- Report: #21542
Complaint Review: Pep Boys - Patchogue New York
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Pep Boys
425 Sunrise Hwy Patchogue, 11772 New York, U.S.A.
Phone:
631-758-0045
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
Pep Boys ripoff and lied deceptive company Patchogue New York
*Consumer Suggestion: Clarification
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Don't let them work on your car junk yard parts put on your car (((EDitor's Comment: Ex-employee confirms victim reports)))
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: more reasons not to go to pep boys
*Consumer Suggestion: the state
*Consumer Suggestion: the state
*Consumer Suggestion: the state
*Consumer Suggestion: the state
*UPDATE Employee: same car, same belt, one year later.
I needed two tires for my 1998 Ford Windstar. On 5/17/02 my wife and I brought it to the local PEP BOYS, store #564 located at 425 Sunrise Highway, Patchogue, NY.
We arrived at the store at about two in the afternoon. While there I noticed that they also did New York State inspections.
I usually bring my vehicles to the same place every year for the past 20+ years for an inspection, but since I was here I figured I would let them do it. I spoke to the person behind the desk, Mr. Woodward, and told him what I needed done. He took the keys and I explained to him that we were going to wait for it.
I didn't think it would be too long a wait because there was a sign on the front of the building that read, TIRES INSTALLED IN 59 MINUTES OR LESS. At around 5:00 PM we asked how much longer it would be. We were told it would be soon. Another hour passed so we went back to the counter. At that time Mr. Woodward told us that our vehicle didn't pass the inspection. The reason he gave us for the failure was a worn drive belt.
I worked with cars as a manager of a mobile electronics installation center and I never heard of a car failing an inspection for a worn drive belt and s3ince my car was a 1998 and only had 48,000 miles on it I knew something wasn't right.
I said to him that there was no way my car needed a new belt. He insisted and told me he couldn't pass it unless a new drive belt was installed. I asked him how much it would be. After about 2 minutes on the computer (no exaggeration) he finally told me it would be a total of $253.
When I voiced my surprise at that price he said That price is for everything, the tires, inspection and the new belt. I then asked him how much the belt would cost. After another couple of minutes with the computer and he said $29.
Then I said What do I owe you for just the tires and inspection? He said $171.67. I told him that the numbers don't add up. $29 plus $171 doesn't come up to $253. At this point I knew he was trying to confuse things so again I asked him How much will it cost me for the belt and installation alone.
Then he told me it would be about $80. I told him to let me pay him what I owe and to close up my car and give it to me. He said We scrapped off your old inspection sticker. Again I said Just get my car out of your shop. He went into the shop, closing the door behind him. I opened the door and watched him go over to my car.
He said something to the mechanic and walked back to the store. The mechanic went back under the hood of my car so I said, Just pull my car out of this shop I then paid the bill and told him to please write down the reason for the inspection failure. He told me it would be on a white sheet of paper in the car.
Then I said I would bring my car to another mechanic to check it out. I asked him if I would have to pay for another inspection. He told me that I would be charged another $10, the cost of the Safety Inspection after I had the belt changed whether I had it done here or at another inspection center. When I finally got the car, I looked at the paper and it did not specifically say why it failed. It did say that it passed the Emissions Control Devices and the Emissions Test.
Under the Safety Inspection heading was the following: Steering, Suspension, Front End And Chassis/Frame. Nothing about a worn drive belt. I then looked under the hood at the drive belt and it didn't look worn to me.
The store manager was not there at the time so I couldn't bring it to his attention at that time.
The next day, we went back to Pep Boys and spoke to the manager, Mr. Daniel Agiesta and told him what had happened the day before. I mentioned to him that I never heard of a car failing an inspection for a worn drive belt and that after I looked at the belt myself it didn't look worn to me. He told me that a worn belt was a reason to fail an inspection and that his mechanic was only doing what he was supposed to do.
I then showed him the paper I got with the results of the inspection and that there was no mention of a worn belt. I asked him to please write down on the paper that the belt was the reason for the failure. He wrote something on it and gave it back to me. I didn't look at it right away.
I then went to where the repair books were to see if I thought I could replace the belt myself. In the book, it showed a picture of an acceptable belt and a worn belt. The picture of the acceptable belt looked exactly like the belt in m car. So, at that point I decided to just bring my car to another inspection station and find out once and for all if my car really needed this belt.
I then looked at what Mr. Agiesta wrote and signed. What I saw was this: Vehicle failed due to a badly cracked. That was it. I brought it back to him and told him he still didn't write down what part was bad. He said Oh! I forgot to write belt. Now I was sure there was something fishy going on here.
