O/Os report: ripoffs by truck dealers and mechanic shops

with a name like "bulldog" I wouldn't buy a pair of socks from them.

 

Not a truck dealer, nor do I know if they even do major repairs, but for a general truck shop I think you'd be hard pressed to find one better than the Big Rig Truck Shop in Santa Rosa, NM. Been in there several times, always treated fairly and jobs done right the first time. Family run business, reasonable prices. Have driven out of my way to go to them and never disappointed.

 

In the middle TN area, Biggs Truck/Trailer in Nashville and GTF off I40 exit 182 in Fairview were both AWFUL. Biggs didnt put all the valve cover bolts back in after running the overhead, GTF didnt tighten the turbo lines after replacing the turbo, didnt tighten things back when they did the water pump...

Stoney's in Dickson isnt bad however. I40 exit 173, I think...the main Dickson exit.

Also TruckTex in Sunbury OH north of Columbus is GREAT! Reasonable, and fixed electrical nasties other shops have failed to get right.

 

If your from out of town... Do not take your truck here! This is the definition of highway robbery. We broke down a few miles from here and called to have our truck towed and repaired. The owner; Herman, quoted us a price of 98 / hr to work on truck. He didn't tell us it was 98 an hour times the number of people he supposedly had working on truck. I have never been charged this way at any of the repair shops that work on commercial trucks....He was charging us 195 dollars an hour! Plus he charged - Shop Clean up 182.60, Use of Equipment 125....which I believe he is charging for his own use of his flatbed tow truck that he had to use to pull the head because he didn't have an engine hoist or overhead pulleys?
This was on a Friday afternoon and this is a 24hr 7 day shop. I called him all weekend long and tried to get an estimate. Kept getting...."Uh, not sure what its gonna cost, got to do this, that and this and I will let you know" Finally I drove to the place on Monday, he had one Mech tearing off the head. So only work that had been done was removal of the head, then he told me it needed major engine work, which truck was not worth the cost he wanted to charge to do it.

I got the bill for head removal 4413.85 -450 for tow. 4k for Pulling a head!! I called Volvo and a few other shops to get a quote for head removal on my truck; most I could find was 2k for worse case, most shops were around 1500. After I confronted him face to face with this info he adjusted the price to 3500, which we had no choice but to pay to get our truck back.
No Estimates, Double price for quoted Labor, and he cursed me out when I ask him to explain how the bill could be this high. I would not waste my time with typing this if I hadn't been burned so bad by All Truck & Trailer, LLC! Call him and ask him how he ripped off WBX, he will gladly tell you "I f'd them" cause that's what he told me after we got our truck from him. When the tow company arrived to pay him and get our truck Herman refused to give them a receipt and told them to get the F off his property...just for asking for a Receipt after they paid him the 3500! I have copy of bill I will provide you...just email me.
All Truck & Trailer Repair, LLC is located off I-10 Exit 53 right past the Oasis Truck Stop.

 

Just a thought. I haven't looked into it extensively, but I do know that some states have limitations as to what shops can bill for repairs that are not authorized. For example, in the state of Wisconsin, if an auto shop makes a repair to your vehicle that you didn't know about first, they legally can charge no more than $50.00 if you call them out on it. I don't know how that rolls over to tractor/trailers, but it is worth looking into.

Also, understanding the industry somewhat, gather your negotiating skills and ask questions ahead of time; labor rates, mark ups, sublet repairs/mark ups, etc. Let them know you're in control from the get go. If you frequent a facility, or have the ability to, stop in and build a relationship before your break down. Negotiate rates as a partnership both knowing you will be using their facility whenever possible. Get things in writing. These are large corporation tactics used, but there is no reason why an o/o can't do the same.

 

Sorry that happened WBX! The shop should have gotten your approval to pull the head and given you an out the door cost to just pull it. If you didnt verbally or sign anything to tear the engine down, you shouldnt have to pay. It is very important to me that each one of my customers know at least a ball park of what it costs if he or she decides to not continue with the repair. If there is no documentation of you giving the ok, you should not pay.. If their labor rate says $98 an hour, that is what you should pay, not including shop supplies or taxes.

 

plain and simple you didn't do your homework, they are sellers, never trust a seller, you should have taken engine serial number and went to a cummins shop, not an authorized dealer, the real cummins shop and got the historical on the engine, and being in Canada you are protected under consumer protection act for 30 days no matter what, plenty of time for you to get truck thoroughly checked out...just my 2 cents...

