My bad experience with Bimmers Clinic in Reseda.
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6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 2
From: Ventura Co. Calif.
My bad experience with Bimmers Clinic in Reseda.
I heard about this place a long time ago and stopped by when I purchased my new '05 Mini Cooper S. I just wanted to meet the owner and see the place, because I knew someday that I would need them.
Fast forward many years to about 5 days ago. I need a bunch of work done. I called George and he wouldn't tell me how much he charges for labor and he won't tell me if he charges by book time or actual time. I told him what I need done and he couldn't give me an idea of how much it will cost. That should have been a clue to stay away. But, I still took it there because of all the good things I've read and heard. We made plans for me to bring it in yesterday at 9am and he said he would be there. That was like four days for him to make sure that he would have time for my car, as he said it would take two days. He wasn't there when I dropped the car off, like he said he would be and I left the car with his mechanic who speaks very little English. I was told George will call me as soon as he gets in. By 3pm I had not received a call. Between 3pm and 6pm I called at least 6 times and left 4 messages and no one called me back. I didn't sleep that night worrying about my car. I called the next morning a little after 9am, no George. I finally got a hold of George at about 11am. I told him that I was very unhappy with the lack of communication and that I didn't sleep because I was worried. He laughed at me and said,"I don't see what the big deal is, I'm busy". I asked if they started any work on the car. He told me no. I told him, don't do any work, I'm picking it up and taking it somewhere else. It turns out that they didn't even put it in the garage overnight. It sat outside all night in a really bad neighborhood. I never even thought about it being left outside, because it was supposed to be in the garage, undrivable and waiting to be finished. I would have picked it up with my extra key, if I knew that.
Also, he told me that he won't install aftermarket parts. One good thing about the Mini is there are a lot of great aftermarket parts that are cheaper and last much longer then OEM parts. For example, the hydraulic engine mount and front bushings.
I will never take my car or advise anyone to take their cars to Bimmers Clinic. I have never had service this poor from anyone. Thanks George for wasting my time for the last two days. I'm going to get a good nights sleep tonight, with my Mini in my garage.
Fast forward many years to about 5 days ago. I need a bunch of work done. I called George and he wouldn't tell me how much he charges for labor and he won't tell me if he charges by book time or actual time. I told him what I need done and he couldn't give me an idea of how much it will cost. That should have been a clue to stay away. But, I still took it there because of all the good things I've read and heard. We made plans for me to bring it in yesterday at 9am and he said he would be there. That was like four days for him to make sure that he would have time for my car, as he said it would take two days. He wasn't there when I dropped the car off, like he said he would be and I left the car with his mechanic who speaks very little English. I was told George will call me as soon as he gets in. By 3pm I had not received a call. Between 3pm and 6pm I called at least 6 times and left 4 messages and no one called me back. I didn't sleep that night worrying about my car. I called the next morning a little after 9am, no George. I finally got a hold of George at about 11am. I told him that I was very unhappy with the lack of communication and that I didn't sleep because I was worried. He laughed at me and said,"I don't see what the big deal is, I'm busy". I asked if they started any work on the car. He told me no. I told him, don't do any work, I'm picking it up and taking it somewhere else. It turns out that they didn't even put it in the garage overnight. It sat outside all night in a really bad neighborhood. I never even thought about it being left outside, because it was supposed to be in the garage, undrivable and waiting to be finished. I would have picked it up with my extra key, if I knew that.
Also, he told me that he won't install aftermarket parts. One good thing about the Mini is there are a lot of great aftermarket parts that are cheaper and last much longer then OEM parts. For example, the hydraulic engine mount and front bushings.
I will never take my car or advise anyone to take their cars to Bimmers Clinic. I have never had service this poor from anyone. Thanks George for wasting my time for the last two days. I'm going to get a good nights sleep tonight, with my Mini in my garage.
I don't know these guys so I have nothing good or bad to say about them. But you had said you were concerned that they would not give you a price over the phone. This is very common for shops that actually know how to run a business do NOT quote prices over the phone. Couple simple reasons for that
1. Many people that are wanting a price over the phone are just going down the list of shops looking for the cheapest price. We find these customers will come if you are the cheapest for that one job, and go to the next shop for the next job. They don't care to build a relationship with their mechanic or for quality work. They are just price oriented, not longterm customers and will cost the business owner more time and take them away from good customers.
