09/08/2015

I originally had my Honda civic worked on by Jose, the owner. It was inexpensive and everything seemed satisfactory. I decided to have more services done to a van I own and also my motorcycle. I can get into specifics, but that would open a potential defense dialogue. Instead I will leave the text message conversation exactly as was said, with typos and all. In order to understand just the tail end of this transaction I will say that I took my motorcycle in because it was in very bad shape and I wanted it to be safe and work correctly. I came in and mentioned the issues I had and said I'm sure there is something wrong with my clutch. If you expect to make inputs, or question, you probably wont go far. His rebuttal will be him mentioning his non-school, but 20 or so year experience, and your need to trust his judgment. If you question his work and call him out on anything, you will probably get yelled at, cursed out, and kicked out of his store like I was along with my friend. She had said nothing while Jose and I were talking. I'm not going to give details, but I'm sure it was much worse than what you might imagine a business owner's actions would be. I managed to calm him on the account that I had invested money already and wanted the job to be completed. Also, he reminded me of myself when I was younger. I was a hothead who knew enough about something to think that I knew it all, coupled with a vicious defensive pride (though I am now in my 30's and he-his 40's).
When I showed up to his shop the day he lost control, it was because he said in short he is tired of working on my vehicles, he will tow them anywhere I want free as a courtesy.
I was not happy with the work (whether I "should be" or not is regardless)...and I knew it would eventually cost more as mechanics don't usually take the word of another. They are expected for the most part to do do their own diagnostics.
A part was needed, I purchased it, he installed it. The motorcycle was slipping very badly when I brought it home and this was the text conversation after I payed and gave him a $20.00 tip to smooth out the ruffles:
08/04/2015 Tue
3:25pm Jose: Bike needs clutch & springs.
3:26pm Me: It wasn't doing that before. Why now?
3:28pm Jose: I can't say how it got that way but remember I mentioned the clutchs were low and the plates had scaring from abuse.
3:29pm Me: You said the clutch didnt need replacing
3:30pm Jose: You showed me the pads and they werent low
3:31pm Jose: They had meat on them but not so much.
3:34pm Me: Can you make my bike not slip the way it was before it was taken apart.
3:35pm Jose: No
3:36pm Jose: Not without putting clutchs in it
3:36 Me: The clutches that were working just fine..
3:36 Jose: Ok jose (my name is Jose also)Your bike, the death trap that had ZERO maintenance when it came here and is now running properly and functional. I cannot be responsible for for EVERYTHING that fails just because it's in my hands when it fails. You need clutchs, I didn't make them fail. Please pick up your bike before 6pm or I will have a tow company pick it up as abandoned (note the time he sent the message)
3:40pm Me: I cant pick ot up today, I am out of town and I was giving you time without bothering you like ypu asked...I can come pick it up tomorrow or a better time as long as it is ridable.
3:43pm Me: Are you willing to wait for tomorrow
After that there was no response: I called 10 minutes later with no response
I showed up the next day, the motorcycle was still there, he was not. One of his mechanics said that they never opened the motorcycle. It looks that way to me also.
I'm not going to argue whether I got a "deal" or not because it's possible. It was not worth it to me. The amount is the main reason why I decided not to file a small claims suit. That and he is also a family man.
Jose, one day, put some creative juices into thinking about why they really call it losing control.
Good luck~

Jose C.

Source: YELP