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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!ihnp4!cbosgd!mark
From: mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton)
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.consumers
Subject: Re: Muffler static
Message-ID: <1131@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 22-Mar-84 01:28:33 EST
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.1131
Posted: Thu Mar 22 01:28:33 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 23-Mar-84 07:23:52 EST
References: <1392@aluxe.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 38

Yes, I have also been burned by Midas Muffler.  I had a 1970 Ford LTD
with one of the exhaust pipes broken from rust.  I called one exhaust
shop and got a quote over the phone of about $55.  I called Midas and
was quoted about $65.  Figuring I'd get the lifetime guarantee, I went
to Midas.  They put the car up and replaced the "famous Ford Y pipe",
then presented me with a bill for about $81.  I pointed out the quote
of $65, and they said "oh, that doesn't include replacing this other
pipe here which always has to be replaced when the Y pipe is replaced."
Nobody remembered giving a quote anyway.  I asked to speak to the
manager, who was conveniently out at the moment.  Not feeling it was
worth it to wait around, I paid.  I the inquired about the guarantee,
and was informed that only mufflers get the lifetime guarantee,
everything else has a standard 90 days.  I have never gone back.

While we're on the subject of auto ripoffs, AAMCO transmissions are in
the same league.  This same Ford (don't buy a Ford, please!) had the
transmission go bad.  We took it into AAMCO and asked for an estimate.
The guy test drove it around the block and concluded "yep, your
transmission is bad.  If you want a more specific estimate, we'll put
it up on the rack, open it up, and charge you $50 for the estimate."
We signed the paper committing the $50 and they went at it.  Half an
hour later we had a written estimate detailing exactly what was wrong
and calling for $450, with the $50 we were already into them for to be
credited.  At this point, there is an enormous perceived incentive to
tell them to go ahead so you won't lose your $50.  After all, you don't
know what a competitor will do.  I asked about their famous lifetime
guarantee that was heavily advertised at the time, and was informed
that to get the guarantee they would raise the price to around $600.  I
am very thankful that we paid them their $50 and took the car and the
list of problems home and called around to other transmission shops.
They would happily give estimates over the phone, given the list of
problems, although they all assumed I had no idea what was really wrong
with the transmission, and hedged their bets with "if that's really
what's wrong with it".  We found a gas station that would fix it for
$250.  They fixed it for the quoted price, on time, and we had no more
trouble with the transmission.  I'd have to consider the $50 well spent.

	Mark