Aargh!!! A dumbass exhaust guy using a sawzall cut TOWARDS my VB&P spring and cut a notch into it before my shouts stopped him. I've had it in for 1 month. Damn I was steamed. I assume two things: 1) my warranty is out the window of course 2) VB&P will suggest replacement. I imagine I can expect potential further damage at that notch.

Opinions? Thoughts?

 

yes, it will fail. Warranties are for defects. That is at-fault of the exhaust guy. He needs to buy you a new one, period!

 

Unless of course you signed a work order which absolves the shop of responsibility for any damage or loss that occurs while your car is in their shop. Then, . . .

 

Exhaust shop would be buying and paying for a new spring install. End of story. If they cut a break line would have taken it back???? How about hit a fuel line??? How about your half shaft??? Nope... They need to fix/pay for the repair.

 

I would hope that negligence would not be included in that waiver.

 

Lets take this a few moments longer and have the exhaust guy cut the rear spring in half.. What would be done at that point....IF that shop has any decency they need to strike it up to a total f-up and replace it. SO...this cut in teh spring is ALSO requiring it to be replaced and YOU should not be the one paying for it.

I AGREE...stupidity and negligence do not give shops the free will to destroy people cars.

DUB

 

That sucks! I hope the shop doesn't give you a problem.

 

It has to replaced as soon as possible , have you talked to the manager or owner and worked out the details yet ?

 

I've already ordered a replacement from VB&P... Grrr...
Yeah, I've already spoken with the shop "manager". Immediately when it happened I told him it was a problem. That the spring would need to be replaced. He tried to minimize it, saying it was just a nick, etc. I took my car home and cooled off for a moment, then went back up there. I stayed calm until the end of the conversation. The guy refused to acknowledge that this was a major problem. Refused to give me the contact info for the owner, said the owner would be by Wednesday, etc. Claimed he had no authority to pay, etc.

This is your standard dirty muffler shop with your standard muffler shop employees. I figured it would be okay as I was the only car there, and I was standing right there watching!!! I just need a 2-3" section added to adjust my driver side pipe inward a bit. What could go wrong???

We'll see how this goes regarding the owner. This is the type of place that probably cares little about the BBB rating, etc. though.

Almost every damn time someone other than me works on my car I'm disappointed. If I owned a wire welder I would have just done it myself. Lesson learned. Just buy more tools...

For any forum members here in East Texas: Three Star Muffler on Gentry Prkwy. If they make it right I'll tell you so. If they don't I'll really tell you so.

 

At least he acknowledged that they did it , that and the pics on his hoist is pretty good evidence , did you tell VB&P what happened ,they might be able to send you an email explaining about the properties/care of glass springs that you can show the owner on Wednesday

It happens here as well , workshops saying they can do stuff and when you go to pick up the car all you get is excuses . I weld and do my own glass repairs now .

Down here it must be a law or something but the owner info is available ,usually on the shop window glass ! Try googling the shop, might get the contact details that way.

 

I've googled like crazy so far and have found the owner's name, etc. But every phone number I find (about 5 so far) is disconnected...

I'll be in touch with VB&P Monday morning.

 

stay calm and good luck dealing with them .

 

FACT...the spring is SHOT and need replacing.

DO NOT give up on the shop that screwed it up.

Also look at 'Legal Zoom' or your states chamber of commerce and WHEN the shop gets a letter from an attorney or the chamber of commerce...if they have not taken care of it...it will wake them up....that is for sure.

DUB

 

That shop would be buying me a new replacement spring, and having it replaced free of charge.....PERIOD!

hope you get satisfaction here.

 

Ditto, this is not a metal part. It's going to crack in no time.

 

Just file a Small Claims Court law suit against the shop. Simple to do and odds are that the shop will settle for the cost of the new spring, rather than hire an attorney to appear in court.

Hopefully, you have the name of the worker who cut into your spring and the name of the manager. Do a little bit of research on how this process works in your area. Have documentation of the work done on your car to prove you were at the shop. It would be good to get some signed letter (not an e-mail) from the spring vendor as to the significance of the damage to your spring. I have no doubt that they would consider that spring a 'lost cause' if you send them a photo via e-mail to look over.

Once the shop receives notice of your filing, they will likely call and cut you a check.

 

Well, hopefully things will turn out better than my initial fears. When I got home Saturday I was pissed and motivated, plus I'm a pretty good Internet researcher… I found more than I needed to know about the owner of the business. Contacted him this morning. He was surprised and curious as to how I got his cell number... After sharing what happened and sending photos of the damage he seemed reasonable and willing to make things right. I'll meet with him Wednesday. VB&P agreed- warranty gone and replacement needed.

Fingers crossed he'll agree to reimburse the full cost of the new spring.

 

sounds promising .

 

I'm sorry to hear but hopefully he keeps his word. This is why i get anxiety whenever i have to bring any of my cars in for anything. I'm pleasently surprised when things DO go right. You always have the option of small claims court if he give you a hard time. Don't know if I want them anywhere near your car to repair the spring tho.

 

I've been in insurance for 35 years. These statements that are signed are usually not worth the paper they are written on. You can't put something on a receipt and absolve yourself of responsibility for injury, damage or death caused by your negligence. That would allow shop owners to leave keys in cars, not worry about scratched paint jobs, or for that matter their employees stealing your car stereo while it's in the shop.

When a car is left in the care of an auto shop, a Bailment is formed. Since the keys to the car are being handed over to the shop, the repair shop's required level of care is above that of the owner of a parking lot that does not hold keys to the cars.

Just like the disclaimers they have you sign at go cart tracks, if you are injured due to a lack of or improper maintenance of the go cart or the track, it doesn't matter how many of those you signed...you will own the track!

In this case, the damage to the car was negligence on the part of the mechanic. Regardless of what was signed, you have the right to expect your car to be returned to you repaired not damaged further.

A garage with such a disclaimer that is signed BEFORE work is started, can avoid liability for damage to a customers property caused by acts of god and sometimes even theft...though more and more the courts are expecting the repair shops to at least have a well lit fenced lot to satisfy their level of care under the Bailment.

I would have the car repaired by a different shop, document the hell out of everything and file in small claims court for the cost of repairs and your lost wages, if there are any, taking the car to and from the shop. Odd's are their insurance company will pay off when they are notified of the suit. The insurance company knows the shop is legally liable for this type of damage and will avoid the court costs.

Good Luck!