What would Druff do? Sears Auto edition

So, i often kill my battery by leaving my lights on. I carry one of those quick jump starters in the back for this reason. I have had to jump the car probably 20 times this year. Well its getting colder and the battery has been getting harder to jump. So today i took it to Sears Auto to get a new battery. I left my number and they would call when ready. Me and the kids walk over to the mall and await the call.

About an hour later i get a call from the garage saying its not the battery but the alternator and will be $700 instead of $150... I tell them i won't be getting the alternator fixed there and i'll be by to get the car. The mechanic on the phone says, 'the bad alternator would ruin the new battery so we won't put it in'. cool.

So we go to get the car and the guy at the register is like, 'That'll be $150'...

I said, 'Oh, you put the battery in? i thought the mechanic said it would ruin the battery?

'well, it will eventually'

'is there a warranty?'

'yup, 2 years'

'ok then'

from behind the register, another employee quips up, 'make sure you put in the notes that he refused the alternator'

'will that revoke my warranty?'

'yes'

'well, then take it out and put in my old battery'

'we can't'

'you must'

'we can't'

'o.k. bye'

I walked outside buckled the kids in and drove away. i ignored their 1st call and the voice mail said if i didn't come back and pay then they'd call the cops...

10 minutes later i get a call from the Burlington Police department saying i had to come down and pay or they'd press charges and i'd have to go to court and pay a bunch of fees and blah blah blah

The cop wanted me to pay over the phone but i refused and said i'd come back and deal with them. after arguing with the cop and manager for a few minutes i said, 'look, take the battery out and put my old one in. or, i'll pay whatever the cop says i have to, then i'll sue you and trash you on social media etc.'

The cop then talked to the manager separately. When he came back, he said they agreed to take $50 off if i would pay

i felt bad busting the cops balls on thanksgiving so i agreed to pay the discounted price for the new battery and was on my way.

I think i should have stuck to my guns though. The cop said at one point, 'since you've returned with the merchandise, it's no longer a criminal matter'...

What do you have a 1980's car that either doesn't automatically kill the battery when turned off or make a loud fucking noise if left on? If you didn't approve the new battery then you are not at fault. End of story.

Turn off your lights dummy

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Originally Posted by 1marley1

So, i often kill my battery by leaving my lights on. I carry one of those quick jump starters in the back for this reason. I have had to jump the car probably 20 times this year.

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I used to lock my keys in my car a few times a year, and everyone thought I was retarded. But this... this is next level carelessness.

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Originally Posted by Pooh

What do you have a 1980's car that either doesn't automatically kill the battery when turned off or make a loud fucking noise if left on? If you didn't approve the new battery then you are not at fault. End of story.

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not quite 1980's... but i do have selective hearing and i don't hear the 'loud fucking noise'

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Originally Posted by SrslySirius

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1marley1

So, i often kill my battery by leaving my lights on. I carry one of those quick jump starters in the back for this reason. I have had to jump the car probably 20 times this year.

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I used to lock my keys in my car a few times a year, and everyone thought I was retarded. But this... this is next level carelessness.

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I also smoke far too much pot which may or may not be a contributing factor

[QUOTE=Today, 06:53 PM
big dick
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sorry, what?

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Originally Posted by big dick

Turn off your lights dummy

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i couldn't resist... and you were nice. thanks for the advice.

Happy Thanksgiving

tip the battery acid into a cup and drink it

regards

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Originally Posted by phantom

tip the battery acid into a cup and drink it

regards

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wait, thats what druff would do? i don't get it. asshole.

hey Marley have you tried making yourself a note and taping where you will see it EVERY time you leave your car? That works for us old guys--guessing it would work for potheads too--amirite?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Which Burlington?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1marley1

So, i often kill my battery by leaving my lights on. I carry one of those quick jump starters in the back for this reason. I have had to jump the car probably 20 times this year. Well its getting colder and the battery has been getting harder to jump. So today i took it to Sears Auto to get a new battery. I left my number and they would call when ready. Me and the kids walk over to the mall and await the call.

About an hour later i get a call from the garage saying its not the battery but the alternator and will be $700 instead of $150... I tell them i won't be getting the alternator fixed there and i'll be by to get the car. The mechanic on the phone says, 'the bad alternator would ruin the new battery so we won't put it in'. cool.

So we go to get the car and the guy at the register is like, 'That'll be $150'...

I said, 'Oh, you put the battery in? i thought the mechanic said it would ruin the battery?

'well, it will eventually'

'is there a warranty?'

'yup, 2 years'

'ok then'

from behind the register, another employee quips up, 'make sure you put in the notes that he refused the alternator'

'will that revoke my warranty?'

'yes'

'well, then take it out and put in my old battery'

'we can't'

'you must'

'we can't'

'o.k. bye'

I walked outside buckled the kids in and drove away. i ignored their 1st call and the voice mail said if i didn't come back and pay then they'd call the cops...

10 minutes later i get a call from the Burlington Police department saying i had to come down and pay or they'd press charges and i'd have to go to court and pay a bunch of fees and blah blah blah

The cop wanted me to pay over the phone but i refused and said i'd come back and deal with them. after arguing with the cop and manager for a few minutes i said, 'look, take the battery out and put my old one in. or, i'll pay whatever the cop says i have to, then i'll sue you and trash you on social media etc.'

