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  •  » FYI Ford, Classic Mustang Tech Discussion
  •  » Did my friend get taken advantage of?

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    7/22/2013 12:57 PM  #1

    Ernest
    FYI FORD Member

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    From: Fort Worth, TX
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 72

    Did my friend get taken advantage of?

    My co-worker who is a female bought a 66 coupe recently and it leaked gas from the tank. She said she didn't want to bother me so she took it to Mid-Cities Mustang in the Dfw area. For a new tank install he charged her $650. She told me that when she was on the way to pick it up and I said that was crazy. He charged her for 4 hours labor at $85hr. I told her we could have done it in about 1 hr. When she picked it up she asked why it was so much and he said it is a very difficult job to change one out and he actually lost money on her because it took between 5 to 6 hrs labor. Am I wrong or do you guys think he took advantage of her?

     

    7/22/2013 1:10 PM  #2

    Ron68
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Mukilteo, Washington
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,711

    Re: Did my friend get taken advantage of?

    Thats a crock - she got ripped off. Garages do that to single women all the time. Just saw a program about it two weeks ago. If you had taken it in, it would have been a lot less, but they take advantage of women, who believe anything they say, because most women wouldn't know anything about car repairs.

    As I recall, 8-12 screws, some tacky sealant, two clamps and a rubber hose, (or if you want, take out the filler neck - 5 screws) one wire and a fuel hose to disconnect. Oh yeah, remove the trunk floor mat too (that might take 30 seconds) 5-6 hours, with a four hour coffee break.

    68 coupe - 351W, 4R70W, 9" 3.25 -- 65 convertible - 289 4v, C4, 8" 3.00
     

    7/22/2013 1:11 PM  #3

    Smitten
    FYI FORD Member

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    From: FL
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 19

    Re: Did my friend get taken advantage of?

    Oh, yeah. He burned her. Took profit on the tank, and BIG profit on the labor, like you suggest. CJ Pony has them for about 120-140, something like that. A one hour estimate is pretty generous, consdiering these ARE the trunk foor and only require the removal a dozen or so bolts. Too late now. Maybe she won't be so ready to leave you undisturbed next time.

    Last edited by Smitten (7/22/2013 1:12 PM)

     

    7/22/2013 1:14 PM  #4

    MS
    Forum Originator

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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,661

    Re: Did my friend get taken advantage of?

    $150 labor MAX.  Tank is $150 with tax = $300.  Yes, she paid double.  You should let Mid Cities know that they are being written about on the internet in a negative way.  I doubt they care, from what I have heard.

    Women are always taken advantage of, and it really hacks me off.

    Kat took her car in for a front end alignment.  They wanted $750 because it had a "bent tie rod".  Knowing her driving habits, I told her to bring it over and I would.  There was no bent tie rod and there were some fresh wrench marks on the tie rod adjusting flats and nut on one side.  I adjusted that side back where it lined up and the car was fine.  Same thing  NTB would have done had they been allowed to charge her $750 for it...

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    7/22/2013 4:28 PM  #5

    wsinsle
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Belle Vernon, PA
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,786

    Re: Did my friend get taken advantage of?

    I have a buddy that use to work for a large chain muffler and brake shop. He told me guys would take calipers off cars, clean them up, and charge customers for a new one. He was told to find something wrong with every car that came in. He quit and started his own business to get away from that.

    If this forum can't fix it, it isn't broke.
     

    7/22/2013 4:44 PM  #6

    josh-kebob
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Madison, AL
    Registered: 4/06/2013
    Posts: 2,902

    Re: Did my friend get taken advantage of?

    Yes, she got taken advantage of and yes....you should give her the information for this site so she can become a member and we can help her whenever she has any further issues.........stuff like that makes me tear my shirt in half and turn my skin green......

     

    7/22/2013 4:52 PM  #7

    6sally6
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 6,973

    Re: Did my friend get taken advantage of?

    I hope the mechanic(at least) kissed her before he...... well, you get the idea.
    Friend of mine's in law paid a Ford dealership $800.00 to drain gas out of his diesel tank he pumped in by misstake.......and they keep the 30+ gallons of gas!!!!! He never cranked the engine over so NONE of the gas got to the engine/filters.
    There are some REAL crooks out there!!
    6s6
     

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

    7/22/2013 6:48 PM  #8

    riwall
    FYI Addict

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    From: Sherman, Texas
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 228

    Re: Did my friend get taken advantage of?

    Yep, I spent about $120 for a new tank and changed it out by myself in about an hour - and I'm a clutz. I would say that Mid-Cities owes her a refund and an apology, but don't hold your breath. E.

     

    7/22/2013 7:54 PM  #9

    Derek
    I FYI 24-7

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    From: Eatonton GA
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 549

    Re: Did my friend get taken advantage of?

    As a teenager I worked for two of the bottom feeders of the auto industry. They rime with "Iffy lube & mexico express lube" . I was instructed "Or else!" to do all manner of crappy under handed things. "whats that, we'er out of that filter"?"wipe it clean and change the oil ONLY"! Radiator drain and fill,ah 55 gal drum of water with a dixie cup of antifreeze "just to change the color". "Leave every car 1/4 quart low on oil to save money".  And the worst! (The granny slam) convince the naive cusomer they need every engine flush, filter,gearbox fluid, and air freshener the store has to offer. This is just the beginning I have hours of stories from working at these places.

    It's hard to type "funny"
     

     

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