Highway Robbery !!!!!!

[Pa Goose]

On my way to work yesterday, my choke engaged and would not disengaged. When I got to the exit I normally take, I noticed the voltmeter indicated 12 volts (normally above 13 close to 14) so I pulled into a gas station and the RPM's were above 2,ooo. I popped the hood and saw a few pieces of the alternator belt scattered around the enigine compartment. I knew I probably would not make it back to the house or even get the rest of the way to work. I remembered there were several new car dealerships abobut 2-3 miles on down the road so off I went. Made it to the GM dealership which was the third one.
For them to install a new alternator best ... hope your are sitting down.... was a good thing I was when the repair writter told me what it would cost to fix my broken belt.... $287.63. They had me by the short hairs! ad I was 40 miles from home and 12 miles to work so I had no choice.
I told him to replace ALL of the belts because if one went then the others probably aren't far behind.
By the time they got the car done I had set there for 5 hours. They charged me for one hour of labor @ $200.00/hr.
This is an outragous amount to be forced to pay for such a simple repair!
I think the thing that makes me the maddest is 3 months ago I had the car in the shop at the local chevy dealer for a computer problem. I told them to replace all of the belts and hoses because they are 5 plus years old. They didn't. They said they were all fine and didn't need replacing. ad

 

[atmmac]

200 dollars an hour what are you crazy!!! You could have done it in 25 mins!!!!

 

[80convertible]

That's why they are called the stealership instead of the dealership :eyerole

 

[Fishman]

First thing I learned... never take an out of warranty Vette to a GM dealer. They have NO clue and will rape you blind. ad

Take it to a Ford dealer, at least they will appreciate the car.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

That just makes me sick! Who in the H**L charges $200.00 an hour for shop rates? Pa, as an instrumentation specialist, you know what skilled labor costs. That's not highway robbery, that's extortion and criminal conspiracy to commit rape. Lesson learned: carry a tool kit and spare belt.

 

[Jack]

Hindsight's always 20-20 ... once you found you were gonna have to pay $200+ to be raped ... should've shoved a fresh $50 battery in vette & headed on to work ... then figured out a game plan from there.
JACK:gap

 

[Buckskin7T7V]

I do not know the state laws in Mo. but in Ca the dealer must have you sign an estimate on the repairs prior to the repairs being done. That is when you should have questioned the hourly rate.

Then I would ask to see other repairs this dealer has accomplished on other Corvettes to see if the hourly rate applies to them as well.

Then I would contact the GM District Customer Service Manager and file a complaint. I have gone through these and also the Bureau of Automotive Repairs for the Sates of California and I have had good results.

National Office: Chevrolet Motor Division

Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center

P.O. Box 7047

Troy, MI 48007-7047

1-800-222-1020

 

[ruby76]

First thing I learned... never take an out of warranty Vette to a GM dealer. They have NO clue and will rape you blind. ad

Take it to a Ford dealer, at least they will appreciate the car.

Never take ANYTHING out of warranty to a dealer.......
:L

hell, the $3 belt would cost you at least $25 at a dealer...........