Print the value of index0
Discount Engine Exchange After deposit, they wanted more money to fix, didn't have money. Wanted to back out, but forcing me to buy engine anyways without installation. Mesa Arizona
My truck needed a new engine. I called Discount engine exchange,and they gave me a quote on a rebuilt engine for a Ford F-150 4.2 liter vehicle that I own. I had them pick up my truck and I put a $1,500 dollar deposit down. The quote was for $2,745.00.
When I paid my deposit, there was a list of things regarding what the engine was, what the warranty was going to be etc. And also listed that there may be extra charges because engine was not all together when picked up. I am ok with that as long as it is not too much right?
So on Monday Dec. 18th. I get a call from Eric at the shop saying that because my engine was in pieces when they picked it up that they have to do alot more work for the new one to get installed. So after a list of things that he says I need to do to keep the warranty, he tells me that there will be an additonal amount of $1,600 dollars added to my bill to get my engine fixed. I asked if it was required and he said that he can knock off about 200 bucks of it but everything else will need to be done in order for engine to work properly.
I told he that I didn't approve him proceding because I wanted to figure out if the truck is even worth getting fixed at that amount. So I call him the next morning and tell him that I am going to back out of the new engine and just get rid of my truck. I did state that I would be willing to pay for any labor charges that have incurred up to that point.
Eric then told me that if I backed out that I would still owe a balance of $1,836 dollars on top of my $1,500 deposit because as he said " That engine is yours." I asked him how can that be since he hasn't installed it, and he said well "I paid for it, so now it belongs to you." He insisted that if I back out that I would owe a total of $1,836.00 on top of my deposit.
So I said that doesn't make sense, and he insisted that I owe that much money for not even installing my engine!!
So I told him to hold off because he is insisting that I put down $1,600 for additonal parts. So he can get it done.
So now I am very upset because this cannot be legal or true. If it is we are in a big mess in this country. This is ridiculous. He also told me that it is a specialty engine he bought, even though he told me he gets trucks like mine in all the time and they tend to have problems. I drive a 1997 Ford F-150 4.2 liter engine vehicle.
So I don't know what to do, I tried contacting the better business bureau but they want me to mail a report in and I can't get anyone on the phone.
Can anyone help? Any suggestions?
I thank you ahead of time.
Steve
Mesa, Arizona
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Sid
Gilbert,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Poor guy
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, August 31, 2007
After you fork over all this money, you will be lucky to get another 40,000 miles out of the new engine. Just speaking from experience!! Good Luck....
Robert
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
For Steve, and Mike
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, December 22, 2006
It DOES matter if the engine is partially dismantled. When someone else has removed parts, the next guy in line has to spend time(labor) figuring out what went where. A complete engine assembly, with all of the accessories still attached is much faster to R&R, than a basket case is.
As for the increase in price, it's as I said. More labor equals more dollars. If the customer told the shop it was a basket case, then I would agree...the shop should hold to the original quote. If the customer failed to inform the shop of this issue, then the shop has every right to jack up the price. Giving the customer a written estimate is meaningless, if the repair is not what the estimate is based on. If I quote someone a tranny rebuild over the phone, and they come in and fill out the paperwork before I tow it in, it is based on the tranny being in one assembly, and still located correctly in the vehicle. When I tow in a vehicle that has the tranny in 1000 pieces scattered throughout the vehicle, and missing half the bolts/brackets, the original estimate just climbed up.
I am not making the claim the shop was right, or wrong, nor am I suggesting the customer(Steve) was right or wrong. There was obviously a huge breakdown in communication. Either the shop was not told about the vehicle's condition, or the shop failed to understand it. Either the customer failed to understand the increase in price, or it was never fully explained to him to begin with.
Both sides should have asked more questions before getting anything done at all.
Mike
Radford,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Shop should've been more careful here.
#7Consumer Suggestion
Fri, December 22, 2006
I do agree with Robert that a "basket case" deserves substantial extra money. It's a real headache figuring out what someone else did and then correcting it.
But the shop is not justified here. They messed up by issuing a WRITTEN quote before seeing the truck. Also apparently before they saw the truck, they ordered a new engine and now claim somehow that they can't return the engine unused to the supplier and get money back.
The shop took a big risk doing these things before seeing the truck was a "basket case." And I think they should eat the loss on that. Either don't install the engine and refund Steve's deposit, or do the work for the originally quoted price.
Steve [Not A Lawyer]
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
The shop's reasoning doesn't make sense.
#7Consumer Suggestion
Fri, December 22, 2006
The old engine being torn apart would have no bearing on installing a rebuilt engine. If they were going to repair the old engine, I could see the extra cost. But an extra $1600? I can't see it. That would represent like 16 hours of labor, or $1000 in extra parts and 8 hours of labor.
This looks like the standard scam to me. Lowball the quote, then trap the vehicle in the shop. Hold the customer hostage for the extra money.
I have changed many engines, and it makes absolutely no difference if the old engine is partially dismantled. It is only a core that is being rebuilt later anyway. It comes out just the same.
Steve
Mesa,Arizona,
U.S.A.
just taken back by company saying I had to pay for an engine that wasn't even going to get installed
#7Author of original report
Fri, December 22, 2006
I am just updating information for above claim.
I am just ponying up the money and getting the truck fixed. Was just taken back by company saying I had to pay for an engine that wasn't even going to get installed.
Realized the money I can live without, and my truck is more important.
Just wish people knew about this kind of thing ahead of time. It would save alot of headaches and misunderstandings, if there is a change to invoice and it goes above what consumer can pay.
Robert
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Basket Case
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, December 22, 2006
That is the term we use for a project that has already been dismantled by someone else. The parts are left all over the place in the truck/bed, or dumped in baskets. The mechs get to sort through it all, instead of doing a straightforward R&R. It's much easier for us to just pull the accessories apart in large assemblies, than to have to figure out how they went back on.
Basket Cases equal more money. This is because it takes more time to do the job. I have one at the shop. Baskets in the trunk, but no engine in the well. I'm now supposed to figure out what went where. Great.
He was amazed the price didn't go down, since he was so helpful by removing the engine and putting about 400 bolts, brackets, nuts, hoses, wires, etc in the trunk.