STAY AWAY FROM "THE MIDAS TOUCH"!!!

[BikerPepe`]

OK so here’s the story of MIDAS taking advantage of my wife in my absence.
I got my new rims and tires installed on Fri. (26th) and I had noticed that the brakes were looking pretty bad. I knew that soon I would have to replace the pads, rotors and drums as well as fixing the leaking axle seals. I figured as soon as I got back from my business trip I’d take care of it.
So Saturday I notice the truck feeling sluggish and I’m going through gas like soda-pop. A quick inspection reveals that the front brakes are dragging and will need attention immediately.
Sunday rolls around and the wife takes me to the airport. I’ve already told her that the brakes need attention immediately (both front and back and re-seal the axles) and that her trip with her Mom (yes, the Mother In-Law shows up to visit because I’m leaving for a few days) down to Beaverton is off… unless she rents a car. I ask her to run down to Midas and take care of the specific parts we discussed so she can drive around safely while I’m gone. I’ll deal with the rest when I get back. I also tell her this shouldn’t cost anymore than $600 max.
I call her later that day when I arrive in San Francisco and she tells me that by the time she got home the front drivers side was smoking and so hot it was turning color. OH GREAT! So I tell her to just drive slowly and take it easy and get the rig down to have it fixed.
Monday comes and I’m in meetings all day long, paying attention to my new job and not really worrying about things getting taken care of. I had forgot my cell (borrowed the wife’s, since I hate the things) in my travel bag, so I didn’t talk to her all day and she had no way to get a hold of me.
Finally I get back from the office and give her a call to see how things went.
(The following details were not fully clear to me until I got home this afternoon…)
She tells me that she took the Bronco down to Midas first, to get a quote.
Midas takes off the tires, inspects and then comes back to tell her… they can fix everything for under $1800. My wife says thanks, but no thanks. She says she’ll take the truck down the road for another estimate like her husband told her too. She asks for the truck and they tell her that she can’t drive the truck. They claim that when they took the passenger front tire off that one of the bolts had been mis-threaded by Discount Tire and they can’t put the tire back on for her safety and due to liability issues. They continue on, telling her that not only is one mounting bolt trashed but that the brake “fell apart” and they can’t put it back together again for her safety and their liability. Now she’s TRAPED and SCARED. She tries to call me and can’t get a hold of me. She asks again about the price and they start talking tech. They tell her how the entire brake and steering system is shot and if they don’t replace all these parts the truck won’t be safe to drive. They continue to baffle her with tech talk and scare her with safety concerns until she finally tells them to go ahead and do what needs to be done. They start and she pays up front (cash) and signs.

Here is a list of what they did…
R&R Brake Caliper (x2) - $70 labor - $91.98 parts (RMFG Calipers)
R&R 1 Brake Rotor (x2) - $89.50 labor - $153.98 parts (Everguard Brake Rotors)
R&R Brake Shoes - $45 labor - $44.99 parts (MIDAS Plus RM Shoes)
R&R 1 Brake Drum (x2) - $0 labor - $257 parts (Everguard Brake Drums)
R&R Brake Pads - $45 Labor - $144.99 parts (Ravin Ceramic Brake)
Drive Train Labor (Rear Axle Seals) - $120.00 labor - 96.50 parts
R&R Tie Rod End - $65 labor - $59.99 parts
Midas Brake Flush Package - $32.50 labor
OTHER (x2):
Disc Hardware Kit - $39.95
GS1559 Grease Seal - $15.98
GS 1301 Grease Seal - $3.98
Ball Joints - $179.98

$504 labor
$1,089 parts
$24.99 Shop Supply
$131.09 Tax
TOTAL: $1,749.43

Additional: Told my wife they did an oil change free of charge, but there is no mileage indication of the change anywhere on the vehicle.
I’ll be returning there on Friday for the “free” camber alignment they also promised (I’m told this is a standard freebie when front end work is done, but they told my wife this was a “deal” they were doing for her.)
Neither of these 2 items show up anywhere on the receipt.
Also… at this point I don’t even have a Warranty in my hand, but they told my wife the brakes are lifetime (they damn well better be!)

Needle to say… I’ll be giving them the ass chewing of the century when I get there Friday. The mechanic has already been instructed to put all my old parts in a box for my inspection and after they explain to me in great detail what they did and why they did it… then I’ll be going after the manager. I’m seriously considering getting a hold of the local TV News and giving them the story as well.

