Business ProfileforOcean City Chevrolet

Brought my vehicle in because of warnings about the braking system. Was told upon their diagnosis that I had a brake fluid leak at the right rear. It would require new brake hoses, new brake pads, brake fluid and new calipers. Total of $1600 including charge for diagnostic. Took car for a second opinion. Leak was fixed by replacing a washer where the leak was. Calipers and brake pads had "plenty of life in them " according to the mechanic at a local repair shop. Repair and diagnostic with a test drive Cost with taxes and fees-$84.07.

First and foremost, when it comes to any safety related repairs, we always recommend what we feel like is going to be the safest option for the customer. Mr. ******* came to us and asked us to diagnose a brake problem. We did the diagnosis, told Mr. ******* what we found and made a recommendation for what we felt to be the safest and most reliable repair. Brake pads, once wet with brake fluid, should always be changed no matter how much wear they have left. Brake fluid degrades the material of the brake pad which can make them unsafe and unreliable. We do not try and repair brake calipers or hoses because these types of repairs are not generally reliable or safe. We would never put a patch job repair ahead of customer safety. We have been here 28 years and have a very good reputation with our customers. I can understand Mr. ******* not wanting to put that kind of money in a 13 year old car and I probably wouldn't either. Being a GM franchise dealer, we are held to a higher standard in all aspects of the car business. I truly hope that the repair Mr. ******* had done to his car does not cause him any problems or jeopardize his safety with this car. Respectfully, **** ******

The specific leak in one hose on the right rear of the automobile that was stopped from leaking with a new washer, should clearly indicate that both hoses were NOT in need of replacement. Play that forward, and it's not hard to conclude that the other repairs were not necessary either.
Royal Coach is not a charitable organization. They had a copy of the Ocean City estimate in front of them and concluded that even though there was money to be made by doing those repairs, it would have been unethical to do so. It would have been easy enough for them to make the same recommendations as Ocean City and come in a few bucks cheaper and get the job.
On that basis, it is clear that a rip-off was thwarted!

I'm very glad to learn how the good folks at Ocean City take safety so seriously,as any mechanic shop should. That is why I have to believe that Royal Coach, a reputable mechanic shop, would do likewise. Clearly, the more work performed and parts used, also translates into the profitability of the business.
It seems to me that OC is not really a good mechanic shop but rather a good parts changer! The employee at the desk whom I spoke to about the "diagnosis " never used the term "we recommend " to describe the repairs listed for repair. I even said to Nick, that the brakes don't pull or squeak and gave no indication that they were in need of replacement. He responded that the pads were found to be "low" and needed replacement. Not one word was mentioned about brake fluid possibly degrading the pad(s), or offering maybe another solution like just wiping/cleaning the one pad off. I was simply told that the work needed to be done.
One more thing. As far as the age of the vehicle, it only has 75,000 miles on it and if the work needed to get done, I would have done those repairs. The mechanic shop that changed me $2 for parts and sent me on my way had the OC estimate in his hands! If he had been anything but HONEST, he could have offered to perform the same work as on the estimate for a few dollars less and I would have agreed to get it done. That is why people get second opinions! Only last year, I had mechanical work costing in excess of $900 done by Ocean City when the car was 12 years old. I certainly wish I had gotten a second opinion then too! So it's not about the money or the age of the vehicle. It's more about the idea that unnecessary repairs are being done. Pardon the expression, but "highway robbery " comes to mind!

To conclude this matter, we feel that we gave Mr. ******* our opinion on what we felt like the proper repair would be. We would not have made the kind of repair that Mr. Fischer said was made for many different reasons. If Mr. ******* would like I will be happy to set down with him and the technician and discuss the many reasons why we would not recommend repairing a brake fluid leak the way it was repaired. We are happy that Mr. ******* is satisfied with the work he had preformed at Royal Coach. We hope that the repair that was made doesn't give him any future problems. He can contact me at XXX-XXX-XXXX if he would like to discuss this matter.
Best Regards

**** ******

Ocean City's response was certainly predictable. While I am appreciative of Mr. Younts' best wishes, I would rather have been reassured that much more care in the future will be taken so this kind of situation would not occur. Sitting down with me would not serve any purpose whatsoever. Sitting down with a trained mechanic, now that's another story!
In summary, I was going to be billed for totally unnecessary work to the tune of $1,500! The work Ocean City would have performed substituting new parts all over the place, would do nothing more than enhance their bottom line. Many people choose not to use a dealership for service because repairs are generally more expensive. With high overhead costs, I find that to be reasonable and acceptable. Knowing that, I continued to use them, even if it would be a little more expensive. That is far different than what happened to me on January 19, 2022 at OC. Once you've betrayed the trust of your clientele, you also lose their patronage along with that of their friends and neighbors seeking a recommendation.
I think it's is reasonable for the business practices of OC to be further investigated by the proper authorities. I feel that it is highly unlikely that I am the only having been overcharged. I hope I am wrong!