Complaint Review: christian brothers automotive - Grand Prairie Texas

I know in fact how Christian Brothers are ripping off people's using faith and christianity...That was my main reason I left CBAC because I can't Agree what they are doing using faith to make money  bunch pharisees

1- Mark up price super high matching to dealer price but installing super cheap parts in the market (Better to go dealer)

2- jobs are performed per no full certificate technician (Cheap Labor)

3-Company hiring illegal alien to pay half of a legal worker

4-Manager are fully trained how to cheat, to lie and the most important  speak nice and professional

5-Always recommending vehicles fluid flushes,But where I use to work those jobs wasn't have done but coustomers paid for it

I have proof of what I'm Writting  I can share with whoever want more info about this company

Lets talk about the belt.

So the belt was 52 and it cost hour  <50> in labor to put it on. The belt that you showed me had nothing wrong with it. First the man tried to find brakes or frays in it and couldnt. Then I was told that it was stiff so that ment that it was dried out. Because as you have pointed out many times it had 117,000 miles on it. Well everything in this car has 117,000 miles on it including all the other belts that did not need to be replaced. It was stiff because that was the type of belt it is, The one that is in the car now is also stiff.

I will say I am not a mechanic. However I have worked on other cars I have owned. In fact in the past I have replaced a few
alternators.  So I do know a little.

However what I do know,  is when I am being ripped off. Now when you are in a spot that you have to pay or you dont get your car, you pay.

I did go up on the Attorney General of Tx webpage and they do state as far as getting your parts back that I repair shop is required to + an indication that all parts which will be replaced or removed from the vehicle during the repair will be saved and placed in a plastic bag in the trunk of the vehicle.+

I really think that it is sad that a company can rip  someone off, try really hard to make you feel that you are the one in the wrong not them, and then have the nerve to quote the bible.  Really

First off, I just want to say your labor was ridiculously cheap.  I have an Audi and my shop charges $110 an hour base.  But on to the meat of the matter!

1.  How do you know the price you were given was for a "brand new" alternator?  Was that written on your work order?  Or did someone simply tell you that?  We've had instances of huge miscommunications with our shop like that.  The mechanic will tell the front desk associate one thing, and for some reason or another things don't translate well.  

2.  Are you a mechanic?  How can you be so sure you didn't need a new belt?  What gave you that impression?  In regards to showing you old parts, I know in my state they're required to do so, but I would check your local laws.  

3.  While most dealers to put the diagnostic price towards repairs, most private shops do not because their labor is cheaper.  Did you ask about this before you took the car to be serviced?  Did you specifically ask if your diagnostic costs would be applied to the repairs?  If not, sounds like an assumption that unfortunately was wrong.  

4.  The price of the parts doesn't necessarily correlate with the amount of labor involved.  

5.  Any shop I've EVER been to, I've had to pay for what they all call "Labor and supplies".  The "supplies" can be whatever they want.  They are a business.  They aren't there to do work for free.  They've got to make a living as well.

What I ALWAYS do after I get a quote, is I SPECIFICALLY tell the shop, say I get quoted $900.  I make sure to tell them "If it's over $900, you call me and I will either accept or decline the additional charges or work."  and I mean $900.01.  I make them repeat it back to me.  I make sure they understand if I don't get a call and it ends up being over the initial agreed amount, I absolutely will not pay the extra charges.  

Do you remember who told you that the belt and battery terminal would have no labor charge?  And as you previously stated, you said you KNEW you didn't need a belt.  Why then, when they called to "add the belt", did you agree to it?

It honestly seems like perhaps they were just very unorganized with minimal communication with you and each other.  Case in point, being shown the wrong belt at first.  That can get frustrating, no doubt.  Keep us updated.  I hope everything works out for you.  Do what I do, tell them ahead of time you want every single part they replace back.  They're your parts from your car and you are entitled to them.  I make sure I get back every nut and bolt that's replaced :)

I would like to say your so full of s**t about the alternator as Toyota still makes the part furthermore charging to replace the belt is way wrong and to say using a clamp down battery terminal that is not sealed is no way better than what you have claimed OK then i know for a fact that a rebuild alternator means just that rebuilt with some new parts and the rest are just clean up and put back in,

so you are really showing everyone you are only out to screw hard working people out of there money so at this point and time stop talking out of your a*s cause all shops will take the diagnosis fee and apply it towards the labor if they do repair so after reading your post tells me you are a dishonest person and see customers as dollar sign instead of doing what is right so to sum it up you make it hard for people to trust us good shops cause you think other wise.

Ms. Sutton

#1) Toyota does not offer a new alternator. Only an alternator remanufacutred by Denso the OE manufacturer just like the one we installed in your daughters car.

#2) The belt that I personally brought to you was the correct belt that did indeed have 117,000 miles on it and looked it. The first belt that was handed to you was from a lexus LS 430 timing belt job that was performed right next to your car. That belt had only 30,000 miles on it but the vehicle was over 8 years old and was needed due to age.

