Franz Mercedes & BMW Service & Repair Franz Mercedes Don't go here!! Overcharged for labor and materials Temecula, California
I am writing this for my father-in-law who is 92 years old. He has been going to Franz Mercedes for over 20 years and took his car there for oil change and tune up and to have the smog check done at a company down the way.
Oil filter/oil/fuel filter/spark plugs $450. Jonathan called me and said an additional $250 for smog work. Then when we got the car back he said that the transmission was leaking and charged an additional $950. What????? The tranny work was never authorized.
I had checked the cost of the parts with other parts suppliers and found out he overcharged for parts. When we called him for an explanation I was told be Franz and Johnatan both that "he has already paid, and he is not getting any money back". I was appalled! If he overcharged for parts he overcharged for labor.! He would not discuss with me and then when my father-in-law called him he told him he would give him free oil changes for a while.
He is 92 years old and not driving anymore. Only 15 miles per week on the car. How long would that last?
We are turning this matter over to the BAR and if does not get settled there then to small claims court for explanation.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
coast
USAquestion
#4Consumer Comment
Sat, December 03, 2011
Who is driving the car 15 miles a week?
buddy
Fallbrook,California,
United States of America
Parts.....
#4Author of original report
Fri, December 02, 2011
"Overcharged" means that according to other shops in the area and what they charge along with comparisons of "list" pricing with parts equals the words "overcharged" No one should have to endure 500-1000 percent parts markups and over 5 hours to replace sparkplugs oil and filter change and a fuel filter change for $750.00.
Parts were compared with other "list" parts companies and not compared with buying at an auto parts store or wholesale (which is what shops by at). Not bought at shop rates which is much lower. I understand that shops are in it to make a profit but not at those prices or markups.
In addition, doing this to a customer of over 20 years.
Nothing speculative about it, I have done the homework and have verification.
Sounds like this is coming from a mechanic. Good of you all to stick together. I would expect nothing else.
Flynrider
Phoenix,Arizona,
USA
Parts prices
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, December 01, 2011
" I had checked the cost of the parts with other parts suppliers and found out he overcharged for parts. "
What does "overcharged" mean? The price of a part at the auto parts store is only valid if you plan to buy it from the parts store and install it yourself. Every vehicle repair shop (cars/motorcycles/airplanes) I've ever dealt with has a mark up on parts. It's standard in the industry. Mark ups of 100% or more are routine and go to pay the expenses of operating a fully equipped repair shop. If you want to pay the parts store price, you're going to have to install the parts yourself.
" If he overcharged for parts he overcharged for labor.! "
This sounds like wild speculation to me, given that it is based on your subjective opinion of "overcharged".
I do agree with you that if the transmission work was not authorized, it should not have been done. That's seems to be about the only thing in your complaint that holds water.