AL'S SMALL ENGINES SVC CTR

unknown

Took trimmer and blower to Al's to get repaired on 10/14/13. Received call from business and told that blower was not repairable and I should come pick it up. Picked up blower on 10/26/2013 and charged: 14.00 for labor 6.00 for fuel (the unit holds about a quart of fuel max and it was 1/2 full) = 6.00 for 1/2 qt = $48/gallon. a "service writer" of 15.00 After tax the charge for them to simply look at it and tell me it was un-repairable was 37.45. I took the blower home, i left the trimmer with them to continue to repair. I was then called by business telling me that it was the TRIMMER that was un-repairable and that the blower was fine and that I should bring the blower back so they can continue to repair it. Brought BLOWER back and while they were getting the TRIMMER the employee tried to pull the starter and said that the compression on the trimmer seemed fine. He checked it again and said that it looked alright and that they could indeed repair if after all. Left both the TRIMMER and the BLOWER with them to repair. Called business week of November 25th asking when the equipment would be available. Was told it still had not been worked on but would make it a priority "next week". Reason given was due to lack of help. Received call from business the week of 12/9/2013 stating that equipment was ready. Due to business hours (only open until 5:00 during week and 2pm on Saturdays) and personal schedule, was not able to pick up equipment until 12/28/2013. Picked up equipment and was charged an ADDITIONAL 36.12 for the BLOWER and $75,31 for the TRIMMER. Itemized charges TRIMMER: Materials: 14.38 Labor: 35.00 Fuel (about 1/2 quart): 6.00 = ~$48/gallon "Service Writer": 15.00 Total for TRIMMER w/tax: $75.31 itemized charges BLOWER additional charges for blower: 36.12 Total cost of the repairs: 149.88 Total time for the repairs: 54 days When visiting shop the level of personal attention was ok. Generally people that I dealt with on phone were pleasant. In person the personalities were typical of what one would expect to find in a small engine repair shop. Final impressions: Time to repair: ridiculous Charges: unreasonable (what is a service writer fee? And a fuel charge that breaks down to about $48.00 per gallon??) Personal inconvenience: excessive Service level: poor (I had to call to get a status on the repairs AND the equipment was misdiagnosed as faulty) I will not use Al's again.