Okay so this is the story...
I go to college with student loans, work full time, I have a girlfriend, car payment, insurance payment and a phone payment. I'm a car enthusiast and love everything about it. This is my problem. I have gone to JMS here in San Antonio, TX for my exhaust install, test pipe, tune, etc.. I have shown my respect to this shop and do everything on there time. I have had no problems with anyone there and love the work they have done on my car and many other cars. I was going to get re-tuned at JMS on e85 and 93 on the cobb ap. I was told 150/hr and that it would take 3 hours so total would be $450. After I tell them someone else is gonna install my downpipe and fuel pump they say that they cant give me "the discount price of the tune since im not getting my parts installed there." They never told me this before hand and I did not even tell them I wanted them to install my parts, I just asked for a quote and told them a few days later someone else would do it for cheaper. So now they're trying to tell me it will be a $450 plus an initial $150/hr for the additional maps which I think is very unreasonable. I feel threatened for what has happened and don't even know what to do at this point. Advice would be great thank you.

 

ask them how much it would cost to install your parts at their shop. Maybe they can work with you on that price... and if they can't, maybe they'll help out on the other price, and see where you're coming from. If you can get it cheaper somewhere else, they should make an attempt to match it... They shouldn't punish you for going to another business. That's a good way to lose a customer.

 

I did ask them how much to install my downpipe, fuel pump and tune all the same day and they gave me a high price for the install of downpipe and fuel pump so I started asking other places and found one for a lot cheaper. I would have thought they would want to work with my if im getting retuned and trying to get more parts installed but exactly.. I feel like im getting punished and treated unfairly.

 

Yea we have couple shops here that do the same *hit

 

just level with them and talk to them. Say you'd rather go with them but they're forcing you out... Now they're overcharging you for the tune and maps, and not working with you, and it's just not going to be worth it to keep doing business with them if they don't try and work it out. Don't get all dramatic about it with them, but just lay it out and let them make it right. If they're cool, they'll at least try and work it out. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but at least you'll both be satisfied and not pissed off. There are plenty of shops that do this stuff. They should want to work it out.

 

I think its ridiculous to be honest. No shop should be like that.

 

Yeah I was gonna try that and see what happens.

 

He currently is on a Opensource tune but was going to switch over to a Cobb . From the different software use there is an applicable $450 initial tune but that fee was going to be waived because he did tell us he was going to bring it in for the parts install . Also the pricing on the installs were very fair and charging an hourly rate , for example 3 hours for the downpipe/O2 housing which is very fair .

 

What's the hourly labor fee? There really shouldn't be that much difference.. unless if it's like over 100 hourly.. ask them for price match and let them install/ tune together. I think it's the best way to work this out for both.

 

It is $90

 

I wouldn't even go back...

 

I don't think the shop is being unfair and if they were going to charge you 3 hrs to install a full O2 Downpipe at 90.00, that's extremely fair. The other shop might not know what they are in for. I installed my Downpipe myself and it's a pain. A shop can charge what they want the same way you can go somewhere else.

 

I'm confused (it's ok, this happens quite a bit) are you the shop in question?

 

Don't go back, simple and plain. That's bull**** reasoning.

 

This is good advice. I emphasized a couple of parts and added the blue. No shop is perfect but the best ones want the relationship and will talk to you honestly. You need to trust them too, and work to understand their policies and structure. Trust me, it's not necessarily better if they just capitulate and give you a discount. As nice as a little cost break is, it's better to have a solid relationship with a good shop. It's better to talk about it, work it out and make sure you and the shop feel good about the solution.

I know it sounds like therapy and maybe a lot of hoohaa, but these cars seem to be pretty long term investments wherein, as things go wrong you will need a good shop's best thinking to sort out issues. You really want a good working relationship.