Its back....

[Shooter]

I went out to Abra today to get my car back (Noon) they said. So after 2pm I called my insurance girl to let her know. (She asked me to)

They brought it out, cloudy. I had them put the buffer back on it. It came back out later and looked a lot better but they still managed to miss several places.

In the process they decided that I needed the antenna mount replaced so they managed to tear the paint of ot it during the "needed" reinstallation. Though they offered to take it back in there and paint it again. I told them to forget it I just want my car and to get out of here.

They said that they had to straighten the frame, they said thats why my hood was crooked, but based on what they were trying to sell me, I would have had to have been hit from the drivers side and not the passengers side like I was. They were told to put a new one on and they purchased a $300.00 refurb. I pointed that out to them and they said it was the industry standard. To which I told them I don't care if its the world standard - Its wrong. New = New not rebuilt.

As for the front bumper: they managed to get it on straight, forgot to buff it so it was pretty tore up looking, again supposed to be NEW (not different) so thats why they had to rebuff it and still managed to forget places on it. They merely straightened the front drivers side fender (Again: Told to replace with NEW) and yet again managed to forget to buff it... (Back inside to buff)

Lastly, the drilled the holes in the front bumper and bolted the license plate holder to the front of the car. I told them that wasn't part of the deal. It was wrong. They said that they don't know what to do about it - I gave them the simple answer = correct it.

They said they'd need the car for a few more days and to call my insurance people to see if it would be covered or not. To which I replied, "They didn't do it, your guys did."

So now I am running around with the plate holder from what looks like a GT that doesn't fit the curve of the bumper AND I have a plate on the front of my car.

I never thought it would bother me so much... but I feel very strongly (now that I've seen it) that it very much destroys the look and the lines of the car.

In summation: I am really not happy right now.

Thanks for putting up with my frustration,
-Steven

Side note: Anyone know who the other SVT dealers are in the state. I'd like to compare prices to those at American Ford.

[John M]

What Kind of car are we talking about here ?

Also, Are we speaking about the Abra next to American Ford ? I had my hood repaired there and just like you, I wasnt to impressed with the outcome.

[Shooter]

Originally posted by John M
What Kind of car are we talking about here ?

Also, Are we speaking about the Abra next to American Ford ? I had my hood repaired there and just like you, I wasnt to impressed with the outcome.
Yes one and the same.

in fact it was on the recommendation of American Ford that I went there to that Abra.

03 Cobra

[DNeinstadt]

Originally posted by Shooter
Yes one and the same.

in fact it was on the recommendation of American Ford that I went there to that Abra.

03 Cobra

Shooter, do NOT let them tell you what you should have done to your car. You have every right to do what you're doing.

Get Tommy on their ass.. :)

Dan

[Shooter]

I'd like to see what Tommy has to say about this whole event, even though he personally had nothing to do with its occurance.

I would think that he might like to know, if in fact, the outsource their work to this group of people.

So now, I'll add to the mix. They not only did not go with the new parts as they were told (refurb) They in fact installed an '01 bumper on my '03 cobra.

[John M]

Shooter, sounds like your pissed so dont bite my head off after my post. Tommy nor American Ford can not do anything for you. Abra is not owned in no way shape or form by American Ford. Your best bet is too call Abras corperate headquarters and explain your dissatisfaction with the Bloomington Location. As far as them using refurbished parts, you better check your insurance estimate. Alot of companies force these dealers to use used parts. Its not the body shop the insurance will only pay for the price of refurbished parts and not cost of brand new. My insurance will allow new parts only if the vehicle is not 2 model years old. As far as using the wrong year bumper, how did nobody notice that ? They are very different :confused: The postive part to this is you will get another bumper and tell them to make sure and not put the license plate bracket on.

[Cobrizo]

Shooter, all I can say is keep on them! You are the customer here, customer satisfaction is #1, remind them of that! John is right, call their corporate HQ. Man, I can't tell you how PO'd I'd be! I'm mad just reading this!! :50cal:

Pam

[Shooter]

John, I understand that its no Am. Ford & I don't hold them responsible in any way shape or form.

What American Ford did was recoomend this specific Abra shop. What I want American Ford to know is what this shop did to my car. Thats all, just want them to see how trashed it is. Perhaps they will outsource to someone else.... or not. But at a minimum I feel they deserve to know.

Yes, Abra, I will definately be down there come Monday morning. I understand that this is their mistake and no one else's.

As for my Insurance company. Heres the way it breaks down (no pun) the other guys agent is on vacation. so my agent called his company and they told my agency to foot the bill and that they would reimburs my comany. In fact, his comany sent me a check for $1000.00 to cover my deductable. My shop said for me to put it in the shop and that I'd be getting new parts since my shop is paying for it.

