- Report: #168713
Complaint Review: Holcomb Trucks - Sioux City Iowa
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Holcomb Trucks
4801 Harbor Drive Sioux City, 51102 Iowa, U.S.A.
Phone:
712-252-2714
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Holcomb Trucks ripoff, overcharged for labor, padded tow bill Sioux City Iowa
We had been working in a South Dakota State Park and were preparing to leave when our motorhome would not start. We tried charging the batteries, they showed as being fully charged, but could not get the engine to turn over.
It's impossible to get someone in South Dakota to make a "house call" so we went to the dealership that handles our brand of motorhome in Worthing, SD, but they would not work on it, (that's a story in itself), and told us to have it towed to a Freightliner dealer since it has a Freightliner chassis.
The closest Frieghtliner dealer was Holcomb Trucks in Sioux City, IA. We called them and they said they would fix it for us and even told us they would arrange to have it towed to Sioux City.
It was towed in the next day and it was found that the batteries were both bad, so they replaced them. When we got the bill we were flabbergasted!$275.00 labor. (The unit was in the shop for 2 1/2 hours). $218.00 parts (that seems reasonable). $520 for the towing. (That;s $10.00 per mile!) and 27.50 misc. charges and 72.90 sales tax (!!) for a grand total of $1114.23.
My wife called the towing company and they told here that's not what they charged them to have it towed. That's what THEY charged US!
I also recall that while standing in the shop I overheard a mechanic make a remark when another RV was pulling out: "There goes another unhappy RV'er."
Fortunately we had insurance to cover the towing, but, our $7,900 "cover everything" 7 year extended warranty didn't cover one red cent of the rest.
After having a near ripoff by a South Dakota RV repair shop the previous year we haven't had our RV back home in South Dakota since.
Robert
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
U.S.A.
It's impossible to get someone in South Dakota to make a "house call" so we went to the dealership that handles our brand of motorhome in Worthing, SD, but they would not work on it, (that's a story in itself), and told us to have it towed to a Freightliner dealer since it has a Freightliner chassis.
The closest Frieghtliner dealer was Holcomb Trucks in Sioux City, IA. We called them and they said they would fix it for us and even told us they would arrange to have it towed to Sioux City.
It was towed in the next day and it was found that the batteries were both bad, so they replaced them. When we got the bill we were flabbergasted!$275.00 labor. (The unit was in the shop for 2 1/2 hours). $218.00 parts (that seems reasonable). $520 for the towing. (That;s $10.00 per mile!) and 27.50 misc. charges and 72.90 sales tax (!!) for a grand total of $1114.23.
My wife called the towing company and they told here that's not what they charged them to have it towed. That's what THEY charged US!
I also recall that while standing in the shop I overheard a mechanic make a remark when another RV was pulling out: "There goes another unhappy RV'er."
Fortunately we had insurance to cover the towing, but, our $7,900 "cover everything" 7 year extended warranty didn't cover one red cent of the rest.
After having a near ripoff by a South Dakota RV repair shop the previous year we haven't had our RV back home in South Dakota since.
Robert
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Pensacola,Florida,
U.S.A.
Rebuttal to Robert of Jacksonville, FL
#2Author of original report
Wed, February 08, 2006
Robert - After browsing this website I have ran across your name several times. Each one as a rebuttal to someones ripoff report. Your replies were as rude if not more so as the remarks you mad to me. I am writing you off as just a trouble maker with nothing better to do. How would you feel if your mechanic was working on a truck in the next bay while your batteries were being charged at the rate of $110.00 an hour? I tried charging the batteries myself. That's why I was in the shop in the first place! As for the towing I stated originally that we talked to the towing company. THEY CHARGED A LOT LESS. I we were able to arrange towing ourselves their driver would have made the same wage and I'm sure their rate would have covered the fuel cost. As for the rest of this update: There is a Yahoo Groups forum for Motor Home owners with Freightliner Chassis. The word is that there are some dealers that really don't want to work on RV's so they overcharge. Since the dealers are independently owned, Freightliner pretty much ignores what they do. Freightliner does have a few shops that cater to RV'ers. These shops have specially trained personnel and a bay reserved for RV's. We also have access to the Freightliner Chassis website where we can download schematics, and other information and get information on parts pertaining to our specific chassis. They also work closely with the Freightliner Chassis Owners Club (FCOC), and participate in their get togethers. I wish I had known all this to begin with. I am a retired trucker and have driven Freightliners most of my life. What some dealerships are doing to some people just because of WHAT they are driving is very repulsive to me.
Robert
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
Sounds about right
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, December 21, 2005
I don't know of any big truck" shop that gets less than $100/hour. $275 for 2.5 hours is $110/per hour. No shop is going to bill the customer for the same amount they paid on ANYTHING, towing included. Doubling the "cost" is typical. This is known as CAPITALISM. They even practice it in South Dakota, and Iowa. In reality, they probably charged a fair amount for the towing. The tow company would have charged for the entire trip...to you, to the Freightshaker place, and back to their home base again. Diesel costs money, and the driver isn't working for FREE. The bill sounds just about right.
