Complaint Review: A Discount Engine LLC - Mesa AZ

9/7/18, when my 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee blew a head gasket and the engine was beyond repair, a friend recommended A Discount Engine. After submitting an online inquiry, I got a call from an Eric Deroche {owner} who listened to my circumstances and what I was looking to have done. He suggested instead of rebuilding the engine I had, he had a low mileage engine the shop had just received. After discussing the details of cost and time line to repair, I told him I'd have to find the money as I wasn't really sure about financing that large of an amount . I called my sister and mechanic brother in law {in SC} and through some conversations with him and Eric, it was agreed upon that they could do it for $2600 however there might be some additional costs for replacing old belts, hoses, etc..He promised to keep in touch with both myself and brother in law through the whole process.

9/11/18, went to the shop before work with a coworker and made the full payment in cash of $2600; this was for the removal of old engine and installation of 61k engine promised. At this time, I signed the first invoice detailing our conversation and we shook hands. Eric repeatedly reiterated that they were going to take good care of me and that this payment in full was for "out the door" cost for the engine work. I was told it would take between 7-10 days and that the office manager Brandy Collins {no longer employed there} would be in contact with me through the process.

9/18/18, I called the shop sometime around 11am to find out the progress on the Jeep. Brandy stated she was still waiting on a "ticket" from the mechanic {Shawn Reese} and she'd call me in an hour. At 4p I called back and wanted to know what the status was. I then spoke with Eric who informed me that there were some other serious issues that had to be addressed and that it was going to run me another $1100 for parts. I then put him on hold and did a three way call with my brother in law and sister and Eric and me. He meticulously went through each part and explained that it was essential and quite necessary to have this additional work done as they couldn't warranty the engine. On top of that, they added another 9.5 hours to do that work which was $1500! After lengthy conversations with Eric, they negotiated the added cost of $2400.

9/19/18, once the $2400 payment was confirmed, Eric called me again, in a lame attemp to justify the additional work. I just wanted the date when my vehicle would be ready for pick up; he said by Friday at the latest.

9/21/18, Brandy left me a voicemail just after 11am stating my Jeep was ready to be picked up. I got a ride and arrived just before 4pm only to find out that my vehicle was not ready and that the mechanic {Shawn} was still assembling it. Without a ride, I had to ask for a lift back home because they stated that the truck wouldn't be done until after 8pm. After 40 minutes of waiting for a cab they said they called, I got someone else to pick me up. Eric then called my brother in law and said that he would bring me my Jeep when it was done later that night. {never happened}.

9/22/18, Eric called me in the morning to inform me yet again that there was another big problem with the cooling fan not operating and that they would need to do a $110 diagnostic test to figure out what was up. After our discussion, I called my brother in law and sister and we agreed that that was enough gouging and I was either going to pick up the Jeep or have it towed out of there on Monday; no more conversation with the shop.

9/24/18 after contacting the Mea PD, I was given a police escort to assist with retrieving my Jeep. After asking for my vehicle, Eric directed Shawn to go get my truck. Shawn in turn, got up and said to me, " if you drive that Jeep, the engine will Blow Up!" The office then stepped in and asked that they bring the Jeep around for me to take possession of. I then drove it to a shop around the corner who is currently working on it.