if I have been having trouble with the ignition. Of course not, it came in for BRAKES. Also he was the last one to drive it for the TEST DRIVE! He leads me into the shop to show me that my ignition now goes round & round but won't start the truck. Hmmmmm. Coincidence?

After many hushed conversations between employees they tell me they are trying to locate a steering column. They felt this was a faster way to fix it then taking the steering wheel apart to repair. At this point I left the store. I needed to return with another truck to retrieve some of my work tools from the truck so I could go to work later on. As of my second trip they hadn't even located a column.

3 days go by & I recieve a call that my truck is done. No call with a cost to repair, no written estimate, no NADA until the pickup call. Asked the amount my girlfriend is told $470+. I ask, are you freakin' kidding me?!! I then went to the store & to try to keep the peace I offered to eat the part. I thought in fairness they would eat the labor, as their employee broke the d**n thing! Answer, NO. Price stands, tough, to bad, etc.

Now I am in the position of paying for a repair caused by their employee just to get my truck back & then seeking recourse. Now I'm PISSED!

I will pay up front, recover my $$$ by any means neccessary, & devote every spare moment to making this the worst decision in Strauss Auto's history. In 1 weeks time my new site; StraussAutoSucks.com will be live & I think I may add a YouTube video featuring the boys. I can only say, DO NOT, repeat DO NOT take your car to Strauss if you are looking for fair treatment.

Also, please no rebuttals that read "If you have a problem please contact us" as that was done with no response from Strauss Corporate. On the plus side the girl from your answering service was very professional. You should let her train your store employees!


Steve
Howell, New Jersey
U.S.A.