2. With MINI's and other cars that are common to be modified will burn you to quote over the phone then find the car has something that will double the time to do the job or something like that.
3. Many times quoting the price over the phone will end the conversation and the customer never makes it in the door. We like to look at the car, meet the customer, and explain what and why we are going to do it. Then we can give the customer the exact price and not have any surprises for them.
4. The Pricematch guy. That guy will call to get a quote, then call around to find a lower price, then call back to have you match the price. And if you do then he'll call around and do it again. All the time he really wants us to work on his car cause he trusts us, but not fairly comparing our abilities against a cheaper shop that he really never intends to go.
We often don't Quote prices over the phone for these reasons. I wanted to post this so readers can understand why they may not get quoted a price until they are in the shop.
1. Many people that are wanting a price over the phone are just going down the list of shops looking for the cheapest price. We find these customers will come if you are the cheapest for that one job, and go to the next shop for the next job. They don't care to build a relationship with their mechanic or for quality work. They are just price oriented, not longterm customers and will cost the business owner more time and take them away from good customers.
2. With MINI's and other cars that are common to be modified will burn you to quote over the phone then find the car has something that will double the time to do the job or something like that.
3. Many times quoting the price over the phone will end the conversation and the customer never makes it in the door. We like to look at the car, meet the customer, and explain what and why we are going to do it. Then we can give the customer the exact price and not have any surprises for them.
4. The Pricematch guy. That guy will call to get a quote, then call around to find a lower price, then call back to have you match the price. And if you do then he'll call around and do it again. All the time he really wants us to work on his car cause he trusts us, but not fairly comparing our abilities against a cheaper shop that he really never intends to go.
We often don't Quote prices over the phone for these reasons. I wanted to post this so readers can understand why they may not get quoted a price until they are in the shop.
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 2
From: Ventura Co. Calif.
I don't know these guys so I have nothing good or bad to say about them. But you had said you were concerned that they would not give you a price over the phone. This is very common for shops that actually know how to run a business do NOT quote prices over the phone. Couple simple reasons for that
1. Many people that are wanting a price over the phone are just going down the list of shops looking for the cheapest price. We find these customers will come if you are the cheapest for that one job, and go to the next shop for the next job. They don't care to build a relationship with their mechanic or for quality work. They are just price oriented, not longterm customers and will cost the business owner more time and take them away from good customers.
2. With MINI's and other cars that are common to be modified will burn you to quote over the phone then find the car has something that will double the time to do the job or something like that.
3. Many times quoting the price over the phone will end the conversation and the customer never makes it in the door. We like to look at the car, meet the customer, and explain what and why we are going to do it. Then we can give the customer the exact price and not have any surprises for them.
4. The Pricematch guy. That guy will call to get a quote, then call around to find a lower price, then call back to have you match the price. And if you do then he'll call around and do it again. All the time he really wants us to work on his car cause he trusts us, but not fairly comparing our abilities against a cheaper shop that he really never intends to go.
We often don't Quote prices over the phone for these reasons. I wanted to post this so readers can understand why they may not get quoted a price until they are in the shop.
1. Many people that are wanting a price over the phone are just going down the list of shops looking for the cheapest price. We find these customers will come if you are the cheapest for that one job, and go to the next shop for the next job. They don't care to build a relationship with their mechanic or for quality work. They are just price oriented, not longterm customers and will cost the business owner more time and take them away from good customers.
2. With MINI's and other cars that are common to be modified will burn you to quote over the phone then find the car has something that will double the time to do the job or something like that.
3. Many times quoting the price over the phone will end the conversation and the customer never makes it in the door. We like to look at the car, meet the customer, and explain what and why we are going to do it. Then we can give the customer the exact price and not have any surprises for them.
4. The Pricematch guy. That guy will call to get a quote, then call around to find a lower price, then call back to have you match the price. And if you do then he'll call around and do it again. All the time he really wants us to work on his car cause he trusts us, but not fairly comparing our abilities against a cheaper shop that he really never intends to go.
We often don't Quote prices over the phone for these reasons. I wanted to post this so readers can understand why they may not get quoted a price until they are in the shop.
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