Repair/Service: remove O2 sensors and install them onto car

Hourly Rate: $104.95

Total Cost: $104.95

I needed a shop to assist me in removing 2 Oxygen sensors from 2 separate exhaust pipes. These pipes and sensors were already taken off the car by me. I needed a shop that had the proper tools to get around the wires that prevented any of my tools to get around. I also needed them to install them onto the new exhaust pipes that i had installed onto my car. I arrive at Midas, and explain my situation to a technician, and he offered to do the easy task just for free. He then realized that he would need to heat the pipes up to remove bolts and asked me what I thought was a fair price. Being ignorant to the costs of the gas that is used to heat up the pipes, I said that $40 would be fair. Hesitantly, the technician and another manager said that an hourly rate is wanted, $104.95. Furthermore, they said they would install it on for me too. I thought this was ridiculous, but after one of the managers reassured the end results by saying "at least you'll have them in on your car, and not worry about it" I agreed. after 45 minutes, I am told to come out by another manager, and he tells me that the sensors were on the pipes real good, and the threading of the sensors were completely destroyed. Me trying to be reasonable with the situation, I simply told him that I'm not going to pay for anything, but the manager told me that i have to. Not only did Midas, not install anything on my car, but they Broke two Oxygen sensors that cost $60 dollars a piece, according to the technician. Furthermore, they charged me $104.95 for 45 minutes work that ruined my sensors. And I also must claim that the managers, nor the technician, EVER warned me that there were risks involved. I called the President of the 3 locations, and he had the managers call me back and offer free installation of the new sensors that I was to buy with my own money. This is a 10 minute install.
I deserve not only to be compensated for new Downstream oxygen sensors from the Hyundai Manufacturer, but I ALSO deserve my $104.95 back. This business had failed to warn me of any potential risks like the current result.
Horrible business. The thing that kills me the most is that the President Russ Rotruck, would not even own up to his company's mistakes.

by Jungho Hwang on October 4, 2012