- Report: #1050246
Complaint Review: Clark's Auto Repair and Machine Shop - cupertino California
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Clark's Auto Repair and Machine Shop
10270 Imperial Ave, cupertino, 95014 California, USA
Phone:
(408) 565-8472
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Clark's Auto Repair and Machine Shop Paid $4850 to have shop replace my transmission in August 2010 cupertino California
In July 2010 my 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse's transmission ceased. I called several transmission repair shops. I asked each one how much it would cost (an estimate) and how long it would take to get the job done. Unfortuantely, I decided to go with Clark's Auto Repair and Machine shop in Cupertino, CA.
I was told it would take 7-10 days to replace my transmission with a new one. I signed the document to authorize their work. It stated the same 7-10 day time frame and an estimate of $4500. They offered a 30-day money back warrantee on their work. I also signed that document.
After waiting for more than 3 weeks, I had to physically return to Clark's to get an update. (The phone was not typically answered, but when it was, employees would say that they could not find their boss, or he was in a meeting, etc. The messages were not ever returned.)
The employees were equally as poor in terms of customer service in person as they had been on the telephone. I was left waiting (the only customer in the shop) for nearly an hour. Finally, the manager emerged from the nearby cubicles. He stated that there was a problem with the transmission vendor... they had made a mistake with the shipment. This seemed like an obvious excuse. But the manager assured me the work would be completed before the end of the following week.
Nearly 2 weeks later I received a telephone call that my car was ready for pick up. The price (naturally) was higher than their original quote--and it would now be $4850. I paid for my car repair and left the shop, however, before I pulled out of the parking lot, I realized that my car was not fixed. The "new" transmission was broken, slipping in and out of gears so severely that it could not be driven.
I walked back into Clark's and tried hard to control my blood pressure. I asked what happened. Got no answer. Employees scattered. Manager returned to front of store, where I was waiting AGAIN. He told me that I could leave the car again. No cost would be charged to fix the transmission with another one. I signed a document that agreed no additional charges would be given on my car.
The next day the shop contacted me and said that he could not guarantee how long it would take for another new transmission to come in--so could give no estimate whatsoever on time, AND I would need to pay another $4500! I mentioned the 30 day money back guarantee, manager said that it only applied to parts and not labor. And that the $4500 was all labor. Which I would need to pay for again. Bologna!
I was extremely angry. I contacted the Bureau of Automotive Repair in California. The investigator spoke to me and opened a case to investigate their business practices. I was finally sent a check for $400. But that was all. I managed to get the Eclipse to a dealership and traded it for something else.
Bottom line, stay away from these horrible people and this EXTREMELY dishonest shop.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
anonymous
San Jose ,California,
USA
greedy con artist owned managed and run by
#2Consumer Comment
Thu, August 27, 2015
These guys at Clarke's auto are text book scam artists. Every word of their rebuttal is one lie after the next. I wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy!
Clarks
cupertino,California,
USA
She sold the car before we could warranty it for free
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, August 26, 2015
So much misinformation where do I start. First off we quoted roughly $3500 for a new transmission when she said that was too much we told her we could get a used transmission with 6 month warranty. She agreed and signed an original estimate of $2580. The used transmission was $1794.05, $620 in labor to remove and reinstall transmission, and $165.95 in tax on the part. On the paperwork it states that it is a used transmission with 6 month warranty and that there is no warranty on labor.
Our paperwork shows she dropped the car off 7-19-2011 for diagnosis, the estimate was given on 7-21-2011 for $2580. After the authorization for this work the car was completed and picked up 7-28-2011 for a total of $2754.79 because of worn out mounts that needed to be changed this was authorized by the customer 7-26-2011.
According to paperwork we have the car was brought back 7-29-2011 because the transmission had a rough 2-3 shift (still driveable). At that point we told her that we could get another used transmission and it would be covered under warranty. We even agreed to not charge labor to remove and reinstall even though she signed paperwork stating there is no warranty on labor. After contacting the distributor they informed us they did not have any more in stock but they would have one in a few weeks.
When we learned the transmission was in stock we called the customer to bring the car down so we could complete the warranty work. She said that she had sold the car and wanted a refund. The distributor will not give us a refund for a part we can't return to them. We gave her back $400 on good faith but it had nothing to do with Bureau of Automotive Repair.
We have all the original paperwork that supports our statements.
