AtomicCEO Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 So my brakes have been squealing, and I thought maybe the rear needed new pads or something. Took it to "Just Brakes" this morning, figuring they could do it cheap, and they have a good advertised warranty. Their suggestion: New wheel cylinders, hydraulics, pads, rotors, new shocks and struts and a system flush - $1306 Ummm... how much of that is related to my problem, how much of it is necessary and how much of it is optional? "Well... You could go without the shocks and struts, but not for long. The rest would be $550. Yeah, well, that's significantly more than I intended to spend at a place like that. So I tell him that I have to get a second opinion from the place that replaced my front pads in January and see if any of that is under their warranty. "Well, we're the experts, so good luck with that." When I go to pick up the car, I see that the estimate listed on my paperwork is $350 necessary, the rest optional. Why does what my car needs keep dropping so rapidly? So I take it to my dealership where they tell me "You have brake dust on the fronts, and the rear ones were a little off, so we adjusted the rear brakes, and cleaned and lubricated the front ones. You should be fine. No charge." So there's my experience... JUST BRAKES IS A SCAM. Why did they shoot so high for $1300? Do I look that gullible? They might have gotten away with something under $300 just because I wouldn't bother to go get a second opinion. Sheesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share Posted November 22, 2008 Apparently, I'm not the only one to figure this out. Piles of complaints at ripoffreport.com Shops raided and under investigation in Florida Why didn't I use the internet first? You know... for something other than porn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Just Brakes needs to survive too ...you are making this economic condition worse when you try and force companies out of business as a consumer shame on you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheikYerbuti Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Why did they shoot so high for $1300? Do I look that gullible? Let's look at it from a percentage perspective: Your dealership did the work for free. That was nice of them. Let's say it took them half an hour and zero parts to do your work. If the average car mechanic charges, let's say $80 an hour, then the average mechanic would have made $40 off of you to do the job. By quoting you a price of $1300, they only need 1 sucker out of 32 to shrug their shoulders and say "Well, if you say so" for their scam to break even. I'd assume their success rate is much higher than 1:32. I'm glad you weren't the sucker. I'd have thought less of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopazz Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 (edited) Never, that is, NEVER, take your car to either a dealer nor chain service rip off machine for repairs. Find yourself a quality, local, mechanic that specializes in repairing the brand of car you have. I have found a local import specialist that does great work for reasonable prices...actually I have found two. There is no reason whatsoever to go to either a dealer (other than warranty, and good luck with that) or the dreaded chain repair shops. C'mon. you guys know better than this. Edited November 23, 2008 by whoopazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Do I look that gullible? I saw the college picture of you with the long hair and the guitar, you don't look gullible, but you are clearly a homo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Yeah, Just Brakes is a total scam. I've heard that they put the absolute worst brake pads on so you have to come back more often for their "100% replacement guarantee" thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share Posted November 23, 2008 Never, that is, NEVER, take your car to either a dealer nor chain service rip off machine for repairs. Find yourself a quality, local, mechanic that specializes in repairing the brand of car you have. I have found a local import specialist that does great work for reasonable prices...actually I have found two. There is no reason whatsoever to go to either a dealer (other than warranty, and good luck with that) or the dreaded chain repair shops. C'mon. you guys know better than this. Actually... so far the dealer is treating me pretty good... which is to say... free. But I prefer a local guy. I just don't have one around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share Posted November 23, 2008 I saw the college picture of you with the long hair and the guitar, you don't look gullible, but you are clearly a homo. Yeah... and I saw pictures of you at an 80s party, polechugger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I saw the college picture of you with the long hair and the guitar, . Link ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 So there's my experience... JUST BRAKES IS A SCAM. Why did they shoot so high for $1300? Do I look that gullible? They might have gotten away with something under $300 just because I wouldn't bother to go get a second opinion. Sheesh. well, these places are known to try and take advantage of women. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Yeah... and I saw pictures of you at an 80s party, polechugger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackass Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Jerry: Hello? Yeah, this is Jerry Seinfeld. What? Twenty-eight hundred dollars?!! That's the estimate on my car?!! No, don't even do anything. I'm gonna think about it. Okay, bye. George: What's to think about? If Putty says it's what it is, it's what it is. He's not gonna cheat you. Jerry: Except that it's not Putty. George: What happened to Putty? Jerry: Eh, we had a little fight about the move. I took her to this other place. I think they might be trying to screw me. George: Well, of course they're trying to screw you. What do you think? That's what they do. They can make up anything. Nobody knows. "By the way, you need a new Johnson rod in there." "Oh, a Johnson rod. Yeah, well, you better put one of those on." