knuckleball
Florida Bear
Posts:421
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| 05 Sep 2008 11:50 AM |
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Experts at one thing... Ripping you off. Talk about a business that takes advantage of the elderly who are victims of car crashes! To tow your car the whole 5 miles or so to their shop, they will charge you over $150. Then, they try and convince you to sign over the title if the car is totalled. Many gullible people are confused after a car crash and aren't sure who to turn to or who to trust. Expert Auto Body is not a business worthy of your trust.
They recently charged an elderly person I know $160 ON TOP of taking the steel car, worth at least $400 in scrap metal alone. Basically to drag the car away from the scene of the crash, they made an easy profit of over $500. That is just plain wrong to take advantage of the elderly who are already confused enough about the stressful situation of a car crash.
I can't say anything about their auto body side of business, but the lack of ethics and underhandedness I saw dispayed from their towing service leads me to believe it's probably just as crooked.
There are plenty of places in town that do body work and tow that are tons more reasonable than these outright crooks. Avoid at all costs! |
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LeeMedic
Administrator
Posts:5828
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| 05 Sep 2008 12:08 PM |
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WOW, thanks for the information! |
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| Happy Holidays to Everyone! |
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Dexter
Florida Panther
Posts:848
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| 05 Sep 2008 12:13 PM |
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That is really surprising. I have had very good experiences with them and Doc's collision also. |
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"Beauty Fades Dumb is Forever"-Judge Judy
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knuckleball
Florida Bear
Posts:421
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| 05 Sep 2008 12:18 PM |
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I hear they do quality work on bodies, but I just can't stomach this action. Maybe it was a slip-up or a one time thing? I just had to tell everyone. Sorry LeeMedic, I couldn't think of anything positive to say quite yet... Haha |
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ChasingDreams
Florida Bear
Posts:160
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| 05 Sep 2008 12:44 PM |
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That's sad that they try to pull that from crash victims....like they don't have enough trouble?  |
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| From Me ;-)
"From now on you'll be traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be. The key is to allow yourself to make that journey" |
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Seeker
Moderator
Florida Panther
Posts:3475
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| 05 Sep 2008 03:55 PM |
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These guys are good...
J & W Towing
1154 S Loop Blvd
Lehigh Acres, FL 33936
(239) 369-9652
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| ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
SAY THANK YOU TO OUR TROOPS! http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1024.html |
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wysiwyg
Moderator
Florida Panther
Posts:1715
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| 05 Sep 2008 11:11 PM |
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I've only heard 'rip-off' stories about 'Expert' as well from my mother who used to work in the same building as them many years ago ... As a matter of fact, she knows his brother who owns a competitive business across Lee Blvd. and he says pretty much the same thing. |
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Linred
Florida Bobcat
Posts:85
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| 06 Sep 2008 09:16 AM |
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I guess it must depend on the day. I have had 2 positive experiences with Expert Auto Body, though they both were several years ago. On the first one, I had a lease car that I was getting ready to turn/trade in. I had a slight crease and paint scrape over the back wheel well, where someone hit me in a parking lot and left. I didn't want to get penalized on the trade in, so I first went to Doc's because I had heard so many good things about them. I explained that I only wanted it "fixed" enough to pass on the inspection. They quoted me $400. No way! So I drove right over to Expert and asked the same thing. The guy came out and looked at it and said. "oh that's nothing, a little sand paper, primer and touch up paint." It cost me $15, one day and they gave me the rest of the touch up paint for a few little other spots I could do myself. On the second one, it all started with a dead battery(needed a new one for awhile). I got it jumped and drove straight to Auto Zone, where they proceeded to put in a new battery for me. Well, after that, my car would not start, so we're thinking it's more than the battery. I had AAA, and Expert is a AAA tower. so I called them. I asked the guy who came if he knew a mechanic to recommend-it was a Sunday. He said- "I can take it to our yard and our guy can look at it first thing in the morning." Well, at 8:00 the next morning, I got a call from the woman in the office who said I could pick up my car. The guy has looked at it, and all it was was some kind of security thing, I didn't even know I had that had to be re-set after putting in the new battery. NO charge for any of it! |
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knuckleball
Florida Bear
Posts:421
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| 06 Sep 2008 01:13 PM |
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To be honest, I know someone who had a good experience there, which is why I suggested the place. I am now trying to atone for my mistake by telling everyone about the bad experience this lady had. My guess is a few years ago when the economy was better, they were nicer people. Now, they are turning to shady means to stay in the black. Just my guess. |
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wysiwyg
Moderator
Florida Panther
Posts:1715
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| 07 Sep 2008 12:01 AM |
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linred, thanks so much for posting a 'balanced' reply ... I am very glad to hear of your positive experiences  |
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Jujube
Florida Bear
Posts:433
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| 08 Sep 2008 07:27 AM |
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I haven’t a clue on Expert Auto Body; however did you compare their towing rates with the area’s competition? How do they compare? Most people have AAA or towing with their auto insurance to avoid the cost of towing. (Which BTW, the towing companies lose money on AAA calls unless service is performed on vehicle.) Did the couple feel pressured to make a decision, by whom? Did they involve their insurance agent before signing the title away? Was this the actions of an individual or the shop overall? Moreover, what specifically do you feel was shady?
Yeah I know too many questions. Times are tough; most tow-truck drivers are on call 24/7 and their pay is on a per call basis and nothing else. Everyone has their hand out, trying to get what the other has. That financial planner, do they really have your best interest in mind or is the product they are selling offering a better commission. How about your insurance agent, hairdresser, and the local coffee shop aren’t they just making a sale and its buyer bewares?
My guys a mechanic and from the stories and his experiences in this economy its no wonder people’s ethics are in check and people are hostile. He is an ethical mechanic. If a customer does not require a service, he is upfront and says so for he has empathy for the customer and knows a repeat customer is more valuable then one preyed upon. He makes sure everyone on his team has work unlike other team leaders that take all the work while letting their team members watch them work. Yet, I can see how the others are for those in that industry are not compensated on a per hour basis or salary but by the car, they work on. Last month my guy “worked” 50 to 60 hour weeks per week (oh, and there are no lunch breaks or a/c). He was compensated for 32 hours worked…that is the entire month. Over 200 hours on the jobsite and his check is for 32 hours for August. Oh and September is just peachy keen too, he has eight hours for this week but he as “worked” 50. The house next to me is foreclosed the family were construction workers. My neighbor across the way, a mechanic had his home foreclosed last week. Heck, when I drive in my hood I see more foreclosed houses than homes it seems like. There is one house with weeds as high as the rooftop. These were people just like you and me not speculators. People that have been my neighbors for an average of 10 years, now gone. Sure, I’m ranting on your thread, but sometimes, you must step back and look at the big picture.
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