I've heard bad stories about Aamco for years. If you listen to their
commercial, they say HALF the cars that come to Aamco DON'T need new
transmissions. Well, that leaves HALF that DO need new transmissions! And
I'm sure that's a lot of cars!! Just thought that was funny.
Alex
97 CC Sport V8 5spd
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom (Silver89) <SilverEightynine@aol.com>
To: <dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2001 8:56 PM
Subject: DML: AAMCO UPDATE (long again)
> Well here is what happened. I talked to my friends at NAPA, listened to
> what the DML had to say. (LOTS of very interesting info from everyone
> - thank your for taking the time to post your experiences!)
>
> And I went in to the aamco shop with a friend of mine who owns, operates
> and maintains 18 wheelers. We looked at the trans. And from what they
> showed us - the overdrive gears were chewed up - Literally. The teeth
> were mangled. For all I know though that was a part they had in the
> back of the shop. But I am certain it was real because of the problems
> I was having with the transmission. So then we went to talk about the
> price.
>
> When I signed the papers authorizing them to do the work, I was aware of
> the fact that other parts would cost extra. (Torque conv. and if the OD
> was bad) However (and I know it was my own fault for not requesting a
> detailed explanation of the possible extra charges) I had no idea that
> they would try to gouge me that badly. My friend and I went into the
> office (with the door left open to the main office area) And started
> talking. To make a long story short - here's the gist of what went
> down. We started off saying that we would have to take the truck out of
> the shop because the prices they were asking were way too high. The guy
> there says we cant do that, that I will still own him the base price of
> $969 + $292 for the torque converter. He stated that by signing the
> papers - that I as much owned the parts etc. And that the work was
> done. (funny thing was we just saw the transmission still apart and out
> of the truck!!)
>
> Then my buddy happened to read over the agreement - and this is what I
> signed.
> "AAMCO may operate this vehicle for the purpose of testing and delivery
> at my risk. I understand that if a torque converter and/or hard parts
> are required, the cost will be in addition to the base price of
> $969.75. I have the right to authorize the additional cost or request
> reassembly and reinstallation of the unserviced transmission for a labor
> charge of $395.00 which includes the cost of disassembly and
> examination." Dated on 3/6/01
>
> Now - this is the same guy that I have been dealing with since I took it
> into the shop on the 6th. He passed over that part when I first signed
> - and really confused me. I had to ask him to explain it twice. By this
> time - (this morning) I had actually forgotten about it. It was very
> lucky my friend noticed it. Because when he mentioned it to the sales
> person, he got pissed. All throughout the encounter today he was
> getting more and more irritated. HE said something about "yeah - you
> could refuse it - but only within an hour" Those weren't his exact
> words but that's basically what he said. Both my buddy and I laughed at
> that and said come on that's garbage. My friend said to him - nw you ar
> making things up. I said the the sales guy - how is it possible that I
> could refuse work that, in only one hour, that you didn't tell me I
> needed done until yesterday evening!
>
> He talked real fast and honestly I am having a hard time recalling
> everything that was said. (I have only had 5 hours sleep!) My friend
> then asked for a number so they could call to get some third party
> arbitration or such from aamco corporate. Because we were getting no
> where here. He the number and then started saying stuff about the
> people at that number won't help you - they don't care about your car or
> service etc... and my friend said well we'll see - may I use your phone
> to call them? At this point we were both still calm and rational. And
> the guy says no. We may not use the phone. My friend says why not? He
> says very little but says no. And then my friend started to get pissed
> and started saying you are an Aamco shop here and I cant call your
> number here? It says right on this invoice that I can call toll free
> for assistance etc. The sales guy says go home use your phone. My buddy
> says no - I want to call now! This exchange kept going on for several
> minutes which at the point where the sales guy bolts up from the chair
> (because he and my buddy are starting to yell now about the phone) and
> SLAMMS - I do mean slam - not just shuts - but slams the door to the
> office. There was another customer just a few feet away - turning white
> as s sheet - listening to what's going on and was probably second
> guessing his decision at bringing his car here LOL)
>
> Before the door slam (I think - it could have been after the door slam)
> He started giving some bull shit about - these engines will overheat
> without the over drive - that the overdrive was there to keep up fuel
> economy and to keep the engines from working to hard - that the valves
> will be ruined because the RPM are too high. He said no overdrive would
> ruin the engines. And made a lame excuse saying that years ago before
> the modern trans.'s that if an engine had 100,000 miles - you wouldn't
> buy that used car because the engine would be ruined! I stopped him at
> this point and got pissed myself. I said - just a minute sir - I may
> not know my transmissions - but I DO know my trucks! (This was Dakota
> Pride being attacked here!!!) I said if a non overdrive trans was in
> my truck - it would not hurt it.
>
> After we had beat him down and he realized that he wasn't going to get
> away with this - he caved. We settled on a price of $1650 for the trans
> to be completed. The standard warranty was 12 months. HE said he would
> give us a 6 month warranty!? Where did he get the authority to cut the
> warranty in half?? But when they tried to print it out - the computer
> wouldn't recognize it - and he said - eh - ok we'll give you 12 months.
>
> Well... <shew> I should have the truck Wensday. He promised that it
> would be done right.
>
> I do NOT plan to let this go without them coming under SOME reprimand.
> Anyone feel like taking up another consumer quest against Aamco? I want
> these bastards hung out to dry. This is serious price gouging.
>
> --
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> "She has a face that would make an onion cry"
>
> Tom S.
> http://members.aol.com/silvereightynine
> Site Updated - on 2/5/01
> 1989,V6,Auto,8 footer,4x2
> 1989,V6,Auto,8 footer,4x4 w/snowplow (woohoo!!)
>
>
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