Thread: Tired of getting ripped off - NEED Melbourne Landy Mech recommendations

Maybe you should have got a quote to fit those items beforehand, since you already knew they were expensive and take longer to complete.

Anyway, I now have ample written evidence of having given the shop ample opportunity admit that they made a "billing mistake", and I will endeavour to recover their excessive costs legally, which given my profession will be easy for me, and brutally expensive for them!

Hate that thought process. Everyone's gotta lose hey? Take it to consumer affairs if you must.

I could only think its on the sth east of town . Sorry to hear of your woes and i hope you find some one better ,
My self im a spanner DYI If you need advice 0r help feel free to pm

Originally Posted by skc

I moved to Melbourne recently and started using a very well known and I thought well respected Landy specialist to do some upgrade and repair work to my new MY15 90.

I had them firstly fit a spare wheel carrier, which I had the "pleasure" of being charged $600 for the labour only. After enquiry I was told that it was a 4 hour job and that their labour rate is $154/hr....... I decided to suck it up, despite my mechanic in Sydney only needing 2 hours to do the same job with the same carrier on my other 90 which lives in Sydney.

Took the new 90 away for a few days in the Vic alps and the traction control played up, the new rear spare carrier started rattling badly, and an existing slight rear ATB diff whine continued. To get home ok, I pulled the ABS fuse and left it on the dash. Against my better judgment, I took the 90 back to the same shop to have them look at the TC, diff and adjust the rear wheel carrier. Whilst there, I decided to have them fit some front checker plate wing guards, an APT steering guard and tie rod, and some Mulgo side steps.

When I went to pick the car up, despite the clear outline from me when dropping it off, I was told that the issue with the TC was that the fuse had been removed from the car........... I then explained the problem AGAIN and left the car with them.

On collecting the car a few days later, I was advised that the diff had a bearing issue and that all associated costs for the repair work had been covered by the original supplier/installer under warranty. I was then presented with a bill for just ever so slightly under $1000 for the labour ONLY involved in fitting the following;

2 x front checker plate guard wings
1 x APT from steering guard
2 x Mulgo side steps
1 x APT steering link and a wheel alignment

According to other mechanics, this work could NOT have taken over 3 hours to complete. When I challenged the shop, I was told that they actually took 7.5 hours and that they had decided to only charge me for 6.5 hours work. To make matters worse, when I got home and had a look under the car, the diff was leaking oil from the front seal............ Seriously, WTF!

Anyway, I now have ample written evidence of having given the shop ample opportunity admit that they made a "billing mistake", and I will endeavour to recover their excessive costs legally, which given my profession will be easy for me, and brutally expensive for them!

Question is though; where should I actually be taking my 90 to get decent quality specialist support in Melbourne, without getting screwed over??

For a bill like that, you will have to go through Moderation - not that expensive for either party.

At $1000 for 6.5 hours work, I'd expect all the mechanics to be wearing dinner suits while working on your car, and the cutlery in the tea room to be gold plated.

Now, back to the original question - what side of town do you live on so I can make some recommendations for good mechanics.

Originally Posted by defender_i_hardly_know_er

Maybe you should have got a quote to fit those items beforehand, since you already knew they were expensive and take longer to complete.

Hate that thought process. Everyone's gotta lose hey? Take it to consumer affairs if you must.

I did think about getting a quote, but given I had EXACTLY the same components fitted to my other 90, an for such very simple work I really didn't think it would be an issue. If the bill from these guys was the same or up to +20%, I'd really have no issues, even though I think the hourly rate is high. When the proposed time taken is absolute nonsense though, I do have a problem.

I am not going to bother with consumer affairs. As far as I am concerned these guys have endeavoured to use their profession to exploit me. On that basis, I would only be returning the favour.

Originally Posted by bacicat

For a bill like that, you will have to go through Moderation - not that expensive for either party.

At $1000 for 6.5 hours work, I'd expect all the mechanics to be wearing dinner suits while working on your car, and the cutlery in the tea room to be gold plated.

Now, back to the original question - what side of town do you live on so I can make some recommendations for good mechanics.

Not enquiring about the hourly rate in advance is my mistake, and one which I am happy to live with. Suggesting it took 11.5 hours (4 for the carrier and 7.5 for the rest) to complete what other shops have since quoted could be done in 5 hours (2 for the carrier and 3 for the balance of item fitted) is what I have an issue with in the first issue.

The second issue is even though I have been clearly overcharged in time, and the hourly rate is high, the quality of the workmanship is rubbish! The carrier lasted four days before needing to be adjusted. The very same carrier on my other 90 has not required any adjustment in over 70,000km of touring and is perfect and carries a heavier wheel / tyre combo. The other 90 also has ATB diffs fitted, which again haven't leaked in 50,000km............

I am living in the CBD and happy to travel a bit if needed to get quality work done.

I had the same sort of problem in Adelaide.
I'm taking the matter to the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs, I believe I 'WILL' get $2,500 back.

Good luck to you but seek recompense.

Cheers

Mike

Originally Posted by skc

Not enquiring about the hourly rate in advance is my mistake, and one which I am happy to live with. Suggesting it took 11.5 hours (4 for the carrier and 7.5 for the rest) to complete what other shops have since quoted could be done in 5 hours (2 for the carrier and 3 for the balance of item fitted) is what I have an issue with in the first issue.

The second issue is even though I have been clearly overcharged in time, and the hourly rate is high, the quality of the workmanship is rubbish! The carrier lasted four days before needing to be adjusted. The very same carrier on my other 90 has not required any adjustment in over 70,000km of touring and is perfect and carries a heavier wheel / tyre combo. The other 90 also has ATB diffs fitted, which again haven't leaked in 50,000km............

I am living in the CBD and happy to travel a bit if needed to get quality work done.

Have you tried Ritters ? Every thing I hear about them is good and they have been very helpful when I have purchased parts new and second hand from them. Fred Smith also gets a great rap but was very busy last time I was there and I doubt anything has changed.

Fred Smith in Bayswater is your man, professional, well priced.
He rebuilt a gearbox for me, and really knows his stuff.
I would be hesitant to mention lawsuits on other mechanics to him.
Worth the wait.
Good Luck