AAMCO Transmission Deceptive Print Ads/Coupons York Pennsylvania
For years Cottman/AAMCO transmission has used coupons in the paper and various mailings that are deceptive and just used to get their phone to ring and get their high pressure memorized sales techniques to take advantage of you.
The "coupons" first of all say they have to be presented before any work begins. Why? Shouldn't you be able to present a valid coupon at the time of payment? There is not a fixed price for your transmission job so how can this be a real coupon? They won't give you a price up front until they remove your transmission from the car and tear it down to inspect it for damage. They say they need to do that to give you an exact price...so again how can a coupon help you here when you have to present it upfront and there is no limit to what they can charge.
When I buy a box of Cheerios and present a coupon I know what that will cost me afterwards because I know the price of the product beforehand. If the coupon still makes the product to much money for me to justify that purchase I can walk away and not lose anything. This coupon brings you into a shop that takes that option away from you as your transmission is out of your car and on a rebuilder's work bench and to walk away now will cost you anywhere from what I am hearing from $350-$600. Can you imagine having to pay something for a box of cereal that you picked up at the store but never purchased.
Don't be fooled and ask for a low and a high quote if they tell you the problem is inside the transmission. Surely they can give you that information upfront afterall they brag as being the biggest chain in the world and have done more transmissions than anybody under the sun. Surely then maybe that coupon may have some value if you get that quote in writing upfront but any other way it is a bogus come on and a rip-off in my opinion.
I will say that I am biased as I am an independent transmission owner and hate to see our industry cheapened by such practice. The local owner of this franchise warned local customers not to go to independent transmission shops but after seeing all the lawsuits in public records and all the bad reports on this and similar boards I would tell the consumer to go to a AAA, ATRA certified transmission shop and one that submits to an arbritation way of resolving your complaints instead of what you hear on this board about franchise customers service at headquarters. It's your choice and now that you have the facts don't get ripped off!
Voice of truth
Red Lion, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Brian
Red Lion,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Suspicious Post
#4REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, July 07, 2008
As the owner of Broadway Transmission in Red Lion I take "Dave's" comments very serious and as they are unspecific I find them hard to believe. Here are the facts that can be proven. AAMCO/Cottman have over 250 combined negative comments on this board alone and massive complaints in attorney general offices of many States and too many to count law suits all over the country.
Broadway Transmission on the other hand has no law suits ever under past or present ownership since 1951. No consumer complaints to any organization we belong to and we belong to the local chamber, ASA, AAA, ATRA and ATSG. Never a complaint to the BBB and never anything to the attorney generals office. NEVER! and for 57 years.
I have been elected by other shop owners in our county to lead them as local president of AASP for a period of 5 years. I am on the advisory board of the York County School of Technology and helped revamped the training curriculum of the automotive program for the Job Corp in our State of Pa. The York County Counsel of Churches donates cars to needy families and we do free work for them as we believe in putting back into our community.
Dave I would gladly invite your "friends" to call me personally and show me their concerns and if they are valid I would certainly not just take care of them but personally apologize to you on this forum. Second-Hand reports without documentation is a weak way to smear someone. On the other hand I can post Cottman/AAMCO track sales tactics online and show everyone the deceptive sales practices that are encouraged by the home office or personal letters from district sales managers showing how to increase sales by doing less than in my opinion ethical things.
Other facts. Dave, AAMCO/COTTMAN are not nationwide as in store owned and operated. They as you know are INDEPENDENTLY owned and have no real obligation to listen to a home office in regards to how they operate their shop as long as they pay their franchise and advertising fee's. Again as you know DAVE those fee's are about 7-8% of every dollar for the franchise fee in addition to the lessor of 13% of sales or $550 a week for advertising per store. So folks the fact that the independent shop can do the work for less money is a very real factor and because my shop has ATRA and ATSG certified technicians we do quality work. When we make mistakes and after all we all do we are fast to act and make the situation correct unlike the hundreds of posts you read on this board about AAMCO/COTTMAN
Dave
Dover,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
I have to Disagree
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, June 19, 2008
I have to disagree.
I've gone to AAMCO several times. Once for transmission work and several other occations for general repair work. I'm forgetful I have to admit. I alway for get coupons and have presented the coupon at time of pickup. I've never been given any hard time and the counter person has ALWAYS accepted my coupon after the fact.
I would also disagree w/ going to a independant transmission shop. Transmission cost a lot of money. Go to a reputable shop that has a nationwide presence.
I've had several friends go to an independant shop in Red Lion PA (I believe the place was called Broadway Transmission) and got ripped off!! Paid high prices for poor quality work!!
Blinq
York,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
I have to agree
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, April 11, 2008
I went to Cottmans (now Aamco) in West York to have a small leak at my axial checked.
I was told they would have to tear it apart (for $300) to see what the problem was. I took it to a local shop and the were surprised at the Cottman suggestion. The fluid leaked from the seal and they replaced the seal to stop the leak. It's as simple as a leak means its leaking not broken. A friend of mine told me they also told him it would cost $300+ to rip it down to see why his was leaking. I will never go back.