Bottom Line: She paid and signed = I’m SCREWED – BUT, they will be hearing about taking advantage of my wife and screwing me while my back was turned… depending on their reaction, this may go much further than that.

There's lots more to this story, but it's already long enough. Thanks for listening... hope this saves someone else from getting "The MIDAS Touch".

[Stomper4x4]

Man they really did it to her. Reminds me of a time when my ex took her car to Midas for an estamate on a new exhaust. It was around $400 if I remember right. She then went to a differant MIDAS and they quoted her $150-$200 LESS for the same job. The guy at Midas #1 really danced when I showed him the reciept from midas #2 lol.

Good luck Pepe, maybe you'll get some resolve with this.

[gearrat]

damn that sucks man i priced bal joints at autozone ti was 100 bucks for all four. ya need to rid up on the harley walk in a take the leg off and then ask them who's ass ya get to shove it up? when they ask why just tell them i want to give them the same treatment that they gave your wife

[ColoradoBronc]

If you follow his advice bring a video camera, I'd like to see that. That sucks Pepe`. My wife got the same deal from Brakes Plus when she needed new brakes and I didn't have the time. She called me with a $600 estimate and said " They already have the wheels off so they might as weel just do it." Plus the "lifetime warranty" on the parts costs me more in labor then it would for me to fix it myself.

[SSgtTEX]

Hey that is how i felt today when I went to go to get my brakes done. They came to with a 395 dollar estiment. I was like for what. pads, shoes, new drums, and about half the components. i saw pads, shoes and drums(heat cracks) so i said let me call my parents real quick. Call them and tell them i dont have that kinda cash and tell me not have them do it. then the guy says after i told him i wont get paid for another week and a half. oh we can hold a check for up to two weeks. i go no i know people who can help me do it myself (all you fsbers) then he started going well the drums will just fall apart soon but i can not do that and just do this and it will only be 294 plus tax. so i go no, well im only trying to do this for your SAFETY and make sure you dont get metal on metal contact so ill just do the pads and shoes 150 somethin plus tax total of almost 170. I give him a funny look cause all these commercials and the sign say brake job for 68 bucks. well it was 68 for front then 68 for the rear. and as i was trying to walk out the door he was still it is for your SAFETY crap.

[Stokes]

i would like to see pics of the "UN-usible" parts.

[PaulT]

Ahh, the Midas touch....everything they touch turns to gold...for them!
I quit going to any of the chain companies. Been with the same mechanic for 10+ years, but the guy who I delt with left and they started to try to jack me on some items.

Now I'm going to the same mechanic that the Bronco went to with it's previous owner. Had a nice talk with him when I first went in. Explained that I'm not an idiot when it comes to vehicles, will do the basic items myself, but he will get all my other business, and as long as he is fair, I would also give him referals (independant's appriciate that).

My dad has been going to the same garage for 28 years. They do good work, and everything 'always' passes the state safety inspection (drive in, new sticker, drive out). That's nice, but last time I drove Dad's F250, 7.3L the exhaust broke in front of the muffler, 1200 miles after inspection....damn guys, at least tell us what needs to be fixed!! (although it sounded good with no exhaust! :)

[axaviere]

yeouch. thats a prime example of not putting off til tomorrow what you should have done last week. i bet they sit around all day fondling themselves waiting for the stars to align and some poor person like the wifey to come in their shop. hell i winced when you said under $600 for brakes. for $1700 you could have bought a 78 with a 429 and 33s that was in last weeks paper. man chew some major a$$, you paid for that right i think.

[Tomh971]

DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!! $275 each for drums?!??!?!??!?!?!!!! geeeeeeZUSSS!!!! Hope they used a good lube man... I just checked Auto Zone, Advance, and PEP Boys... all about $30 for NEW drums... 1 year Warranty Rotors $27 each... callipers: $32 (lifetime) WITH semi-metallic pads already installed... yeah, I'd say you got the Midas Touch... in a bad way...

My condolences bro, I understand the dilemma of not being there with the wife in these kinds of things... but damn... they embellished that a little...

Tom

[stangmata]

Midas did that to me once. I took my old stang in for an inspection and before I knew it the brakes were torn to peices. I knew the brakes were bad, but they definately weren't THAT bad. They also refused to put my car back together...I would have to pay $900 for new brakes. I immediately informed them that they either put my car back together or they would have to explain to the cops why my car was trapped in a shop. Needless to say, after 20 minutes of heated yelling, I drove my car home without an inspection sticker.

