I picked up my 88 on Wednesday after 2 months in a nationally known transmission shop getting my 4+3 unit rebuilt and getting a new clutch. It took over a month to gather the needed parts from different vendors and the car now runs like a top.

Here's the problem I need some suggestions on:

The car was filthy on the outside which was no big deal. It sat outside the last 2 weeks in 100 plus degree heat. Again no big deal. While I was washing it today I noticed alongside the drivers headlight on the hood a section of paint peeling from what I believe to be spilled brake fluid. I also noticed behind the drivers rear wheel well a series of scrapes as if the car was pushed too close to another vehicle and finally, 8+ small "circles" to the left of the gas filler door as if when being pushed by hand, the "pusher" had something on his hands. I've spoken to the manager and since I have to bring the car back next Saturday for a follow up he said he'd look at it.
Now when I brought the car in originally he saw the condition that I keep the car in and that is to say IMMACULATE. I don't mind the dust and dirt but to have 3 separate areas damaged is a bit too much. I am sure he'll try to tell me the old "Well had you mentioned it before you left the lot" line and my answer to that is I brought it in for mechanical work to be performed UNDER the car so it never occurred to me to check the OUTSIDE.
My question is since this is a franchise of a national outlet, do I have any options should he try to back peddle on his responsibility? I do have pics of the damage but canot post them here.

Thanks folks in advance...

 

Man, that sucks. Like you, I always take my car in as clean as it possibly can be. One time, I even mentioned it to the service manager how nice I keep my car looking, please give it back to me that way.

The best advice I could give would be to be as organized and to the point as you can be. That's great that you have photos. Put them in a manilla folder with the name of the shop on it, as if you have presented this file to another party already. That might rattle him a little. Dress very nice, like you would if you were going to court. Hold your ground while keeping your cool. He may possibly offer some free service or work to be done in the future. Consider it, and get it in writing.

Let us know what happens. Best wishes.

DD

 

Thanks DD. I'm also going in with an estimate for the repair as well. I was more then patient with them during the two months it took to repair the car but this is simply unacceptable. I mean THREE areas damaged?

 

Be as organized as possible. Keep a record of all of your contacts with the shop, who you spoke to and what was discussed. Attempt to get before photos of the car before you put it into the shop. If this is a franchise, attempt to rectify the situation with the manager, then owner. etc. If you have no luck then contact the franchise headquarters and continue from there. If you get no result freom either, then make contact with the BBB, Department of Consumer Affairs, Rotary, etc. I have found that the county goverment has some unique regulations that may be in your favor. Confer with an attorney for additional guidance. Always be professional. Good luck

 

That is generally my approach in this type of situation. When the local Goodyear somehow shorted out my sons stereo during a starter install, I started with the manager who was somewhat argumentative about it so I left the location and contacted their dispute resolution center, explained the situation and told them how many years (15) I had been using that facility and they contacted the store. The manager called me back and after I gave him a quote on replacing the unit, they sent me a check within 2 weeks. This, even though we had already brought the car home....

 

I remember once, a looooong time ago I worked for a large sporting goods company.(Big5) A customer had a major complaint about an expensive piece of exercise equipment he had purchased from us. I overheard his conversation with the store manager. The customer already knew the name of the district supervisor of our store, and he dropped the name a couple times. I don't know how he knew the name, but it got the manager's attention and he was taken care of.

I really hope this works out for you, we're all cheering for you.

DD

 

Thanks...........I'm hoping for the best but prepared for the worst. A competent repair could cost have of what the tranny cost.....Oh well........his problem not mine. My biggest concern is how the parent company always stresses, "each office independently owned and operated.

 

I always hesitate to take my cars to anyplace that repairs multiple makes.
Once, I was buying tires for the Vette, and every tire changer in the place had his own method of getting the car up on the rack to change the tires.
I showed them the places to put the rack brackets, and they were off on their own argument as to how to lift it.
Finally, I went back up to the salesman I had bought the tires from, voided the sale, and got my keys, and went home.
Later, I went to another shop with the tires and wheels in my pickup truck. dropped them off, and they had them done in an hour.
I put the tires back on myself, and no problems.
Not that you have to do the job yourself, but it only pays to guide the repair shop so that there's no possibility they can ruin your car.
On my 57 chevy pickup, I had bought 2 tires for the rear, and went to use the rest room.
When I got out to where the truck was jacked up, the tire changer had jacked up the back of the truck on the shock mounts!!!
I tried to get the kid to use another jack, and jackstands, and he just shrugged his shoulders and kept doing what he was doing. i went to the manager, and he made the kid do it right, and gave me a hand written note that said that if I had any problems with the rear suspension, they acknowledged that it would be evaluated, and they would be responsible for the repairs if it proved that they were negligent.
I had him change the letter stating they had jacked up my vehicle on the shock mounts, and any repair on them was their responsibility.
I got new shock mounts from Eckler's truck parts group. and they paid the invoice. you could see the bends in the metal.
Just remember, not every garage mechanic is a real car guy.
Those guys get dirty and greasy every day, and they live like that. They don't appreciate well kept cars because if most cars were well kept, they might not have jobs!
A lot of them don't even like what they do for a living. Look at the employee parking lot, look for the best kept car, and get that guy to do your work.
When I interview a new applicant, I always ask to see their car. A messy rundown car ususally means a messy don't care employee as well. A car with a lot of trash in it usually means that's how they intend on keeping the shop and my facility.