#3) I have to return remanufactured parts for core credit. Had I known you wanted to see the old parts, I would have held onto it and not returned it to my supplier. You made no request of me to keep the parts for your inspection when we spoke and I discussed what your daughters vehicle needed. I have nothing to hide and would have been happy to do so had you requested it.

Ms. Sutton, it is your right to believe whatever you choose and no one can make you think differently. I would just appreciate a fair shake in the process.

I don't think I am getting that nor do I believe that I will, but I am really and truly sorry that you feel that way.

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2

Sincerely
Owner
Christian Brothers Automotive - Green Oaks

  Best of luck and God Bless.

Yes there are always two sides to every story, however  a rip off is a rip off.  I am not sure how I can misunderstand a few things.

1.   I was told that I got a brand new alternator, after looking at that brand new alternator, it is a rebuild one. The price from the dealer is for a new not rebuild one.

2.   One of the most important points. I did not need a new belt. I was charged 53 for the belt and another  50 in labor to put a belt on ,that one I did not need and two that was for the part that you were replacing. When I picked up the car I asked to see the belt, the one that you showed me did not need to be replaced. Now I will say that you at that point showed me another belt, not the same kind saying that you were not sure if that was the belt that you replaced or not.  So the belt may have had to be replaced, however you did not show me a belt that needed to be. And I did ask to see the alternator, however was told that it was no longer there. I thought that there was a law that required a repair show to have your old parts there.

3.   Yes we did ask to have the diagnosis done on the car and I have no problem paying the 49 for that, however at the dealer, that would have been put towards the price of the labor not in addition to.

4.   And yes we needed to have the battery terminal replaced, not a problem with that. However when I was called today and given a brake down on what the 207 in labor was for, because it is not on the invoice <the brake down that is>  I was told that .6 hours were for the alternator with your labor charge at 99.98 an hour that would be 59.94 to replace the alternator. Now that is what I was told.

Where in the world other then in Tx at christian brothers automotive  do you get charged 147.24 in labor to replace a battery terminal <part price was 11.00> and a belt <part price 52>

5.    Here is the iceing on the cake.  We were then charged 39.73 for supplies. So they charge 99.98 for labor, however you also have to pay for the cloth that they wipe their hands with < and yes that was on the list of what their supplies were> and no there was no mention about that when we called.

Now I understand that I live in America. I can take my car anywhere I want. This is my point to all of this,  I thought I had done everything you should do, I called around, I talked to many auto shops about replacing this part in my car, I called the dealer about the same problem.  I picked this place, after two calls, the price I was told was not the price I got, I had to point things out and only after standing my ground did they lower price on the alternator. They did call when they needed to add the belt < was told that it would be 50 and no labor charge> and again with the battery terminal <was told that it was
11.oo with no labor charge>  When you are standing there and just want you car back, you pay what you have to.  However that does not mean that you were not just ripped off.

So yes there are always two sides to every story, however a rip off is just that, a rip off.

   Yes really,the person wants an alternator and they don't want you or anyone else selling them something they don't need,so tell me do you install gold plated alternators?The cheapest alternator you could buy will last them longer than they will have the car,so what are you trying to sell here.As I have said before,and your proving it,you love people that know nothing about cars.

  Go ahead,your turn.

You really buy the cheap off brand junk parts? Then you don't expect the guys who will have to cover the warranty by the better name brand parts And finally: Yes auto repair shops mark parts up, if yoou don't you go broke!

So dont be foolish and spout unless you know what brand part was installed!

This person could have bought the alternator for a 115 bucks from an auto parts,so where does the 350 come from?And that is my price and I get no discount.I didn't check on it but what another 40 bucks for the belt?

   Like I have always said,there are 2 sides to every story.

   God Bless all.

Dear Miss Sutton

I want to take a moment to correct some apparent miss-understandings:

1) The Invoice you paid was $697.82 not $812.00. Yes it was $812.00 when you arrived which I acknowledged as our error, apologized and corrected.

2) The invoice included the installation of a Negative solid bronze crimp on type battery terminal  ( which is better than original equipment) and a new serpentine belt. as well as diagnostic and installation labor for the parts mentioned.

3) If all we had done was the alternator, you would have been out the door at just under $500.00  including diagnosis which by your own admission, was less than what you told us the dealer quoted you.

Miss Sutton, I know we had some internal communications issues on our side as my Service Manager that you had spoken with for the original quote was out of the office the day of the repairs.

This caused some miss-quotes of pricing and for this I truly apologize. When this happens it always reflects bad on us and all we can do is try and make it right which I thought we had.

Sincerely
Owner
Christian Brothers Automotive

From now on before you get anything done,if you know what part is going to be changed just call up your local auto parts store and ask them how much the part is,that way you will have a pretty good idea how much the job should cost you.Garages do get the parts cheaper than you then they mark them up,but that sounds kind of expensive for and alternator on anything.I must say 812 bucks just to change an alternator they sure have no conscience.

Good luck and God Bless.

Marty