Miami Shop Ripoff! (Took the Cash and Didn't Do the WORK!) | Toyota Tundra 5.7

As a Libertarian, I’m 👀💀 over the bumper sticker comments😮 Edit: Re: I'm not part of the Libertarian Party, political parties piss me off too much to be involved with one. Libertarians tend to embrace individual responsibility, oppose government bureaucracy and taxes, promote private charity, tolerate diverse lifestyles, support the free market, and defend civil liberties- Google

I managed a shop and a customer brought his 5 series BMW on a tow truck. He had a complete brake service performed by a nearby independent import repair shop. Their technician bypassed the brake wear sensors and installed aftermarket Chinese parts. Owners brakes locked on the highway causing all four wheels/brakes to lock (ABS activated). I was helping manage the shop as I retired as a criminal investigator. I grabbed my camera and took “crime scene” photos of all the damaged rotors, calipers and pads. The vehicle owner returned to the first repair shop to request a reimbursement, the owner declined and called us. We showed him the substandard work performed, the brake rotors were purplish red, it was obvious they overheated. The photographs I took and the parts that were tagged/identified. The owner threatened to file a claim in small claims court with the evidence we presented. The customer was reimbursed with a cashiers check. To this day, I take photos of every job and file them for future reference. We allow the customer to view all of the old/damaged parts. Just like there’s bad shops, there are bad customers!

Now you know where and why those customers come in and say "I want the old parts back after you are done" so they can at least see that parts were actually replaced.

Several years back , a local chain automotive shop had a special on brakes. I brought my car in and told them to do both axles. They called me about an hour later and said my rear brakes are fine and do not need work. They could have done them and charged me, and I would never have known. That is the kind of repair shop I like. I still use them because of their honesty.

If a shop charges you actual money for a job and doesn’t actually fix the problem, you are entitled to your money back. Never, EVER let it slide even if you have to take them to court. You can make them pay your legal fees, too. NEVER let it slide.

Another rip off shop at work in Miami.... Glad you are fixing it the right way Ray!

This is why it helps to know your mechanic. Hopefully this will reduce the chance of fraudulent activity. Ray is a rare breed, even honest enough to show his little mistakes. Keep up the fantastic work Ray. ❤

And this is one of the main reasons why I do all my own work on my vehicle's other than tires and alignment. 30+ years of doing so. Great job, Ray!!

Ray: "Look at all that rust on that unit". Me: * Cries in michigan *

Nowadays, it’s a good idea to record as soon as you start the car up so customers can’t say that light wasn’t on when you got my car and it happens more than you think.

I had a shop here in Hampton VA that I really trusted, which had done good work for me. I asked them to replace the camshaft seals on my Toyota Sienna (with the 1MZ-FE engine). I usually do my own work, but I had just had surgery. I paid, got the car back home (1.5 miles from that shop) and when I pulled into the driveway it was leaking worse than before. Thiking it might be something else, I checked it out. Not only did they not replace the valve cover gasket, they didn't do anything but cram some silver-looking stuff into the space where the seal was. It looked like Never-Seize! With my wife helping me, I did the work in about an hour. I took my thousands of dollars of business elsewhere, and told everyone I knew about it.

From Australia: Yes I noticed. "Spanner" and "Bonnet" in one video. Well Done! There's hope for you yet.

At least we all know that Ray is as honest as the day is bright, unlike the previous shop

I never ever try to save money on a brake job! Use the best quality parts for your vehicle. They will last longer and will stop you when you press the brake pedal.

"You'd think it was 120 degrees in here. Can't be more than 114"

Ray: Remember your health and safety is the most important thing to all of your viewers.

I have been charged for work that wasn't done a lot here in Toronto. My first car repair ever was springs/struts on an Accord. They needed it badly. They returned the car to me with the original parts untouched. No witness marks or anything, they didn't even touch the car. Then on my (used) 1994 4runner, at a big dealership, I paid for spark plugs, brake flush, engine oil, coolant, 2x diff oil, transfer case oil, repack front wheel bearings, and transmission flush with filter change. And grease the chassis. What I got was engine oil and spark plugs, but all the plug wire retaining clips were destroyed. No grease, Old brake fluid throughout the system, they didn't even change the reservoir fluid for show. No witness marks on the drain plugs or bolts for the transmission pan. When I dumped the fluids myself, they were all dark/exhausted and not new or even refreshed by dilution. The list goes on, but now I just do things for myself since I end up paying once and then doing it myself anyway. Anyone know a good mechanic (toyota) in the Toronto area? I would really rather let someone else do certain things these days.

I had a local shop replace the front brakes on my 2011 4x4 Colorado. After a few weeks, the brakes would grab hard when nearing a stop. I had them checked & was told they were fine but a rear brake adjustment was made. Some weeks/months later I could feel the front rotors had warped. I returned to the shop & they warranted the repair and changed out with a different brand. All has been good ever since. The shop owner did admit he had been having issues with a particular supplier.

I also bet this customer is not telling you the whole story. The shop probably told them it needs more work but they didn't want to pay for it. I had been in the car business my whole life I'm 62 years old now. These customers are beautiful sometimes

A saltwater heat conversion system would allow you to have a cool shop in the morning and if your big doors are closed enough the whole garage would be cool all day.