Sears Automotive-Complete Incompetence

[mikedks]

I brought my 95 4runner in last week and had them install a new set of Rancho shocks. For the life of me I could not get the old one's off, so I bit the bullet and brought it in. Shocks were on sale and only 20 bucks a corner to install. On the ride home it was bouncing all over the place, was late in the day so I didn't get to take a look at it until after work the next day. Guess what?, they didn't connect the shocks...at all...on any F'n corner. No exaggeration, the rears were completely disconnected at the top, front left the top nut was hand tight, and the right front shock was also missing the top nut. I was and am F;n livid, they towed it in the next day and fixed it, but am still doing my best to get someone fired. BTW, I had driven out of there with my 4yr old in the back seat, makes me boil when I think about it.

Still waiting for regional manager to get back to me, taking his own sweet time.
I swear, I am about ready to take the video I took on my phone to the local news.

 

[BucknutBob]

As the Fantastic Four's Thing would say, "It's clobberin' time!" Hope you get some form of justice out of this, because that royally stinks.

 

[rustbucket]

Used to.work at Sears auto center, ive seen worse happen. Glad you made it home ok. I dont recommend Sears to anyone except for buying tools, especially the auto center.

They work on commission so they dont care as long as they get money.

 

[rustbucket]

Im surprised they're still in business myself being overpriced and incompetent work.

 

[mikedks]

I thought it was just about the easiest job out there, if you have the correct tools. I mean, one bolt on top, one on the bottom, how could they muck it up?

 

[Bad_Vision]

lawsuit for incompetence will get the regional manager moving.
i could see if they didn't tighten one that you could let it slide and take a refund for all the work.
all 4 is incompetence and you could have been killed the bouncing could have caused traction loss and then you bouncing into oncoming traffic.
you need to go for
100% refund
insurance that the employee responsible will be let go.
and just because im a vindictive person i would send the video to the news.
Michigan has strict laws on mechanics and negligence so check your state regulatory commission.

 

[Bad_Vision]

ill give you the number to my lawyer he specializes in automotive related lawsuits if the shop gets a summons you'll be surprised at how fast they will back pedal to get your money back to you.

KILL EM

 

[goatfarmer]

'Lawsuits' and complaints are nothing new to Sears auto center; don't believe I ever read a Sears auto center favorable review and there have been a couple of class action suits, that I am aware of, where Sear's corporate ended up shelling out several mil, fortunately, in your case, nobody was physically hurt.

Replaced the shocks on the 90 T4r, Friday and it did not start out well, one step removed from breaking out the sawsall, and found I had make the mistake of trying to take both the main nut and locking nut off together, and the other mistake was using metric wrench/socket when the nuts on the shocks I had were standard.

 

[mikedks]

lawsuit for incompetence will get the regional manager moving.
i could see if they didn't tighten one that you could let it slide and take a refund for all the work.
all 4 is incompetence and you could have been killed the bouncing could have caused traction loss and then you bouncing into oncoming traffic.
you need to go for
100% refund
insurance that the employee responsible will be let go.
and just because im a vindictive person i would send the video to the news.
Michigan has strict laws on mechanics and negligence so check your state regulatory commission.

I spoke to the complaint department on Friday, had been waiting for days for a call back from the regional manager. Uh...apparently my complaint was only forwarded to the store manager whom I had already dealt with. The customer service rep told me the case was closed and the notes put in the system by the store manager said I showed him a video showing me loosening the shock nuts. Partially true, the video showed 3 shocks unattached and me undoing the left front nut which was hand tight.
She asked me straight out what I was looking for, I told her straight out
that I "may" be looking for the following items:

-money
-firing of tech
-retraining of staff
-probation for store
also let her know that a call to the local news was on my list.

I would have been happy if they paid for the job(they did give me half back)
and fired the tech. Store manager refused to lay the blame on anyone and kept referring to the fact that the nuts had backed off. He seriously refused
to place any blame on anyone at Sears, said he would do an internal investigation and that the results would be confidential. Bullcrap!

I think the pictures speak for themselves.

 

[Maritimer]

The customer service rep told me the case was closed and the notes put in the system by the store manager said I showed him a video showing me loosening the shock nuts.

For ****'s Sake!

Reminds me of my Midas incident. You guys did a bad job installing my exhaust... no... our story is that you banged everything off-road--see the slight bend on the tinfoil-thin heat shield.

I'm quickly becoming a buy local and support small businesses nut.

 

[BucknutBob]

The problem with a court case will likely be difficulty of proof--since you didn't have another adult with you after the "installation", it's only your word against theirs. The pics offer little, since they could've been taken at any time. Needless to say, Sears will circle their wagons and swear that they did nothing wrong. What did the "mechanic" look like, anyway--some pimple-faced high schooler working for minimum? I doubt Sears is a hotbed for hiring highly-experienced technicians. Best of luck!

 

[Bad_Vision]

unfortunately sense you already took half your money back thats the end of it and you will get nothing more.

 

[Hyde802]

Apparently that guy skipped shock day at Tire college

Ron White - Sears Tire Guy (They Call Me "Tater Salad") - YouTube

 

[Bad_Vision]

this is what happens when you hire a mechanic for minimum wage...

 

[94Runner4]

I knew a guy that worked at sears automotive.. He knew nothing about cars

 

[elcidsurfer]

This is exactly why I'm a big advicate of finding a local mom and pops place and forming a relationship with them. Yes you have to deal with a little higher prices and hear them nag about their bad day. But, IMPO it's worth it in the long run to get great service, and on the of chance something is overlooked accedentally it will be taken care of.