EddieWalker said:
Sounds like a good learning lesson for the rest of us. Be sure to get everything in writing regardless of what is being done, or who's doing it.
I've been following this thread since you posted it, hoping for some insight as to what happened, but it just keeps looking like the mechanic got carried away and figured you'd just pay for what he did.
Sometimes it's not who's right in these things, but who acts first. They are out allot of money for parts that they put into your tractor, so I understand why they want payment, but since you didn't authorize them to do those repairs, you shouldn't have to buy something you didn't want. Going legal first on them might be your only advantage in coming out of this.
Have they given you a breakdown in writing of the charges? I think you mentioned 60 hours in labor? That sounds like allot to me, is that reasonable? With such a huge amount in dispute, what concessions are they willing to make? Have they admitted to any wrong doing?
I realize how nice it is to have a local dealer, but at some time you have to realize that it's not worth it when they pull something like this on you. Especially when you might end up losing your tractor over it just to have the oportunity for them to do something like this again. How can you ever trust them?
Eddie
Hi Eddie, I will try my best to answer your questions.
When I first approached the Service manager about my breakdown I explained the symptoms and he told me what he thought was wrong from my description. I asked him if that was the case what would it cost roughly to repair. He said they just did one for nine. I told him I didn't have a lot of money to sink into the tractor so if it wasn't going to be too expensive then I would bring the tractor in. I took the tractor to the shop and they confirmed the throw out bearing died and I was told $900 for what I assumed was just the parts price.
I gave them the go ahead to repair the motor and to inspect the rest of the tractor as they opened it up. If they found anything else that needed attention to call me and tell me the problem as well as the cost for repair. I received one phone call about the pto being worn and it would be $1300. Again I figured this was just part price so I told them to go ahead and fix the pto figuring at most the repair will be double parts so $5k will cover it.
My father and I visited the shop a few times and the first time was just after they tore the tractor apart so as I was talking to my friends and the mechanic who was doing the work on the tractor the service manager came over and we discussed the tractor. This is when he listed the cost break downs for the engine repair and gave me my option as to how we would proceed. This is when I was told $900 again and that is what I agreed to verbally and the service manager agreed with me that was the cheapest route. This was for just a new block, not a short block as that was the other option and that was put in without my approval.
I don't know what happened and why they went with the short block (which is where a lot of the cost came in). I only received one phone call and that was for the pto work. I have no idea why they didn't call me again as they know I didn't want to sink a lot of money on it. If the tractor needed that much more work then they should have called me before ordering any parts so I could have discussed the options. I could have bought a complete engine with the turbo and oil pump from a different supplier for the same as the cost of the short block from NH. So all they would have had to do is pull my engine, fix the pto and put the new engine in. Instead I got soaked with the NH MSRP prices.
I know they have a lot of money in the tractor and this is why I am trying to be fair and negotiate with them to be fair to them as well as myself. But as I said, they do not want to talk unless I have a lot of cash in my hand. I don't know how much they will drop the price but so far I am getting nailed with $200 a month interest charges.
I have a complete breakdown (this is how they bill you) of all parts used and what charges are what. I was given a slight discount already and supposedly I wasn't billed for the actual labor as they said there was more then 60 hours. Depending on who you talk to the 60 hours is excessive or about right. I guess it depends on who is doing the work and how well they are set up. I don't know as I have never did this type of work before. I know they had problems with the PTO parts being sent wrong a couple times so hopefully it wasn't a case of them spending a half day trying to make it fit and billing me for it anyway.
They have refused to accept any wrong doing. When I tell the the store mangager what was said he tells me they would never do a motor for that cost. So right now it is my word against theirs.
If things don't work out the way I think they should then I will either switch dealers or brands. Neil Messick has been great to me and I have no problems ordering tractors and parts from him as I have backups for almost every tractor in case of a breakdown. And I should still be able to buy parts from my local dealer as I doubt they will ban me from their parts department since that is where they make their money. If they did I think it would be funny as I have other options.
I have already decided to never have them do work for me again. It would be stupid for me to trust them again so I would rather concrete my barn and set up my own shop like I want and have my family help me to learn how to do these types of repairs. My uncle is a diesel mechanic and my grandfather knows gas motors inside and out and both would be happy to help me. My grandfather would be in the barn working before I get in there even.
(I wonder why she is my ex
