The radiator in my truck was on it’s last leg, so I decided to have it replaced before it left me stranded. I like FireStone. They aren’t cheap, and they like to charge me for useless stuff, but, I know what to expect, I know that they’ll work around my hours, and I know that their work will be, usually, be warrantied. They quoted me $325 for parts and labor on the replacement. Not terrible.
Another place in Valley Ranch (where I get my oil changed) quoted me $275. That’s better but, it’s too difficult for me to arrange a ride to and from Valley Ranch on a work day, and, on a weekend, that’s 4 hours of driving that I’d rather not spend (1 hour each way, give or take).
So I went to Jesse’s auto service in Little Elm on recommendation from a local lube and tune place. I was excited to support a local business that wasn’t a chain. They are only open on weekends for a few hours Saturday morning. I made it just in time. I spoke with Jesse himself. He told me that if I brought it in Monday morning at 8am, he’d have it finished that day. It told me there’d be an hour of labor ($75) plus the cost of antifreeze and the part. He was short on time since it was Saturday but told me that if I called AutoZone (a parts retailer) and got their price on the item, his would be pretty close to that. AutoZone quoted me $160 with a Lifetime Warranty.
Jess talked to her boss to come in late Monday morning. I talked to my boss to come in late on Monday. At 8am, we were at Jesse’s. At 8:15, the place opened. The guy inside told me that Jesse’s aunt died and he had to make an emergency trip to MO. I asked him if it would be better if I brought it some other time. The guy said that he usually does most of the work anyway, so it wouldn’t be a big deal. I left it with him. He said he’d call me later.
At 1pm, I called him. He said they were still working on it. At 4:30 I called him. He said it was done and that the part cost $210. A $50 difference! I told him I’d like to pick it up that afternoon, he said that would be fine but that they closed at 5pm. I asked him if I could pay over the phone and get him to leave the key under the mat since I couldn’t make it there that soon. He said that he had no way of taking a payment over the phone. So, I ended up having to be late again the next day in order to pick it up. In the end, I ended up paying $300.
The moral of the story is, money isn’t everything. Next time, I’ll go to FireStone, pay the $25 extra, and be treated with the customer service that I deserve.