 

I alway do the exact same thing when it comes to my tires. I pull the wheel(s) off at home and throw 'em in the truck. I'll be damned if some 17 y/o greasy kid is gonna jack my Vette up and possibly crack the body panel. No offense to any 17 y/o greasy kids that might be forum members, hah. So I'm not the only one huh?

DD

 

I try do do all of the work myself and if I have to take any of my cars to anyone I wait for it and watch, or take an inventory of the car's condition with one of the reps, so there are no issues later.

 

My problem was it's the 4+3 OD unit and I had a hard time finding someone who even heard of doug nash. I'm sure everyones already figured out what "national" chain I'm talking about but until I see what they offer to do I'll not slam them here. I DID get an estimate today on the repair.$2135.00 That's a complete hood strip and paint including headlight buckets, the rear gas filler door area and the section behind the wheel well is not only scratched, the fiberglass has a small crack in it as well.

I wish I could post pics here......

 

Those 4+3's will get ya everytime............time bomb short fuse.

 

After $2600.00 the fuse has been lengthened.

 

Well I just got back from the transmission shop. I gave the manager the 2100.00 repair estimate and he said he'll turn it over to their insurance company on Monday. They may require another estimate so we'll see how close they come to mine.Of course I'd also like to check out THEIR body shop to make sure that my Vette doesn't become a classroom for some inexperienced body man who's only experience with fiberglass is boat repair.

 

Take if from someone who has been down this road. Do not, under any circumstances, take it to any shop you are not comfortable with. Even if it is their shop and they insist. Once they cut the check for the damage, they are off the hook(and rightfully so).
The woste experience in my life was dealing with a substandard vette body work/paint job. Took them 19 attempts to repair the car, before it was good enough to be a "20 footer".
The stress is not worth it.
Moral of the story is take it to where you are comfortable, even if it costs you a few extra bucks in the end.

 

Thank you for the insight. I'm sure their shop will not be on a par with the one I took it to. Not to mention the one by me is exactly 2 miles away. I'm not into having to arrange shuttle service just to get my car back.

Thanks again Pete

 

I've watched a local tire chain change out wheels and tires while waiting for a set of tires to be mounted. The 18 year olds wheel the jack under the car and jack it up without looking underneath not seeming to care what it comes into contact with once jacked up. Every car has a precise jacking point and you're not going to always hit it in such a haphazzard manner. They're working as fast as possible and don't care what gets damaged because they're probably making $8 per hour. When I have my tires done on the vette I take them off myself and reinstall. I need to have my front bumper touched up and I will remove that myself and take it to the shop and then reinstall myself. If my transmission goes I will remove it myself and put it in the trunk and bring it to a transmission shop. The only place I trust leaving my car is one or two regional corvette shops. Best of luck in pursuing this, its not right if they damaged your car and don't make good on it.

 

While I was waiting for the 10 day inspection to be completed, I watched one of those 8 dollar guys pushing an Explorer with somesort of machine they use to push cars with the transmissions out and BAM..........he pushed it right into a fence pole. The moron would push the car, run up and turn the wheel then push the car again then run up and turn the wheel......etc.

 

Just got a call from the manager of the shop. When I brought the car in on Saturday for it's 10 day check up, I showed his assistant the 3 damages areas in question. Well now they're saying that they did a walk around of the car (not in my presence) and claim to have marked on the diagram the exact same 3 areas of damage....
I told him there is no way brake fluid got spilled on my car anyplace other then their shop. My Vette sits in the garage all week and I don't even have a can of Brake fluid here. I also told him that his guy may have marked the small hood nicks as damage and that's fine. All vettes get hood nicks but that is NOT what my issue is.

Next stop is to bring the car directly to HIM and not his assistant and show him in detail. I smell BS on this. Looks like a call to their headquarters is in order. You would think they'd do a "walkaround" with the owner present.

Decided to not wait another two weeks since it's obvious they are trying to screw me on this so I filed a small claims suit this past Monday. I have all my photos, documentation and a sequence of events and conversations. The big question is....how valid is a walk around inspection when only the shop was present?