Firestone TX State Inspection Ripoff/Scam

[rossagge]

One more 'Here's my bone-head repair shop story'. I had a 1985 Subaru Hatchback, went to start it one morning and then put it into reverse - BANG!! I got out and looked under the car and there was a big puddle of fluid forming. I had it towed to a transmission shop in town I figured was good since I'd been hearing their radio adds for years. A couple days later they call me and say they can't find out what's wrong so I need to come get it. I walk into the shop and up to the counter. There were 4 or 5 other customers in the waiting room right there. The tech gives me my keys and repeats they couldn't figure it out. So I walk out to my car, crawl under it (a really tight squeeze) look up using a flashlight and see a 1.5" gaping hole blown out of the transmission. WTF!!! I go back inside the waiting room and ask the counter tech if anyone had even lifted my car up and looked at the frigging tranny. I got really hot, the manager came out and tried to cool me down. I said, "WTH's going on here! You tell me you can't figure out what's wrong with my car, yet any dickhead can see - if they had looked - there's a friggin hole in the tranny you can put your fist in!!" People in the waiting room got really quiet and pretended to not be listening. The manager tried to elbow me outside away from the public and basically brushed me off as if nothing had happened. Needless to say I had to call another tow truck, haul my car to another tranny shop where they installed a rebuilt one. Back in my parking lot I found the chunk of tranny that blew out of the case; a gear had exploded and tore through to the outside. You can be sure there was a lot more said in that waiting room other than the couple of sentences I wrote here. I've had some pretty shoddy work done over the decades by some shops, but never such a blatant lack of professionalism as that tranny shop displayed.

Yeah, situations like that can get you heated. I was pretty calm, a bit sarcastic with them but direct. One thing I didn't mention was another patron did walk into the shop just before I was about to leave and overheard the discussion. I looked him straight in the eyes and told him he'd be better off taking his business elsewhere, if not these guys are gonna take you for a ride. He just smiled and looked down at his kid. As I walked out to my truck and then back in to the shop to let them know about the mud, I didn't see the guy and his kid again. Not sure if it was my doing or they just couldn't help him. One less unsuspecting customer they won't try to rip off.

 

[MEGA HO]

We had a mechanic move into our rural farming community when I was a kid. He screwed everyone over at least a couple of times. He preyed on the elderly the most. Long story short he eventually ran out of suckers and had to move to a larger neighbouring town. Now his son runs a HD truck shop with the same rep.

Which town is that?? I wanna make sure I don't accidentally go visit them as you're not far from where I live.

 

[kevin588127]

Be sure to leave a Google review. I've resolved several disputes with crap vendors by leaving a negative review. Usually someone with some authority reaches out with a resolution if you agree to edit the review.

 

[Great White North Eh]

Whitecourt Ab. KW Mechanical. If anyone ever breaks down on their way to Alaska steer clear.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

One more 'Here's my bone-head repair shop story'. I had a 1985 Subaru Hatchback, went to start it one morning and then put it into reverse - BANG!! I got out and looked under the car and there was a big puddle of fluid forming. I had it towed to a transmission shop in town I figured was good since I'd been hearing their radio adds for years. A couple days later they call me and say they can't find out what's wrong so I need to come get it. I walk into the shop and up to the counter. There were 4 or 5 other customers in the waiting room right there. The tech gives me my keys and repeats they couldn't figure it out. So I walk out to my car, crawl under it (a really tight squeeze) look up using a flashlight and see a 1.5" gaping hole blown out of the transmission. WTF!!! I go back inside the waiting room and ask the counter tech if anyone had even lifted my car up and looked at the frigging tranny. I got really hot, the manager came out and tried to cool me down. I said, "WTH's going on here! You tell me you can't figure out what's wrong with my car, yet any dickhead can see - if they had looked - there's a friggin hole in the tranny you can put your fist in!!" People in the waiting room got really quiet and pretended to not be listening. The manager tried to elbow me outside away from the public and basically brushed me off as if nothing had happened. Needless to say I had to call another tow truck, haul my car to another tranny shop where they installed a rebuilt one. Back in my parking lot I found the chunk of tranny that blew out of the case; a gear had exploded and tore through to the outside. You can be sure there was a lot more said in that waiting room other than the couple of sentences I wrote here. I've had some pretty shoddy work done over the decades by some shops, but never such a blatant lack of professionalism as that tranny shop displayed.

In my experience if they need to advertise their shop they are doing something wrong. Word of mouth is far more powerful than any advertisement

 

[Jacob]

I worked at a Firestone for less than 2 weeks. Maybe a week? Didn't fit in the culture
I think the problem with state inspections here in Texas is that the shops just don't make money doing it. So some try and stick it to ya. It's always wipers and gas caps.
I just have a hard time finding a place to do my 5th wheel.

 

[CTF2019]

No state scams inspections in FL!

No bumper? No prob!
No headlight? No prob!
Roof crushed? No prob!
Dark tint? No prob!

Only things…
Windshield cracked? TICKET!
License plate frame/cover? TICKET!


And I’m not joking about roof crushed. One guy down here drove his car around after Irma dropped a large tree on its roof. Back glass was gone, but windshield wasn’t cracked so he was A OK. I saw him drive that for a couple years lol.

 

[rossagge]

Passed! No new w/s wipers, didn't clean w/s nor add washer fluid. Took it to a small oil change place. Nice, clean and friendly. Whaddya know!

 

[rossagge]

I worked at a Firestone for less than 2 weeks. Maybe a week? Didn't fit in the culture
I think the problem with state inspections here in Texas is that the shops just don't make money doing it. So some try and stick it to ya. It's always wipers and gas caps.
I just have a hard time finding a place to do my 5th wheel.

Well, I found two places to get mine done. It's gonna be tight for a 5th wheel though. So, gotta find a place for that.