Complaint Review: AAMCO Transmission - Brooklyn New York

I'm the owner of Aamco Transmissions and I was personally involved with this consumer and the previous one this consumer is speaking about and would like to respond. The previous consumer this consumer is referring to brought in his vehicle with no complaint and wanted a transmission fluid change. We explained to the consumer that there is a $49.95 diagnostic charge to check out the vehicle and if we found a problem with the transmission, we would be unable to perform the service he was requesting but we would still be intitled to our check out fee. The $49.95 charge would be credited towards any repair or service including but not limited to a fluid change. The consumer agreed to this. Upon further diagsnostics it was determined that a transmission problem did exist. We called the consumer down to road test the vehicle with us so we could show him exactly what we felt. The consumer then proceeded to tell us that the vehicle sometimes jerks, but he thought that was an idle problem. The consumer then at first told us he did not feel the problem with my mechanic, but then admitted that he did. We explained to the consumer that we can not perform a fluid change because that could make the problem worse. The consumer did not want to repair the vehicle, but also did not to pay us our check out fee. This consumer cursed, screamed and yelled in my waiting room in front of a female consumer. I could only imagine what would have happened if we did not road test his vehicle, performed the service he was requesting and his transmission was worse after the service was performed. 

The consumer who posted this Ad has a Ford Escape Hybrid Yellow Taxi cab and came into my center with a complaint of noise inside his transmission. We explained our check out procedure which included our $49.95 diagnositic fee that would be credited towards any repair that was needed. We roadtested said vehicle, checked out all the external controls, lift checked the vehicle and determined that the consumer was in fact correct that there was a noise from the transmission. We then proceeded to open up a manual and show the consumer all the moving parts inside the transmission that could be making the noise. There is no way for us to see inside the transmission to determine exactly which parts were needed, so we explained to the consumer that the labor charge to remove the transmission and inspect it was $900.00 and the $49.95 diagnositic fee would be waved if he authorized the work. We also showed him that the complete labor rate was 15.3 hours to do the job and showed him what a replacement transmission would be from our computer program. This consumer decided not only to not do the work, but then proceeded to tell me that he located a transmision for $1000.00 in a junk yard and why would he pay me $900.00 for labor. I explained to the consumer that we can't repair a transmission for less than what it would cost from a junk yard. We repair vehicles properly and the only way to determine exactly what parts are broken is to examine the transmission which can't be done while the transmission is still intact. In our area, there are so many automotive repair facilities that misdiagnose cars that consumers come to us to diagnose them correctly and then go back to the shop that worked on the vehicles previously. If we gave out estimates and fixed vehicles based on what another shop says is wrong with the vehicle and they were wrong we are liable. This is the reason why we spend the time to check out vehicles correctly and charge for the service. 

I take pride in the facility that I own and want to service consumers who truley care about fixing their cars the correct way. In both instances, we diagnosed theirs vehicles correctly and performed the service that we told the consumers we were going to do. I resent the fact that this consumer thinks I'm a rip off shop for charging for a service that we told the consumer up front. In the interest of consumer satisfaction, if this consumer would like to call me on my cell phone at (516) 523-9530, I would be happy to discuss either fixing his vehicle correctly at a discounted price or installing his junk transmission at 25% percent less than the book time calls for. In both cases, I will credit back his $49.95 towards either one of these services. If anyone reading this post needs help with their vehicle, please feel free to call me at the above number. Thanks for reading my rebuttal and have a great day!!

Jonathan 

President Aamco Transmissions of Ralph Ave Brooklyn

" . They will ask you to pay $49.99 for initial diagnose which will be credited later if a customer go with repair. "

  You waited til the end of your report to mention this?   Let's recap.   Did you go with a repair?   No?  Then by your own words, you owe them $49.99 for the initial diagnosis. 

  They are charging you what you agreed to.    Don't bother your credit card company with this.   The shop very likely has the piece of paper you signed that authorized it.  That's all they need to make your dispute disappear. 

  Here's a tip.   Get rid of that vehicle fast.    Automatic transmission problems are expensive because the transmission has to be removed and disassembled in order to make a full diagnosis (in most cases).  This usually leads to a rebuild, which costs a few thousand.  Modern automatic transmissions are very complex and tend not to work so great after a third party rebuild.   Ditch that vehicle and buy something with a standard transmission.

SO what you are saying is that you dont feel they should be paid for the work they do? Because thats what it sounds like. They put your car on a machine and run it so they can hear that there is a problem but since they didnt tell you the EXACT problem then you feel you dont have to pay?? Flip this around for a min and try and examine it from NOT YOUR perspective.

They do their part, they find that your transmission is INDEED making a noise. A noise that tells them that SOMETHING is not right in your transmission. So they do this work and verify the information that your mechanic gives you but it will require extra time money and work to determine the exact issue, but you dont think they should be paid for the work they have done. How would YOU feel if someone did that to you. A transmission is a VERY complicated piece of equiptment. It WOULD cost more money to fully diagnose the issue.  They did their part, they VERIFIED the information that you had. So you AND the customer before you are both deadbeats. YOU went to them and had them PERFORM A SERVICE. The cost of that SERVICE is $49.99. They complete that SERVICE and you dont want to pay them.

Stupid little mouth breathing j******, grow the hell up. Youre supposed to be an adult. How about YOU start acting like one. Its not a RIPOFF. It is NOT a SCAM. YOU brought your vehicle into THEM to perform a SERVICE and YOU attempt to WELCH. Yeah youre really grown up. Maybe mommy can scrub your bottom for you tonight when she gives you your bath.