The next day I brought my car to the place I usually go. I told him the story and the first thing he said was A bad drive belt is NOT a reason to fail an inspection So my initial feelings were right. I knew that a worn belt wouldn't be a reason for failure.
asked him if he would take a look at it and let me pay him the $10 for the Safety Inspection. He said he would do it for me right away. He looked at the belt first and told me there was nothing wrong with it. Then he brought it inside for the inspection.
About 20 minutes later it was done. He told me that when he checked with New York State Motor Vehicle Inspection and he was told he had to do the emissions test. That meant I had to pay another $35 not $10.
That also tells me that Pep Boys not only lied about the belt, but they also charged me for an inspection that was never even done. My guess is that they kept the $35 and never sent in the emissions test.
I am disabled and in a wheelchair. I believe this company preys on the disabled and the elderly. While I was in Pep Boys arguing about the drive belt situation, there was another couple in line that told me they had a similar problem.
I have since found out that several States are investigating Pep Boys and I believe that New York should investigate this company also. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to get the $35 inspection fee that Pep Boys charged me for an inspection that was not only lied about but never submitted to the state.
Robert
Patchogue, New York
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on PepBoys
We arrived at the store at about two in the afternoon. While there I noticed that they also did New York State inspections.
I usually bring my vehicles to the same place every year for the past 20+ years for an inspection, but since I was here I figured I would let them do it. I spoke to the person behind the desk, Mr. Woodward, and told him what I needed done. He took the keys and I explained to him that we were going to wait for it.
I didn't think it would be too long a wait because there was a sign on the front of the building that read, TIRES INSTALLED IN 59 MINUTES OR LESS. At around 5:00 PM we asked how much longer it would be. We were told it would be soon. Another hour passed so we went back to the counter. At that time Mr. Woodward told us that our vehicle didn't pass the inspection. The reason he gave us for the failure was a worn drive belt.
I worked with cars as a manager of a mobile electronics installation center and I never heard of a car failing an inspection for a worn drive belt and s3ince my car was a 1998 and only had 48,000 miles on it I knew something wasn't right.
I said to him that there was no way my car needed a new belt. He insisted and told me he couldn't pass it unless a new drive belt was installed. I asked him how much it would be. After about 2 minutes on the computer (no exaggeration) he finally told me it would be a total of $253.
When I voiced my surprise at that price he said That price is for everything, the tires, inspection and the new belt. I then asked him how much the belt would cost. After another couple of minutes with the computer and he said $29.
Then I said What do I owe you for just the tires and inspection? He said $171.67. I told him that the numbers don't add up. $29 plus $171 doesn't come up to $253. At this point I knew he was trying to confuse things so again I asked him How much will it cost me for the belt and installation alone.
Then he told me it would be about $80. I told him to let me pay him what I owe and to close up my car and give it to me. He said We scrapped off your old inspection sticker. Again I said Just get my car out of your shop. He went into the shop, closing the door behind him. I opened the door and watched him go over to my car.
He said something to the mechanic and walked back to the store. The mechanic went back under the hood of my car so I said, Just pull my car out of this shop I then paid the bill and told him to please write down the reason for the inspection failure. He told me it would be on a white sheet of paper in the car.
Then I said I would bring my car to another mechanic to check it out. I asked him if I would have to pay for another inspection. He told me that I would be charged another $10, the cost of the Safety Inspection after I had the belt changed whether I had it done here or at another inspection center. When I finally got the car, I looked at the paper and it did not specifically say why it failed. It did say that it passed the Emissions Control Devices and the Emissions Test.
Under the Safety Inspection heading was the following: Steering, Suspension, Front End And Chassis/Frame. Nothing about a worn drive belt. I then looked under the hood at the drive belt and it didn't look worn to me.
The store manager was not there at the time so I couldn't bring it to his attention at that time.
The next day, we went back to Pep Boys and spoke to the manager, Mr. Daniel Agiesta and told him what had happened the day before. I mentioned to him that I never heard of a car failing an inspection for a worn drive belt and that after I looked at the belt myself it didn't look worn to me. He told me that a worn belt was a reason to fail an inspection and that his mechanic was only doing what he was supposed to do.
I then showed him the paper I got with the results of the inspection and that there was no mention of a worn belt. I asked him to please write down on the paper that the belt was the reason for the failure. He wrote something on it and gave it back to me. I didn't look at it right away.
I then went to where the repair books were to see if I thought I could replace the belt myself. In the book, it showed a picture of an acceptable belt and a worn belt. The picture of the acceptable belt looked exactly like the belt in m car. So, at that point I decided to just bring my car to another inspection station and find out once and for all if my car really needed this belt.
