Complaint Review: Surfside / Surf Side Japanese Auto & Service

I took my Acura to Surfside Auto with the assumption that they work on Japanese products only, and should be better than a "normal" shop.

I had a starter hanging up, and they suggested I replace it. They told me It would be expensive ($750) because there were not any aftermarket starters made yet for this model. (a 1997 car in 2004 ?) However, they told me that with the high price came a lifetime warranty on the part. So, if it failed again...the part (not labor) would be covered. Small consolation, but I agreed.

They told me it would be done in a day or two...which turned into 4 or 5 because of a number of excuses. But hey...I wanted it done right...so OK.

Fast forward 4 years. Guess what. The starter fails. I have a downed car, but at least I have a lifetime warranty on the starter...so I feel a little better about it.

I call Surfside and they act bothered by my call, but they will "check into it". They take my name and promise to look it up and call me. A week goes by...I call again. They tell me the records are in storage. They are too busy to look through the storage now. Another week goes by...I call again. Now they tell me "I don't think starters ever have a lifetime warranty". (they still haven't looked up my records). I tell them the story of what was promised me. I then offer to bring the receipt (which I had kept) by their office. They agreed. I dropped it off with a mechanic the next morning (manager wasn't there). I call a couple days later (it's been a month now) and the manager "Tosh" tells me they looked it up and it's the standard 12 month warranty...he tells me again...he's never heard of a lifetime warranty on a starter.....so they can't help me. He is lying to me. I don't believe for one minute that he looked up the record. I'm screwed at this point....do I go to small claims court over a $400 part?

So, I go to my local mechanic, have the starter replaced ($550). He get's the starter at O'Reilly's....and guess what....It has a lifetime warranty! Imagine that.

Yeah...they ripped me off. But mostly because they were lazy, kept poor records, and don't care about ongoing customer service.

Consumers have choices in Tulsa. I suggest you use someone else. It can't be any worse than Surfside.

If you are going to pay the high labor rate...you should get something for it.

Tooker
claremore, Oklahoma
U.S.A.