The cop then talked to the manager separately. When he came back, he said they agreed to take $50 off if i would pay

i felt bad busting the cops balls on thanksgiving so i agreed to pay the discounted price for the new battery and was on my way.

I think i should have stuck to my guns though. The cop said at one point, 'since you've returned with the merchandise, it's no longer a criminal matter'...

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Get a AAA membership. They offer free batter replacement once a year and the renewal price is less than $150/year, plus you can get free roadside assistance, towing, etc...

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Originally Posted by MumblesBadly

Which Burlington?

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MA

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Originally Posted by IamGreek

hey Marley have you tried making yourself a note and taping where you will see it EVERY time you leave your car? That works for us old guys--guessing it would work for potheads too--amirite?

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You would think the pain of fucking yourself over so many times would be enough to condition you. It worked for me, like the lab rat that shocked itself one too many times pressing the wrong food switch. Every time I park my car, I'm automatically compelled to check my lights, ignition, e-brake and locks before exiting.

Losing my wallet and phone enough times had the same effect. My "got your shit?" check has become a reflex.

If getting old dulls that operant conditioning, god help me.

Sears Auto? Who the hell takes their car there?

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Originally Posted by Muck Ficon

Sears Auto? Who the hell takes their car there?

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i was at the mall. i needed a battery. i don't give a shit about the car.

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Originally Posted by Muck Ficon

Sears Auto? Who the hell takes their car there?

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I went there for some break work. It's less than I mile away, and next to mall. I declined over 1K worth of extra repairs they wanted to do, but they did fix the brakes. I was surprised they had almost no customers.

Battery lives matter.

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Originally Posted by anchordraw

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Muck Ficon

Sears Auto? Who the hell takes their car there?

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I went there for some break work. It's less than I mile away, and next to mall. I declined over 1K worth of extra repairs they wanted to do, but they did fix the brakes. I was surprised they had almost no customers.

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Why surprised? Sears Auto has THE WORST reputation among auto repair retailers!

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Originally Posted by anchordraw

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Muck Ficon

Sears Auto? Who the hell takes their car there?

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I went there for some break work. It's less than I mile away, and next to mall. I declined over 1K worth of extra repairs they wanted to do, but they did fix the brakes. I was surprised they had almost no customers.

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My bet is that if Druff had an old beater that broke down where the only option for repairs was Sears Auto, he would instead arrange for the car to be donated to a charity for a healthy tax write-off, and successfully negotiate to get the charity to arrange the tow that day, all the while arranging for a free rental car to be delivered to him courtesy of his credit card bonus whoring.

You were 100% in the right.

This is the reason mechanics have to give you a written estimate.

In this case, they needed to have you sign that the cost was $150 and that you were refusing the recommended alternator work.

They did work on your car after you told them not to.

You got scammed.

I hope you charged this on a credit card. Dispute it, stating they did work without authorization, and tell the story.

You should also call back, demand the manager of Sears Auto, and demand a full refund. If he won't budge, next talk to the Sears general manager, then keep moving up the chain.

You can also sue them in small claims and threaten to post a copy of your successful lawsuit on websites warning people not to do business with them.

You are in fairly good shape because they have nothing from you signed that you were refusing the alternator prior to work starting, so unless they deny the entire alternator story, you would win.

The cops should not have pressure you to pay, as you were scammed. Either you dealt with a moron, or you didn't explain it well enough.

I'm not sure you were being "scammed" as I wasn't there like Druff but there is an easy way to check your alternator.

1. Find the alternator & make sure the belt is tight enough.
2. Start the engine.
3. Take something made of metal, a wrench works fine, & hold 1 end of it just in front of the shiv as the alternator is spinning. If the wrench gets magnetized to the center of the shiv then your alternator should be fine. There may still be a wiring issue downstream of the alternator preventing the battery from getting charged but it's an easy way to check the alternators function.

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Originally Posted by Hockey Guy

I'm not sure you were being "scammed" as I wasn't there like Druff but there is an easy way to check your alternator.

1. Find the alternator & make sure the belt is tight enough.
2. Start the engine.
3. Take something made of metal, a wrench works fine, & hold 1 end of it just in front of the shiv as the alternator is spinning. If the wrench gets magnetized to the center of the shiv then your alternator should be fine. There may still be a wiring issue downstream of the alternator preventing the battery from getting charged but it's an easy way to check the alternators function.

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I wasn't referring to just the alternator as a scam (though that might also be).

The fact that they performed work after he said not to do it, and then demanded payment (plus pressured him to buy the alternator as well) -- that's the scam.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hockey Guy

I'm not sure you were being "scammed" as I wasn't there like Druff but there is an easy way to check your alternator.

1. Find the alternator & make sure the belt is tight enough.
2. Start the engine.
3. Take something made of metal, a wrench works fine, & hold 1 end of it just in front of the shiv as the alternator is spinning. If the wrench gets magnetized to the center of the shiv then your alternator should be fine. There may still be a wiring issue downstream of the alternator preventing the battery from getting charged but it's an easy way to check the alternators function.

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If he knew how to do all of this he wouldn't have brought it to sears/a shop in the 1st place.
I agree with druff he got scammed and they were doing their best to fuck him out of more money.

When I have had used cars, I never went to chain store mechanic,s.. Midas or Sears.. over priced garbage..

U should find a find a good locally owned shop..

My Pontiac g6 gt which was purchased new is out of warranty but I still pay extra to take it to a g.m shop. Runs like new still.looks great..

Today, 07:23 PM
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