I then looked at what Mr. Agiesta wrote and signed. What I saw was this: Vehicle failed due to a badly cracked. That was it. I brought it back to him and told him he still didn't write down what part was bad. He said Oh! I forgot to write belt. Now I was sure there was something fishy going on here.
The next day I brought my car to the place I usually go. I told him the story and the first thing he said was A bad drive belt is NOT a reason to fail an inspection So my initial feelings were right. I knew that a worn belt wouldn't be a reason for failure.
asked him if he would take a look at it and let me pay him the $10 for the Safety Inspection. He said he would do it for me right away. He looked at the belt first and told me there was nothing wrong with it. Then he brought it inside for the inspection.
About 20 minutes later it was done. He told me that when he checked with New York State Motor Vehicle Inspection and he was told he had to do the emissions test. That meant I had to pay another $35 not $10.
That also tells me that Pep Boys not only lied about the belt, but they also charged me for an inspection that was never even done. My guess is that they kept the $35 and never sent in the emissions test.
I am disabled and in a wheelchair. I believe this company preys on the disabled and the elderly. While I was in Pep Boys arguing about the drive belt situation, there was another couple in line that told me they had a similar problem.
I have since found out that several States are investigating Pep Boys and I believe that New York should investigate this company also. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to get the $35 inspection fee that Pep Boys charged me for an inspection that was not only lied about but never submitted to the state.
Robert
Patchogue, New York
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on PepBoys
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Mike
Patchogue,New York,
Canada
same car, same belt, one year later.
#2UPDATE Employee
Wed, June 04, 2003
On may 31st the same car came back to pepboys in Patchogue. The belt was cracked badly and the cords were starting to come out. so once again the car was failed. This time by a different mechanic. Along with the rejection notice there was a print out why the belt fails. The funny part is this time they approved the work. Ask your self why did they come back to pepboys? Why didn't they just go to the guy they have been going to for 20+ years? Also when a car is fails for a worn/cracked belt it falls under steering, suspension, frontend and chassis/frame. That is why on this and the last rejection notice it says that. That is just the way NY state does it. Last thing is that pepboys has no control over the rules that NY State makes us follow reguarding inspections. So we do not prey on the disabled. We where just following the rules.
joey
st louis,Missouri,
the state
#3Consumer Suggestion
Wed, July 31, 2002
i dont know who is in charge of mvi's(motor vehicle inspections) in NY, but in missouri, the state hiway patrol is. find out what department is in charge, and report idiotboys to them. i was a licensed mvi inspector for almost 15 years in MO, and the hiway patrol and i were well known to each other.the trooper for my area knew my shop was VERY strict(would you want to be the one responsible for passing a vehicle that was unsafeand having it crash into your family?)but we were also VERY fair-we didn't charge for unnecessary stuff, we didn't screw the customers,etc-i would always show the cust what was wrong and why, and what his/her options were. (there used to be a commercial in my area that went-an educated consumer is our best customer-) reading all the reports on pep(idiot)boys i wouldn't even buy parts from there even if they were in our area one more thing-regarding junkyard( oops, sorry, i meant RECYCLED) parts, even the dealerships i've worked at have used them, sometimes the price and availibility was much better-BUT as i said the cust was always givin the option --an x tech
joey
st louis,Missouri,
the state
#4Consumer Suggestion
Wed, July 31, 2002
i dont know who is in charge of mvi's(motor vehicle inspections) in NY, but in missouri, the state hiway patrol is. find out what department is in charge, and report idiotboys to them. i was a licensed mvi inspector for almost 15 years in MO, and the hiway patrol and i were well known to each other.the trooper for my area knew my shop was VERY strict(would you want to be the one responsible for passing a vehicle that was unsafeand having it crash into your family?)but we were also VERY fair-we didn't charge for unnecessary stuff, we didn't screw the customers,etc-i would always show the cust what was wrong and why, and what his/her options were. (there used to be a commercial in my area that went-an educated consumer is our best customer-) reading all the reports on pep(idiot)boys i wouldn't even buy parts from there even if they were in our area one more thing-regarding junkyard( oops, sorry, i meant RECYCLED) parts, even the dealerships i've worked at have used them, sometimes the price and availibility was much better-BUT as i said the cust was always givin the option --an x tech
joey
st louis,Missouri,
the state
#5Consumer Suggestion
Wed, July 31, 2002
i dont know who is in charge of mvi's(motor vehicle inspections) in NY, but in missouri, the state hiway patrol is. find out what department is in charge, and report idiotboys to them. i was a licensed mvi inspector for almost 15 years in MO, and the hiway patrol and i were well known to each other.the trooper for my area knew my shop was VERY strict(would you want to be the one responsible for passing a vehicle that was unsafeand having it crash into your family?)but we were also VERY fair-we didn't charge for unnecessary stuff, we didn't screw the customers,etc-i would always show the cust what was wrong and why, and what his/her options were. (there used to be a commercial in my area that went-an educated consumer is our best customer-) reading all the reports on pep(idiot)boys i wouldn't even buy parts from there even if they were in our area one more thing-regarding junkyard( oops, sorry, i meant RECYCLED) parts, even the dealerships i've worked at have used them, sometimes the price and availibility was much better-BUT as i said the cust was always givin the option --an x tech