 

Penn CVS, Detroit Diesel Buffalo, NY:
Im having some problems with one of your locations: Penn CVS, Buffalo,
NY.

Yesterday, I picked up my truck, but, my morale has sunk thru the
floor, and I don't know why that is.

This is the document (Invoice)# R777117F.

My truck was dropped off at your shop, 07:00am, 30 Aug.13.

I had a few things going on:

1), Tune up: Valve adjustment.
2), Install Frictionless Wheel Bearings on the trucks 3 axles.
(Cust.supplied wheelbearings & locking nuts)
3), Remove/Install broken bolts for the transmissions inertia brake
sensor.

The Problem:
4), TurboCharger: I called in a few days prior, asking about rebuilding
turbo, I was told (on the phone) they farm out this work to D&W Diesel.

When I arrived 30 Aug.13, 07:00am, @ the Penn CVS, DDA shop, I checked
my truck in with Tim, Shop Foreman gave him gave him the rebuild kit
for the turbo, adding I wanted my turbo rebuilt, if, the bearing-wells
show to much wear and the turbo cant be built, let me know and I'll
purchase a new turbo.

On the following Thurs. 5 Sept.13, 11:23am, I was called by Tim, whom
stated, the truck was done except for the turbo and he wanted to go
over my finances before proceeding with work on the turbo. I
responding, whats ur total charges to date, he responded, this needs to
be calculated, I responded, ball park total is close enuff.
Tim responded apprx: $2500.00. I gave the go ahead to rebuild turbo.

At 1:31pm, I rcvg a call from Tim, whom stated, turbo has too much
wear, we cant rebuild. (the turbo was never broken down.)
I replied, I purchase a Turbo and have it @ ur shop in the morning.

Friday, 6 Sept.13, 11:51am. im told by Tim, the turbo is the wrong unit
purchase, that the turbo is for the earlier EPA 2004 emissions, where
my is for a later year. (This was an incorrect diagnoses, turbo was correct part.)

Further, there is a cone inside the Turbo that the new turbo does not
have. (Tim took four pictures, and sent those to the Seller.) The
seller stated, after comparing the photos and the product number, the
turbo is 110% confident I have the correct turbo. (the cone is removable, this location would not contact tech support to get the proper instructions on how to remove the cone.)

Tim shop foreman, refused to install turbo. I asked if he'll confirm
with tech.support and see if there are instructions for the cones
removal. (Tim refused) I was told they are hard to get an answer from...a lot of time
passes by, and I arrive at the shop later in the day. Again, I was
told, I purchased the wrong turbo...they'll not install, it became
closing time and I was literally pushed out the door.

Annoyed, and not knowing what else to do, I returned the Turbo. at a
cost of $325.00 too myself. Later, I recvd confirmation by another
Detroit Diesel Location, (Williams, in Toldeo, Oh.) I had the correct
unit...that the cone is just hard to remove.

In the end, the final bill was abridged where no breakdown on how labor charges were billed out. The original quote to replace the wheel bearings was between 8-10 hours. Later, when questioning the charges, w/several of this locations mrg's & supv. Tim chimed in, the actual labor hours was 13 hours...then, revised to 15 hours. Tim was not speaking from specific charges that are written down but responded by using subjective language. This location was not to complete a turbo rebuild, they were to farm out the work. They chose to inspect the unit but the turbo was never broken down, also, they never send the unit out for rebuild. Finally, requesting the turbo be replaced. When the brand new OEM turbo arrived, this Shop believed the turbo was the wrong emissions year turbo. They were instructed by the customer to contact tech support, they refused, also by replying they take too long giving us a response. The turbo was the correct unit purchased. Genuinely, how can one work thru difficult problems like identifying the OEM part, or refusing to contact tech support for a clarification at the request of the customer. I can not recommend this location in buffalo, ny. while there I recommend Fleet Maint, (Freightliner Dealer)

 

I used to work with a guy from that dealership. He was a journeyman that never even hooked up to a trailer. I'm not surprised that you got ripped off. Good thing you were smart enough to research for yourself. Drivers always get taken at a dealership.

 

mack/Volvo dealer in Milwaukee, WI. assssss clowns!