AArrrggghhh - clutch fried by Audio Shop

OEM original Clutch was replaced @ 17,235 miles. Which kind of brings up a good point- the audio shop should not be on the hook for the whole repair.

So the car has 22,140 miles on it now. Quick match shows that the clutch was replaced appx 5000 miles ago. If one can extrapolate that the clutch was 30% worn before they smoked and overheated it, that leaves 70% of the liability for repairs on the audio shop. So if the clutch replacement costs $4700 they are only on the hook for $3290 of the repairs.

Wow, just in case the case hasn't been made ULTIMATELY clear for these F-cars, this really drives the point home for me. Proof positive evidence - I think that's completely fair and equitable for all parties. I guess the case could be made that the actions of the audio shop catalyzed the failure, and there's some time-value of money of forcing the repairs sooner than necessary but honestly that seems unrealistic and difficult to prove up for damages.

'

 

Had a visit with the shop owner today.

Abdul is denying ANY responsibility.

This is unreal, absolutely unacceptable.

He said both of his lawyers and a Ferrari Techinician showed up at this shop today and said that it was impossible for him to fry the clutch in such a short period of time.

I am so disappointed - I KNOW that sometimes taking the high road is expensive and difficult.

I asked this string of questions and listen to the response:

Joe: Was the car in perfect working order when I brought it in to the shop?
Abdul: Yes
Joe: Does the car smell like something is burnt to a crisp in the back by the motor?
Abdul: Yes
Joe: Does the car run now?
Abdul: No, but it isn't my fault because the clutch was already bad when you brought it in. You tricked me and you know this car is bad when you leave it.

It was so funny- he said that he never got out of first gear. And, he stated that the car still runs in first gear. So we go out to the shop and I say "prove it" where the car is located and he has one of his installers "prove" that it runs in first gear. The guy was VERY hesitant. Bumps the starter and the car lurches forward in first gear. Abdul says "AH- that's not what happened earlier"

Again- this is just really disappointing. Yes, I'm bummed out about the money. But I'm mostly bummed out that they hang "that" sign up in their showroom: "You break it, you buy it"

I hope that the shop owner comes clean, and accepts some liability. I won't miss the money that a new clutch costs, and maybe it's a lot of money to him and his family. But, sometimes the principles that guide us come in to focus- even if our principles are expensive to assert.

 

It's a manual transmission.

 

This ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

Okay, so I got a call from the shop owner today, and said he was going to file a mechanic's lien if I didn't (and I quote) "get my piece of $hi+ out of his shop"

Okay, no problem man- I'll come pick it up.

As I waded through the neon colored civics and hyundais to get to the counter, I noticed that my car had the front hatch open again. Wha? Why are they working on it again?

So I ask Abdul if he would let me see the work, and compare the invoice. "No" was his response, and I had to pay the invoice before he would let me inspect the car. I don't understand it, and I ask to see the invoice. "No" he said, I agreed to the charges already. WTF? Are you SERIOUS?

So, he won't release the keys, won't show me how much I owe him and won't allow me to inspect the car. I'm seriously pissed.

I don't know what to do, so I just call the Redwood City Police, knowing full well it's a civil issue and they won't intervene. But the guys in the back started congregating, so I walked outside somewhat concerned about their instant appearance.

Anyway, the cops show up and he finally lets me see the invoice. $2,000!!! This piece of crap has invoiced me for a $299 stereo, a $400 amp and 6.5 hours labor at $200 an hour! YOU PIECE OF CRAP DIRTBAG! I was actually calculating how much it would cost me in legal fees to get me off of an assault and battery charge if I knocked this piece of dirt out cold, in front of the cop.

The one piece of silver lining in this is that the cop was actually pretty cool. I apologized profusely to her, to get her involved. Then Abdul lets me know that he will not accept a credit card for the charge. So, after I signed the repair order and the cop leaves- he says that I have to go get cash.

I swear to everything holy that this is exactly how this thing went down. The guy is a pathological liar- telling me how we was 23 years old and owned 6 businesses in St. Louis, Oakland, New Jersey... Then he said he was an MBA student and a highschool dropout? WTF?

Problem is - I sue this dude and what do I get out of it?

Ah- so the solution. My insurance policy has a clause in it that specifically speaks to this issue. It's called a contributory malicious and a neglect rider. It's specifically for abuse and neglect on the behalf of a service facility and part of the undersinsured/uninsured umbrella. $500 deductible, and it doesn't count as a comp claim.

GOTTA LOVE USAA- these guys really are the BEST insurance company in the country, period.

So, I'm going to have to let Abdul off the hook here. Unfortunately, I don't think they've got any assets and I don't want this to go from a $300 stereo to a $30,000 lawsuit. I'd love to pawn his crappy stereo shop off on ebay, for a buck. But, that's spiteful and hateful. All I'd do is perpetuate the cycle of ignorance and it would cost me time and money and heartache.

That's hard, folks. Talk about taking one in the gut. No lesson learned, unfortunately. Except pay your USAA premium first.

 

Nope, I have to take cash there in the morning to get it out of hock.

Again, I drop the hammer on the guy and what happens? I sue him? Pay $20,000 in legal bills? Win the judgment? Collect a judgment on a shell company owned by a retard with no assets? I stand to win $0 and it could cost me $30K+ So, there is no point in dropping the hammer. I'd rather just let Karma do what she does and let the chips fall where they may.

 

This is a very good point. Unfortunately though, I have enough battles to fight- I am genuinely concerned about "the next guy" but I don't have the bandwidth to pick a fight with a guy who lacks any semblance of ethics.

I am mad now. I haven't been mad in a long time. I don't like it and I'm thinking about just crushing this motherf**er with my wallet. But, then I'd just own a lighter wallet and a crushed empty wallet. So, eh. I'll sleep on it.