Beach Mower

When I dropped the mower off at Beach Mower I told them it had no spark and I needed the ignition fixed and to install the drive belt I had already bought from them. I was given an verbal estimate that the ignition repair should be about $40.00. I also informed them that I was going out of town for a while and my Father-in-law would be picking up the lawn mower and gave them his number. With in a few days Beach Mower called and informed my Father-in-law that it was ready. They also said that the transmission was bad and they couldn't get a new one, the manufacture had gone under. They also said the bill was over $130.00. I had arranged for $75.00 being the worst case scenario, that was almost double the verbal estimate. When I was informed of the sudden excessive charges I called and informed them that they would need to hold the lawn mower for the next several months and that they couldn't expect someone else to pay for a charge like that. When I finally got home and went to pick up the lawn mower they were closed because they aren't open on Monday. I went back on Tuesday to discuss the issue and how I felt taken advantage of. When I told the guy behind the counter that the original estimate was $40.00, I asked how it got so high without a phone call first. The reply was "well obviously it needed the work and it didn't run when you brought it in". When I told him you had no authorization to do any work besides replacing the belt and fixing the ignition. He asked me where is the claim ticket with the list of what they were to do? I asked him where is your copy and the reply was ?we throw them away after the repair is done?. When I looked at the itemized charges, there was a charge for parts including the belt I had already purchased from them and brought back. When I asked about why they put a belt onto a bad drive transmission the reply was,"there's nothing wrong with that transmission". I asked then why did you want to replace it. Suddenly there was no recollection of the discussion on the phone with my Father-in-law regarding the drive transmission and how the manufacture had gone under. The final solution, since Beach Mower accepts no credit cards any recourse is difficult. I did not want to risk the possibility of bringing the lawn mower home home to find the repair may not have been performed correctly without the insurance of my credit card behind me. Since the lawn mower was 9 years old and purchased on clearance for well under $300.00 I let Beach mower keep it. It wasn't worth the frustration or time arguing any longer. Besides I still had the charger, starting battery, rear catch bag and side discharge chute. Also it saved me a special trip to the land fill for proper disposal.