Steve Macaulay wrote:
>
> Early last September my local VW / Subaru dealer serviced my wife's Subaru
> Legacy wagon.  They were doing a 60k service tune-up and were also going to
> replace the CV boots because one of them was visibly cracked and leaking
> some grease.  No big deal.  My wife dropped off the car and I was not
> involved at this point.  Next thing I know the service rep is calling my
> wife telling her that they recommend that she also have both front axles
> replaced since the boots were cracked and that may have caused some damage.
> She had them call me, and at that time I really didn't know much about this
> issue (the rep probably figured this out by my questions) so I said go ahead
> and do it, mainly because they said that most of the labor would be covered
> by the fact that the boots were being replaced and it would be a big labor
> bill if I waited until I really needed this done.  This car only had 58k
> miles on it and was never in a wreck.  When my wife picked up the car later,
> we were shocked to find out that the two front replacement axles added $690
> in parts to the bill.  I also found out the the parts that had been replaced
> that I had asked them to save couldn't be found and "must have been
> accidently thrown away - sorry about that".
>
> After subscribing to this list, I now know a lot more about CV boots and I
> don't really remember any posts talking about a need to replace the front
> axles also.
> Was I ripped off?
>
YES, of course you were. I hope you paid by credit card.
If so, REFUSE TO PAY the bill, based on the fact that your removed parts
were not returned. Check on your state's law regerding this. In New
York, they MUST give you the removed parts if you asked for them. If
they threw them out, they must give you NEW PARTS.
Next time ask for a WRITTEN ESTIMATE and make sure 'return any removed
parts' is written on the work order.