A Mechanic Service Rant....
Today, my wife took her car to get an inspection sticker. Rather than bother our normal mechanic, with what should have been a routine Texas style inspection, she was given the run around by a new location (a place that had the opportunity to sell themselves to her).
First, a Texas style inspection means that a half-certified mechanic will look at your vehicle to ensure that your breaks work, that your seat belt works, that your lights work, and your horn works. I think that is about it. No emission checking (sorry, California and Virginia do not have the same luxury).
Second, the place she took it is on the South West corner of 82nd and University in Lubbock. I'm pointing this out because this story is the reason that everyone you know knows a mechanic that ripped them off. This is the station that is across from the 7-11 and while I used to stop in for gas and soda, I will not ever again.
Third, she had her car worked on yesterday, at one of our two regular mechanics. We routinely visit Pope Automotive in Lubbock, as well as Williams Break and Tune. I think we tend to take larger mechanic jobs to Pope, and smaller mechanic jobs to Williams ... depending on my wife's mood. While it was at Pope's, she had it worked on, a sensor replaced, and a few other things, which sunk the bill at around $250. Not bad for all of the work that was done. However, she forgot to ask for a Texas State Inspection sticker. Williams Brake and Tune replaced her brakes about 6 months ago (key to the story).
Fourth, today she went over to this little shop on the corner of 82nd and University. I'll update the entry later with the name of the place. She pulled in there, had him start on the inspection and then she went to go get a drink. When she returned, he explained that he could not give her a state inspection sticker, because her brake pads were gone, and she was "metal on metal". He also explained that her "check engine" warning light had come on suddenly. Obviously, she was concerned about this, having had her vehicle tuned for a long trip just the day before by some trained mechanics.
Fifth, this semi-mechanic at this shop decided to offer to refer her to a "good" mechanic friend that could fix her problems reasonably. I don't think he was expecting her to say "no" (my wife is all of 5-foot-2-inches, and tends to act demure when dealing with service people). However, she did tell him "no", and promptly drove the car over to Pope Automotive.
Sixth, Pope Automotive (off of 50th and Quaker in Lubbock) tore apart her vehicle, and decided that all of her brakes were fine, as they were the day before. No problems. Not one. Almost 85% brake capacity still. And they found out why the check engine light was on. Someone had pulled out a cable that fed back into the sensor box. Pope plugged it back in and the warning light went off.
I'm just disgusted. A semi-mechanic decided to, for no apparent reason, take advantage of a female in a vehicle while she was trusting him to actually do his job. The reason he gets paid. And yet, he crumbled under the pressure, tried to swindle my wife from her money, so that he and his friends could get a few hundred dollars to plug in a cable.
How many do you think they just lost by me writing about this experience today? How many people did I just send to their competitors? I hope ... a lot, on both counts. Talk about stereotypes.
Next thing I know, we'll be asking the TV chefs to step it down a notch!
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