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 There is no reason whatsoever to go to either a dealer (other than warranty, and good luck with that) or the dreaded chain repair shops. C'mon. you guys know better than this. I used to believe this. However, my local Honda shop is the true exception. They have (1) fixed problems other places couldn't diagnose, (2) charge the same hourly rates as other places, (3) made a quick brake light diagnosis and replace a $10 part with no labor . We just had to buy the part from their parts shop. (4) replaced a warranty item when brought in for check engine light - no charge and no hassle (5) have never offered to fix something that didn't need it - I tested them on this when they recommended brake pads at less than 10% and another shop concurred. I will never take our Hondas anywhere else but the dealer now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbimm Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I can't tell you of the hundreds of similar complaints I have heard from customers about chain places. The worst is when they bring an estimate from somewhere else and NONE of the quoted work is needed. I have also seen plenty of times where work that was supposed to have been done was never even touched! It pisses me off because it makes us all look bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share Posted November 23, 2008 I used to believe this. However, my local Honda shop is the true exception. They have (1) fixed problems other places couldn't diagnose, (2) charge the same hourly rates as other places, (3) made a quick brake light diagnosis and replace a $10 part with no labor . We just had to buy the part from their parts shop. (4) replaced a warranty item when brought in for check engine light - no charge and no hassle (5) have never offered to fix something that didn't need it - I tested them on this when they recommended brake pads at less than 10% and another shop concurred. I will never take our Hondas anywhere else but the dealer now. My free service was from the Honda dealer. Honda has an "Express Service" center that just does brakes, oil changes, and little stuff... and they do a great cheap job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Jerry: Hello? Yeah, this is Jerry Seinfeld. What? Twenty-eight hundred dollars?!! That's the estimate on my car?!! No, don't even do anything. I'm gonna think about it. Okay, bye. George: What's to think about? If Putty says it's what it is, it's what it is. He's not gonna cheat you. Jerry: Except that it's not Putty. George: What happened to Putty? Jerry: Eh, we had a little fight about the move. I took her to this other place. I think they might be trying to screw me. George: Well, of course they're trying to screw you. What do you think? That's what they do. They can make up anything. Nobody knows. "By the way, you need a new Johnson rod in there." "Oh, a Johnson rod. Yeah, well, you better put one of those on." Putty being Puddy's oldest brother, who is really a mechanic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEC=UGA Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 A few years back one of our local stations did an undercover investigation of these chains and dealerships. "Just Brakes" was the worst at fabricating problems. The dealerships were pretty good. After watching the stuff that just brakes did I will never go there. They even went so far as to actually puncture a brake line at one of their locations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Never, that is, NEVER, take your car to either a dealer nor chain service rip off machine for repairs. Find yourself a quality, local, mechanic that specializes in repairing the brand of car you have. I have found a local import specialist that does great work for reasonable prices...actually I have found two. There is no reason whatsoever to go to either a dealer (other than warranty, and good luck with that) or the dreaded chain repair shops. C'mon. you guys know better than this. I've been going to the same mechanic (Local Goodyear dealer) for 25+ years. They have always treated me well. The only exception to the above (dealer repairs) is when my mechanic, maybe 2-3x, said that I'd be better to take my car to the dealer, because they extended the warranty (secret) or because it required special tools/knowledge (hardware items). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skilly Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 This thread has perfect timing. My brakes on my Honda are starting to squeal also. After reading these responses, I'm taking it to my dealer, who has always given me excellent service and a good price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Hondas Honda Honda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbimm Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 This thread has perfect timing. My brakes on my Honda are starting to squeal also. After reading these responses, I'm taking it to my dealer, who has always given me excellent service and a good price. Good luck with that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 You're building an electric car, but you don't do your own brakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share Posted November 23, 2008 You're building an electric car, but you don't do your own brakes? I know jack ass squat about cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Good luck upgrading to a new Vette in a few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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