[V8] North of Boston dealer warning (Ira)

[J123fs at aol.com]

Hi,
I thought I would share an FYI regarding Ira Porsche/Audi's (north of Boston) 
service: 
Beware!
Here's the sorry tale: I rarely (read never) have anyone else do work on my 
cars, but due to the extreme cold here in Boston as of late and on advice from 
my wife I had them (attempt) to handle a bad rear wheel bearing.
And man did I get porked! 
Not only did they take 5 extra days of excuses and ect to do it, they ~only~ 
came in at double the original quote, and when I told them to initially stop 
they said they would charge me for the diagnostic work (1 hour at 90 per), even 
though I said I knew the wheel bearing was bad, and wanted IT replaced. 
Nothing else, nothing more, or less, just the Drivers side rear whl bearing! 
No need to diagnose, and I told them if I was wrong, then so be it; of course 
I was right, and it didn't take a flat rate hour to figure it out, but they 
charged for it anyway.
They also said I would need a 150 dollar 4 whl alignment, till I explained 
that NOTHING that would effect the alignment should need to be touched, and 
better not be! 
Silence on the phone line..."Oh let me check"....so you decline the 
alignment"? 
What a Moron.
Why is it every dealer I have ever seen have service advisors with nothing 
better to do then to try to drag people over the coals? 
Many of my friends and buddies who I know also have had BAD experiences at 
this dealer, so I should have known, but they are the closest, and I had a lapse 
in judgment.
I should have just bought the Scheelly tool or cheap hydl. press from Harbor 
Freight tools (and had it for the rest of my life; and it will work on my race 
cars, buddies cars, motos, ect), and mooched a favor at my buddies shop to do 
it out of the elements.
Lesson learned: If you want something done right the first time, and on time, 
do it yourself!
And: stay away from scumbag dealers! 
Hey, the service advisor said: "they "only" charged me 135 for the 
bearing"...one I can buy for 55 bucks from the local FA (same SKF as stock audi)....and 
350 bucks for labor ( Alldata says 1.5 flat rate) for a job I have done in 
under an hour with a lift and press at hand! 
I paid them, oh well, and kept my temper in check, and rest assured a letter 
will be going both to Audi NA, and the dealer's general 
manger..........although I suspect it won't make ANY difference, because why be honest if it's gonna 
make you less $$?