Am I being an unreasonable modding customer

[PMR818]

Blew my engine and turbos in May 2023 car towed to a highly recommended shop where I gave them the green light (to also add more mods too!). By Nov 29 they only needed to install the turbos and then job over - but I’ve still been given no updates.

I've also already paid 65%. I finally visited the shop last week but couldn’t pin down the owner. I also saw dust on the outside of my car and the engine too.

I asked on Mon for a firm date of completion but I’m waiting on a response. What would you do at this point?

 

[NS_Stinger]

My move would be to ask them for a firm completion date. You need the car back on the road and it has been at their shop for over 6 months, I wouldv'e lost patience a long time ago.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Nightmare. That's the only way I can imagine being in your shoes.

Is this an LA script? Because years on years ago, I drove my family down to visit the in-laws, and the transmission started to act balky. Took the wagon to a shop to have a look at. Three days later, no word from them. We needed the car to return home in two days. Got a run around on the phone. My father-in-law said, "Let's go down and check it out." They had our wagon clear in the back of the waiting lot, behind a couple rows of other vehicles, not looked at or anything. My father-in-law took one look at the situation and got all "lawyer up" on them, to get our car out of there. I drove away on the spot. He said something about they were obviously planning on just keeping the car inaccessible until we had to go home, then await events with us hundreds of miles away.

 

[ExtremePowerHouse - MIke]

My move would be to ask them for a firm completion date. You need the car back on the road and it has been at their shop for over 6 months, I wouldv'e lost patience a long time ago.

+1
Set a firm date to when the car is done, and if they cant make it, take your vehicle.

Make sure you come by and check on the car every now and then to make sure it's not left on the side collecting dust.

 

[PMR818]

Is this an LA script?

Hahaha yup.

Set a firm date to when the car is done, and if they cant make it, take your vehicle.

Make sure you come by and check on the car every now and then to make sure it's not left on the side collecting dust.

Thanks guys, totally agree.

The shop owner/mechanic admits he isn't much of a texter or phone person especially due to influx of work/appointments at the shop - and also they don't have a receptionist right now.

Additionally he says he's often so busy that he can't meet or talk with customers if they show up randomly so instead he'll have an employee go answer the customer's questions.

 

[oddball]

That's just the way it goes with specialty shops, especially if they suddenly get busy. Keep checking in and set specific dates. Make it clear you want this project done and ask how to get it prioritized.
Sometimes it helps to talk about their other work so you can get an idea of what all they're doing (and how they prioritize work) and they'll usually appreciate it if you appear interested.
The main mistake is starting out by saying "No rush". You better mean it if you say that, because they'll drop you right to the bottom of the list and you'll stay there. Your stuff will be worked on when nothing else is going on - and that's unlikely to ever happen. My buddy took his Chevelle back for re-work and some extra changes, said "no rush", and, well..... yeah, something like 9 months for 1 month of work.
You have to visit periodically. Figure out what works to communicate with them. I'd just stop calling and texting as it's clear that doesn't work. You want to annoy them enough to get things done, but not enough to mess it up.

 

[ExtremePowerHouse - MIke]

Thanks guys, totally agree.

The shop owner/mechanic admits he isn't much of a texter or phone person especially due to influx of work/appointments at the shop - and also they don't have a receptionist right now.

Additionally he says he's often so busy that he can't meet or talk with customers if they show up randomly so instead he'll have an employee go answer the customer's questions.

While it's possible that he's being honest, having someone's car for six months makes such excuses less acceptable. He should take greater responsibility and fulfill his commitment to complete the work in a reasonable time.

Maybe he is being truthful, but it doesn't reflect well on his professionalism or confidence in the quality of his work.

I wouldn't have waited that long, but what's done is done. As I suggested earlier, set a firm deadline and regularly check on the progress of your car. If you notice improvements, then it's a good sign. if there's no progress, it might be best to take your car back.

 

[Scorpion24]

The shop owner/mechanic admits he isn't much of a texter or phone person especially due to influx of work/appointments at the shop - and also they don't have a receptionist right now.

Additionally he says he's often so busy that he can't meet or talk with customers if they show up randomly so instead he'll have an employee go answer the customer's questions.

That’s upsetting man. I understand you need business but why take something on if it’s going to take you a year to complete.

Makes me hesitant to go to that shop now if I ever need a big project done.

 

[PMR818]

Welp, they haven’t replied back to me since Jan 18. Maybe they're on this board and I’ve upset them

 

[NS_Stinger]

You have some serious patience I'd be serving them legal papers at this point or showing up there with a flatbed to get my car.

 

[Devin]

Hahaha yup.


Thanks guys, totally agree.

The shop owner/mechanic admits he isn't much of a texter or phone person especially due to influx of work/appointments at the shop - and also they don't have a receptionist right now.

Additionally he says he's often so busy that he can't meet or talk with customers if they show up randomly so instead he'll have an employee go answer the customer's questions.

The owner won't talk to you but sends an employee to do it? That is a garbage excuse. What a nimrod. Get your car back.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

The whole thing is like a hostage situation.

 

[Redvoodoo55]

Welp, they haven’t replied back to me since Jan 18. Maybe they're on this board and I’ve upset them

Who cares if they got upset, they have no one to blame but themselves! Get your car out of there and find another shop that follows decent business practices.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Who cares if they got upset, they have no one to blame but themselves! Get your car out of there and find another shop that follows decent business practices.

He's already paid 65%. Try to get it all back now.

 

[Redvoodoo55]

He's already paid 65%. Try to get it all back now.

I think others have said to lawyer up and get the car out of there. I concur, lawyer up, threaten a lawsuit, get your money back, and get the car out of there, in that order.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

You still have to pay to the lawyer

 

[Devin]

You still have to pay to the lawyer

It's normal to ask for fees in a tort claim.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

It's normal to ask for fees in a tort claim.

Not sure what that is. The point there's no good options here. The best one probably would be trying to talk to the "shop". But than, seeing how long it's been sitting there, they wouldn't give a F.