When I had Abra look it over they were talking refurbished parts. I called my agent. She said "No, I told them new" after which she said she'd call me back because she was going to talk to them... She called back and told me that now they understand that I was to get absolutely new parts.

I picked up the car and the parts were refurbs. I called my agent, she said send me a fax of what they gave you. I told her about the bumper later in a V/M message.

Tonight I also noticed that they put the side embles on backwards so my cobras are facing the rear instead of the front. Seems they don't know the difference between right and left.

I also noticed that most of my chrome cap lugs are missing and were replaced with standard nuts.

It gets better everytimg I look at it.

And to you Pam, Trust me on this one... it was all I could do to stop myself from chocking these guys.

They were making up stories about why they think my car needed to go on the rack - they said it was off by a few degrees because of the impact.... I can buy that for the most part.... until I pointed out them that the car was impacted from the front by a car moving from the passenger side towards the drivers side. I told the Abra manager that cars don't "Lean" towards the impact generally. They have a tendancy to lean "away" from the impact.

To say the least, Yes, I am really not happy about this whole situation. But I do believe that it will be taken care of in a timely and efficient manner come Monday.

Recap: John, I really do understand that American Ford had nothing to do with this other than their recommendation. No annomosity <--sp? towards them in the least.

Y'all drive safe out there, :)

-Steven

[Cobrizo]

Shooter, you're taking this very well, way better than I would or could! This kind of incompetence drives me nuts! The mental stress.....I'd be chewing somebodys head off! Thats why I run cuz chewing peoples heads isn't good for the health. Good luck! And definitely let American Ford know, it sure doesn't look good for them to be recommending this kind of work.
Good luck!

[Shooter]

I'd just like them to get as good a laugh out of this as I have. Yes it's frustrating to say the least. But, as you stated, chewing someones head off isn't the answer to getting it resolved.

I'll keep your words in my head when I talk to them... IF I get hot I'll just think to myself... What would Pam do? :)

We all have good and bad in life... if everything were the same it wouldn't be much of a life.

-Steven

[Shooter]

Well, as I suspected would happen, Tommy noticed the side emblems were on backwards.

I found him to be very professional with re: My car. (He didn't laugh) :) So after a short, concise, and "to-the-point" meeting, I went back over to Abra to explain the situation.

The outcome of that was that they wanted to find out who's fault it was that they put the wrong bumper on my car... :confused:

I explained many of the differences between the '01 & the '03 to the manager.

So the new list is:
Get the right one ordered, painted and on.
Get the front Cobra "Straightened" (Upright).
Lose the "Orange peel".
Lose swirls in bumper, hood and fenders.
Give back my lug nuts (put them on the car).
Repaint my Ant. mast.

They will call me first thing in the morning here (Tuesday) and I'll try to have my car back from them Thrusday night.

Here we go again, round #2 (Ding-Ding)

Nice to meet you Tommy :rock:

p.s. I didn't even have to raise my voice w/ Abra :)


-Steven

[SSHFTY1]

that's a first..

[Cobrizo]

Glad to hear it Steven, but............I still say, there's so excuse for what happened in the first place. The stress of having your car whacked compounded by the body shop 'trying' to fix it. :mad: :mad2:

Again, good luck!
Pam

[Shooter]

The current word is that it will be back to normal Thursday. I hope so.

Here ends the rant. :)

-Steven

[John M]

Shooter, Shame on you I heard a different story today and you are part to blame on this entire situation. Im not saying they didnt make mistakes but some were partly caused by stuff you did.

http://www.gmvsford.com/forums/images/smilies/nono.gif


BTW- My truck goes will be going in soon to have the hood repainted because its got a cloudy look to it.

[silversnake]

John,

Is that cloudy look from driving through tire smoke???

J/K

Dave

[Shooter]

Originally posted by John M
Shooter, Shame on you I heard a different story today and you are part to blame on this entire situation. Im not saying they didnt make mistakes but some were partly caused by stuff you did.

http://www.gmvsford.com/forums/images/smilies/nono.gif


BTW- My truck goes will be going in soon to have the hood repainted because its got a cloudy look to it.

Feel free to elucidate if you will...

I await your reply :)

edit: ok, I thought about it... rebooted my pc too just make sure I thought long enough.

If you care to share something with me about this incident that I am unaware of then do so.

If you care to share how I managed to put the wrong parts on my car then feel free...

If you happen to know how I managed to lose about 6 lugs during the week that my car was in thier shop then by all means, do tell.

If you suspect that I asked them to remove and install my antenna mount for some reason speak up.

Perhaps I'm took the side emblems off and switched them so that the bumper was wrong by 2 years....

or could you be so silly as to think that I managed to intercept the datastream between my insurance agency and the shop and I'm the one that added the $280.00 fee for a condensor that wasn't changed.

perhaps I'm missing something here. feel free to chime in at any time.