In 2010 our son inherited his car from his grandmother; it’s a 1995 white Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. He sold his 2006 black Mustang to take over the reins of this OLD-mobile.
The Olds really needs a nickname.
Naturally a car of this vintage needs repairing from time to time.
Not the sportiest car on the planet.
Last October, for example, it needed new starter. So son took the car to Boulevard Automotive on Route 1 in Elkridge where the repair was made.
Boulevard Automotive repairs cars.
Fast forward to May and son can’t get it started because, we all believe, he needs a new battery but we’re not mechanics. He buys a “seconds” battery from the battery warehouse and still the car won’t start.
The “second” battery is still humming at half the cost of a new one.
He has the car towed to Boulevard who discovers the starter has failed. Even though it is now out of warranty, the owner of the car repair station only charges to replace the battery because the starter had discharged the one in the car. He’ll send the old starter back to the company and be reimbursed from them.
Tempermental to start and often needs a battery boost.
A few weeks later when Charlie tried to start our lawnmower its battery needed a hot-shot. Naturally he went to son’s car to hook up the cables and there was the “second” battery. Something’s wrong because son paid for a new battery, about $100.
$150 was refunded on a $203.47 bill
When they stopped by the automotive repair place to recycle some old motor oil they asked the owner about the battery switcheroo. He questioned his mechanic who completed the work and was told he simply put in the “second” battery because once it was recharged and the starter was replaced, a new battery wasn’t necessary.
Boulevard Auto’s office is on the left as you enter the parking lot.
So there was no funny business here, just miscommunication. The owner of Boulevard (a fine mechanic himself) refunded son the price of the battery and threw in of his own volition a half-hour’s labor cost: all told $150.
We will continue to take our cars to Boulevard Automotive because the repairs are well-performed and necessary and the owner is an honest man.
Are you bold to check your bills? Do you question things that don’t seem to make sense to you?
