Complaint Review: Mavis Discount Tire - Trenton New Jersey

My name is Terrence C and I am writing this in good conscious that this will get to the proper individuals in your company on the regional level, state and national. On March 1^st my wife took our 2006 Hyundai Sonata into the Mavis Discount Tire located at 1860 North Olden Ave. in Ewing Twp. NJ. Our driver side window would not go up. When I pressed down to roll it up I could hear the motor running so I knew what ever was broke it wasn’t the motor. When I came home from work my wife told me she took the car to Mavis because her mother took her 2002 Cadillac Escalade to have the same problem fixed for about $300 plus dollars, but they told her that it was going to cost $940 to fix our window.

I called Mavis and spoke to Kwamee (Quam-mee). He stated this was the price he gave my wife. I asked for a price of each part to make it the price $940? He said the motor was $420, the regulator was $175 plus $175 for labor plus $158 for finding out what was wrong with the car. I told him that the motor was fine and all I probably needed was a regulator and he can get me a regulator from autozone down the street for $129. He then stated that price would not be $940 like he stated to my wife but much cheaper since I told him it didn’t need a motor. How was my wife quoted that price without them knowing what was really wrong with the car?

Wednesday I called to check the status of the car and Joe tells me that they have not gotten to it yet and they’ll get to it tomorrow (Thursday), so I say ok. My wife called and they said they didn’t get to it yet. I called and told Joe when they start it save the parts they are replacing because I want them. Joe calls my wife and tells her that the car is going to cost $940 to fix. I called Joe back and asked him to tell me how is it that it’s costing so much. He states that one reason is because you have to take off the door panel and then another panel to get to the parts, so I’m being charged labor to take the panel off and another labor charge for when they get to the part. He then tells me that the motor is $400 and some change, I need wires for the regulator and $175 for the regulator. I told him the same thing I told Kwame, I looked those parts up and they have the regulator at autozone on Olden Ave. for $129 and I didn’t need a motor because the motor was fine. He then says that he doesn’t know what’s going on really because it’s 3 different people working on the car and he only gave me that price because that’s what’s in the computer.

When I got off work I went to Mavis because I wanted to pay them the $158 and take my car to another mechanic. He takes me to the car to show me what has been done. The entire interior of the door was out, bolts and parts on the floor of the car with my door panel In the back seat. I asked to see the wires he said they ordered that go on the regulator. He points to two wires inside of the door and says, “These are the wires you need replaced because the door couldn’t open. I told him the door was fine when I brought it in because my wife opened it to get in the car that morning to drive it in and opened the door to get out when she dropped it off. At this point I ask him to put it back together so I can take my car. He says it’s going to cost me another $158 for them to do that plus the $158 I have to pay them for when they took off the panel when she brought it in. He then says that he has this car, this car and this car to worry about and he is not wasting any more time on this.

At this point, I am feeling like I have been taken hostage. I cannot take my car and risk that all the parts are not there and end up in more of a bind than I feel like I’m in already. Instead of taking the car and paying another $158 for them to put my stuff back I told them to keep it. Joe said he was going to see if he could have it ready on Saturday. So our car has been at Mavis for 4 days now for a window regulator that I’m being charged $940 for plus wires in my door that need to be replaced  because for some reason the guys who are working on it did something wrong to the point where the car door doesn’t open for them.

The next day I called and Joe tells me that I was right and it was not the motor and it should be fixed tomorrow and the price should drop from $940. I said fine and hung up. Saturday morning I called to see if the car was fixed. Joe says that it is not fixed and it won’t be till Monday because the guy bringing the parts up from Delaware said it was an accident on the turnpike and he had to turn around. I reminded joe that he told me he ordered the parts on Tuesday, what parts are coming from Delaware? He says I needed the two wires for my door because the door would not open and a new switch. I asked him where did he order the parts and he said DAVIS HYUNDAI on Olden Ave. down the street. I hung up with him and called Davis Hyundai and asked them if Mavis called them and ordered two wires and a switch, he says no. I ask the guy to give me prices for the parts. He tells me $138 for each wire and $170 for the switch. I call Joe back at Mavis and ask him to please tell me how much it’s going to cost to fix my car. He tells me $940. I told Joe I was coming to Mavis to see him because he just gave me the same price they gave my wife when she brought it in to fix the driver side window.

I arrived at Mavis with my Father to find out what was going on. He prints me an invoice saying that this is what was put in the computer. He says that my wife told them that she was bringing it in because the door would not open. I told Joe that I got in the car from the driver side when I put the plastic in the window and my wife got in the car that morning to drive it here through the driver side door, and when she dropped it off she got out of the car from the driver side. He says that this is what his tech said and he believes his tech. I told him that that is a lie and I’m not paying for them to fix my door because if my door is broke they broke it. He then says that it’s $940 to fix my car. I began to yell and tell him that this is Bull and you are trying to rip me off. He then says he’s calling the police, I told him to call them because we have a problem.He tells the cops that I’m being aggressive and to bring lots of cops.

When the police arrive (Ewing Twp. Police officers Bag and Digistina) they ask me to walk outside and speak with them. I explain to them all that has transpired since Tuesday with Mavis. I show them the invoice I was given with no prices for parts or work but being told that I have to $940 for twice for two so called separate jobs. Officer D takes Joe in the office for a few minutes and comes back to me. Joe tells the officer that If I pay the $158 I can take my car the way it is with my old parts in the back seat and take it somewhere else. I tell officer D that I’m waiting for my wife to come because she initially brought it in and I want them to tell her to her face that she told them that she brought the car in because the door didn’t work and not the window.

When my wife came in and started speaking to Officer D Joe calls Officer D to the office. Officer D come to me and my wife and says that Joe spoke to HIS manager and they just want us to take the car as his with and leave. I told him that we just want the car and to get the hell out of there. Joe put all of my parts in the car and I drove it to another shop where they found NOTHING WRONG WITH MY DOOR AND FIXED MY WINDOW FOR $385 (PARTS AND LABOR).

 I will be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, The State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety Office and The Mercer County office of Consumer Affairs. I will also be attending the next City Council meeting letting them and the residents of Ewing twp. My experience with Mavis Discount Tire. And finally I will address this on facebook and Twitter. I will do my best to make sure that your company will NEVER do this to any other person in my county.

Terrence C

3/6/2017