[96Bronc]

Posted Oringinally by ColoradoBronc
My wife got the same deal from Brakes Plus when she needed new brakes and I didn't have the time. She called me with a $600 estimate

Same type of experience with them. I was lazy and figured hell all I need is new pads and maybe the rotors turned. It's not worth my time to do it myself. Well after they got done with their inspection the estimate came to $900. The calipers were bad, needed new rotors, drums, shoes and a hub service. The brakes were working good(pads just a little thin) when I got it in there and who the hell told them to look at the back brakes? There is a consumer advocate(watch dog) in Denver by the name of Tom Martino and Brakes Plus is on his don't visit list. I pretty much stay away from the oil shop chains and the brake shop chains. It is definitely cheaper to do it yourself.

Pepe good luck and kick some a$$!

[2fordtrucks]

Big chains like that are their for your "safety", right, for the saftety of the finacial situation of the owner. they are a by the book and what book they go by i don't know, use a garage. Hell, I get better prices and service out of my local dealer. I have a garage I go to for my 79 and they go by the common sense book. These chains are out there for the women, and some men who don't know anything about their cars, and they prey upon them with scare tactics about safety. It is a shame that they do that, but the alarm industry has been doing it for years, just pay attention to the adt, and brinks ads. this stuff strikes a nerve.

[79F150]

Most people here would probabley buy your old junk. Gota have parts for the trail rigs.

[miesk5]

Originally Posted by 2fordtrucks

Big chains like that are their for your "safety", right, for the saftety of the finacial situation of the owner. they are a by the book and what book they go by i don't know, use a garage. Hell, I get better prices and service out of my local dealer. I have a garage I go to for my 79 and they go by the common sense book. These chains are out there for the women, and some men who don't know anything about their cars, and they prey upon them with scare tactics about safety. It is a shame that they do that, but the alarm industry has been doing it for years, just pay attention to the adt, and brinks ads. this stuff strikes a nerve.

I agree, some franchise owners prey on their customers (not really a customer, moreso a victim); while some owners are a-ok.
On the way home from work our car pool driver stopped at a newly opened MeinKamp shop; his wife had some exhaust work done to the dis-satisfaction of my friend; anyway, we heard the owner tell a new sales person that NO ONE leaves with just one job...he told him to ck the shocks..show the people how 'Bad" they are..then on to a brake inspection, etc. etc. All this was done in front of the 3 of us with no shame nor consciousness of the owner that we were witnesses to fraud/and or decit.

While a Midas owner told my wife (while I was away) that the muffler was fine and the water drip was from a condensation hole (our neighbor told her that she saw water or fuel leaking from her car as she drove by).

[JoeBob1901]

alot of people prey on others..pretty sad when someone has to do that..shows through from their character

[Bronkzilla]

Originally Posted by 4xPepe`

I’m seriously considering getting a hold of the local TV News and giving them the story as well.

DO IT... the news media will eat it up.. it happened down here in LA and it was all over the news.. they even did hidden camera stuff to catch them..

[gobucs]

If you dont want to pay them but still get your rig back go to the court house and buy a bond in the total amount. The court house willl have you money and if the store doesnt sue you and can prove the charges were fair then you get your money back. You have to be sued in 90 I think it is in FL. Maybe this can help somebody else who will get scammed in the future.

[jermil01]

In addition to everything that has been suggested here, I think we should boycott Midas as a group. I know not many of us, if any would typically take our rigs to Midas to get serviced, but there are time when it might be necessary (no offense Pepe'). I'll be telling everyone I know about the experience Pepe' had with Midas and I would suggest everybody else here do the same. Remember the old business addage, piss one person off and 10 hear about it...Let's put it to practice. It's bulls**t like this that really piss me off, my wife had something similar, although not on such a grand scale. She had her oil changed at Firestone, they also told her she needed a new fuel filter, and it would cost $120 bucks...I told her to bring the car home, I bought a fuel filter, $19 bones from Napa and replaced it, I called the manager at Firestone and told him to get f**king bent and that I didn't appreciate them trying to take advantage of my wife. Anyway, crap like this happens far to often to people who just don't know, maybe we can do something about it.

[GearHead]

i say you find the guys house and burn it down.
hmmm, maybe not a good idea.
call the tv, and do what gobucs said.

[MyFullSize]

I stopped at a local Midas to check on price to R&R RA bushings. I got $159 including labor. Got poly bushings at Advance for $22, $11 a side. :) Now I just gotta get them on.... Where did I put my come-a-long anyway??