joey
st louis,Missouri,
the state
#6Consumer Suggestion
Wed, July 31, 2002
i dont know who is in charge of mvi's(motor vehicle inspections) in NY, but in missouri, the state hiway patrol is. find out what department is in charge, and report idiotboys to them. i was a licensed mvi inspector for almost 15 years in MO, and the hiway patrol and i were well known to each other.the trooper for my area knew my shop was VERY strict(would you want to be the one responsible for passing a vehicle that was unsafeand having it crash into your family?)but we were also VERY fair-we didn't charge for unnecessary stuff, we didn't screw the customers,etc-i would always show the cust what was wrong and why, and what his/her options were. (there used to be a commercial in my area that went-an educated consumer is our best customer-) reading all the reports on pep(idiot)boys i wouldn't even buy parts from there even if they were in our area one more thing-regarding junkyard( oops, sorry, i meant RECYCLED) parts, even the dealerships i've worked at have used them, sometimes the price and availibility was much better-BUT as i said the cust was always givin the option --an x tech
Richter
nassau county,New York,
more reasons not to go to pep boys
#7UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, July 30, 2002
The service managers in some of the locations have little or no experience in the industry. They also sometimes urinate in your oil filler or worse. When you tell the managers that u dont want something done it will be done and charge you much more than its worth in the labor books from oem. The managers are cowards and when u threaten to call the cops they run into the office. I also forgot to mention that if you bought parts there they don't like to honor warranties. The managers get a salary, plus comission and they also get a piece of the stock in the comapny as well as profit sharing. They do not care about you the consumer but the money that comes in the cops and thier new vehicles. and what i said about junk yard parts is true they have a van or a little truck that goes with the name of the yard or parts store on the side to the service counter they sign an invoice and the parts is given to the service writer or taken to the bays in the back. I am suprised no 1 notices this.
Richter
nassau county,New York,
Don't let them work on your car junk yard parts put on your car (((EDitor's Comment: Ex-employee confirms victim reports)))
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, July 22, 2002
Don't go to pep boys; I used to work for them. They put junk yard parts on thier customers cars such as brake calipers, window motors, etc. They sell them like new, they look all shiny and all, but are not actually new. No they are worn or worse the same parts they charge you for work they never done. They prey on women thinking they no nothing about cars. They are so dumb they actually let 1 of the cars fall off the lift in the location i used to work at. I am also telling you now that some of the parts they don't even have they buy them from junk yards or smaller autopart stores or the dealers and charge you more then what the part is worth. Also just so u know, they like to steal from your car so if u keep like emergency money or other important valuables they will steal them. Also they hide behind their office when a customer so they can hide behind the cops. letting you know so u know what you are up against.
Bruce
Salt Lake,Utah,
Clarification
#9Consumer Suggestion
Mon, May 27, 2002
Robert, I belive there is a perception issue here. Perhaps I can help. I am not an employee (or ever have been of Pep Boys) Technically, a cracked drive belt can fail safety inspection. It has to do with the power steering system, and any failing or near failing component of the power steering system can be safety inspection failure. You will notice I said, can be, not is concerning the safety inspection. There are a couple of reasons for this. 1. The safety inspectors judgement. A cracked drive belt may look worse to one inspector and not so bad to the other. The inspector has, in some instances, decide if something is safe, or unsafe. This inspector may be more strict, not necesarily trying to "rip you off" Besides, you may have been with the county make sure inspections got done right. 2. Relationship with Pep Boys. You were (or at least made it sound like) you were a first time customer to there shop. This was there chance to make you a repeat customer. Had you just had a safety inspection, and the serpentine belt failed, you would be at this website complaining they did not do a complete job. 3. Relationship with un named mystery shop. You had been going there for 20 years. They were more likely willing to be leniant with the inspection, does not mean it should have passed. Also, not all inspectors follow the letter of the law. Low profit jobs like belts may not be inspected as well as high proit jobs like steering racks or ball joints. Also, you told the other shop how you acted when you heard the belt failed, do you think they wanted to deal with that over $80.00? Good luck to you. P.S. you will be closer to getting your money back from Pep Boys if you TALK to them. Do not threaten lawsuits, or contact with either the BBB or the AG's office Do not be confrontational.
