Dealership Service

[Pete]

I just got a repair bill from a dealership, which in my opinion, I got hosed. I was between a rock and a hard place and resorted in going to a dealership for a head gasket repair on a Subaru. It was 1200 miles from home and we needed to be another 400 miles down the road the next day. I agreed for the dealer to do the service and in return he gave us a 1-year old car as a free loaner. When we left the bill was going to be $6,000 for a rebuilt engine, new radiator, and front brakes – yeah they blew up on the trip too. I figured it was may be $1000 too high but I got a free car for a week. Not a day pasted and I got a phone call that the service tech (I didn’t see this bus coming) made a mistake on the price of the replacement engine, and it would be another grand. Oy. Driving back to the dealer a week later when the car was suppose to be done the price increased to $8K and it would be done for another 10 days. The wife left for home by United and I went on a business trip racking up another 1,000-miles. At the end of the 10-days the car was ready. Well then it came out that the Subaru supplier sent the wrong engine it was new not a rebuilt and that added cost but the dealer was being a nice guy and kept the price to $8K. I called another dealer about the price for a rebuilt engine and they told me they don’t sell re-builts, all engines would be new. Although their engine price was $700 more. I feel I was screwed. I took the car after being able to negotiate another $500 off. I’m debating with myself to call the owner to complain, Subaru, or social media. I think the dealer and Subaru will stick for their guys but social media may yield better results. I think this was a bait and switch. Any thoughts?

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