Precision Tune Auto Care Center, Everett, WA - They ran a diagnostic on my vehicle and it came back saying that I needed a new battery and alternator

Precision Tune Auto Care Center, Everett, WA - They ran a diagnostic on my vehicle and it came back saying that I needed a new battery and alternator

Consumer follow-up message - April 29, 2004 - From: //

I recently posted a complaint against the Precision Auto Care in Everett WA. in a nutshell, they charged $349.99 for an alternator (a 200% markup I later found out!) and didn't even fix the REAL problem, which ended up being the starter. I went in and had some words with the manager, but didn't get anywhere.

He even refused to give me his boss' name or phome number. I ended up contacting their corporate headquaters and registering a complaint with them, and VOILA! I got a call yesterday morning from a customer service agent. He called the shop and talked to the manager, AND talked to the owner and they confessed to overcharging. So not only did I get an apology from the owner, I will also be receiving a REFUND for the amount they overcharged. AND the service manager will be undergoing some more training on how to properly communicate and treat his customers. Anne

Precision Tune Auto Care

Funny how there are other complaints against Precision Tune Auto Care Centers on this site. Here's how I got SCREWED. I'd been having problems starting my car for several weeks before I brought it into a Precision Auto Care center in Everett, WA. Being new to the area, I just looked a place up in the phone book and went there. FIRST MISTAKE. They ran a diagnostic on my vehicle and it came back saying that I needed a new battery and alternator. It sounded ok, because I had experienced battery failure that morning, and I knew that the alternator was a part of the starting system, so I said, ok. Get me an estimate. I went into the bathroom and called my sister

to talk to her about it. Not 5 minutes later, I came out of the bathroom and the sales manager had a quote already. $637.99. ?????????? I asked who he called for the alternator, he listed off severel local auto part stores and claimed he got the best price.

Me, however, not knowing anything about cars, prices, whatnot, went into a sort of anxiety attack and signed the work order. I know what you're thinking, "Boy, was she stupid", but all I knew was that I had to have a car to drive to work the next day, &I was already into them for the diagnostic fee, so I just said to go ahead. During the 2 hours it took to fix it, however, I called around to the places he claimed to have called, and not only had those businesses not taken any calls from the guy, but they all quoted prices that were up to $200 less. Needless to say, I went back and asked him why he charged a 200% markup on the part. He said it was more expensive because my car (a '96 Geo Prizm) required a special kind of alternator. WHATEVER. But, I signed the paper, so I had to pay the man. THe next day I did more research and ended up at STARTMART (a starter/alternator shop) and all the guy there had to do was listen when I tried to start the car, to tell me it was a STARTER PROBLEM. no duh. Monday morning I went back to precision tune and was the "customer from hell" for over two hours. During which they re-diagnosed my car and told me I had a starter problem. Not only did they refuse to do anything for me, the sales manager would not "disclose" the name of his parts dealer, or give me the name of his boss. He did, however, offer to fix my starter for $290...which was $140 more than what I ended up paying at STARTMART. I wrote and e-mailed a lengthy customer complaint letter to the corporate headquarters and called the 1-800 number listed on their website. Today I received a call back from someone who is investigating my complaint. All this over $200, i know, but as a woman I feel I was taken advantage of and I strongly recommend that anyone who visits these auto care centers, just don't sign anything before you've done your own research. Sincerely,

Anne N.

Everett, WA

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Comment On This

I am not sure what happened with the pricing or the repairs on this vehicle as I was not the owner then, but I can tell you you will have a much better experience now. I am the new owner of the Precision Tune Auto Care on Everett mall Way for about the last year. I am sorry for the poor expeience you had in 2004 but assure you that the times HAVE CHANGED.