Mid State Equipment

Review: On 6/16/14 I had called Mid-State equipment for information on the repair of a tractor model #GX-75 that was given to me when I purchased my home. The problem with the machine is that the blade belt broke when I used it the first time. Went to Mid State Equipment and purchased a new one and put it on myself, the belt broke again. I called them asking them if I can drop it off and to get an idea on price. The rep told me that a belt is usually a 30 minute job and they charge labor at $75/hr. Going off of that information I assumed It would cost me around $50-60. I had told her my fiancé would be dropping off the tractor that morning and to not discuss details with her due to the fact that she doesn't know anything about motors etc. I had also requested a call before any work is done so that I may approve the repairs and the cost. They told me it would take roughly a week for them to get a chance to look at which I was totally fine with. My fiancé drops off the machine, and they ask her all sorts of questions, since I was working that day I didn't find this out until that evening when I got home from work. I called Mid State back on 6/17/14 in the AM to clarify everything. That they were to call me first and what they were to inspect. The rep (same rep from the day before) said "I'm sorry for that, we usually talk to 50+ people per day. We were trying to be accurate with the information" I again clarified with them what was to be done with my tractor. A couple hours later I get a call saying the work was completed and the cost is around $250. I asked why, she said they replaced the belt, a pulley, and it was over two hours of labor. I started to discuss my concern of them not calling me. The discussion got me no where so I called the store manager. The store manager reduced the cost to $175 after discussing my concerns which I'm still not happy with. The discussion with the store manager lead to the fact that they turned it around in a day, and the tractor now works. I told him, I would have been fine if it took a month to repair. We went round and round in circles with that. It was about a 25 minute phone call how they flipped the tractor in one day. Then I went to pick it up and pay the cost and figure it out after the fact. They drove the tractor to my truck but refused to help me load it. So by myself I had to load a riding lawn mower into the bed of my truck. I could have injured myself severely on their property since they refused to lend a hand loading it. After all this I spoke to the owner, the owner again went in circles of the fact that it's a working tractor, and it was done in one day. Again, I told him that is not my concern. The only resolution he would offer is that I can bring it back, they will put on the old parts and give me my money back. At that point I had already drove to their shop to drop it off, back home, then to pick it up and back home. Here gas isn't cheap. He was going to spend the money to pay his technicians to put old parts back on my trailer (which they don't even have) So who knows what parts they would put on. The pulley never needed to be replaced, they gave me the parts, and I had it inspected and there was nothing wrong with that part. The belt was broken, and I had already known that. He was going to spend another $150 in labor. I had told him I would pay $125 even though I didn't authorize the work. He was going to spend a total of 4 hours of labor costing over $300 instead of crediting me to make my bill cost about $75. The ethics of this business is just plain ridiculous. I will not recommend this business to anyone. After this experience, I feel used, abused, ripped off, cheated, and also discriminated against due to my young age, and my fiancé (a young woman) dropping it off for me. They were probably thinking "She doesn't know any better..."Desired Settlement: I would like a billing adjustment of $100.00 off of what I had paid them. Bottom line I would like to pay $75.00.

I would also like a letter of apology from the owner himself, the manager, and the service rep.

What I will do in return if the desired outcome is met, I will also write a letter of apology to the owner and manager for my aggressiveness and tone while speaking to them. I will take off all of the bad reviews that I have written on the internet. I will not speak of them in a negative way. Maybe, I might just buy a new machine from them in the near future when I decide to.

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

I guess it can be closed. I'm not sure. They brought the bill down to what I agreed upon however the tractor still had the same issue after services were rendered so I don't even know what to do anymore.