Cobble Hill Super Service - Good or Bad?

Subject: I wish I knew before I went.

I brought my car in for an inspection. I received a call from one of the "mechanics" telling me that I need to replace all 4 struts, the coolant, Oil change, 1 tire and wiper blades. I told him I would pick up the car and get it done. (I used to be a mechanic and I can take care of most of it.) The "mechanic" then back peddled and said all I need to pass inspection was a new tire and wiper blades. Now I was sure this was a scam. I went to pick up the car. I agree the tire was worn. My wiper blades were replaced 3 months ago and I had no problem with them. You are at their mercy at this point because the inspection forms have already been submitted to the DMV. I paid them for the inspection (37.00) and asked how much the re-inspection would cost. He said 10 or 15 dollars. I went and got 2 new tires for the price they were going to charge for 1($200) and replaced the wiper blades. When I went back, they refused to do the re-inspection. They said they
only do inspections in the morning. ( This was a lie!! A woman came in while I was there picking up my car at 2:30 that asked for an inspection on the spot. They said OK to her?) They said the owner would be back in an hour and I would have to talk to him. I didn't wait. I went to L & B on 4th Ave.

OMG! I feel like such an idiot. I wish I'd googled this place before we went there. We just took our car in for inspection at CHSS and $1600 later, I read this thread. We couldn't understand why a 2004 Toyota Corolla needed so much work. When my husband called to tell them to cancel part of the work, they said they'd already started. Ack! This is the second time they've done this--last year's inspection, it was the brakes they said had to be replaced.

Well, at least now I know the car is not a lemon! It's CHSS. I will NEVER take our car there again, even for gas.

aaa is still towing people to this sh*thole? that is ridiculous.

My original comment here was on June 22. Despite my clear description to AAA of this place's procedures by phone and by letter, I gather AAA still uses these them as an official towing service. I'd love to know why.

I've voted with my wallet. I've joined a different auto club, and now use a different towing service (or will, when I need to).

IMHO, AAA is even more culpable than CHSS. AAA can't say it doesn't know about their record.

BTW I also -- I was really pissed -- contacted the New York State DMV about this place:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/vehsafe.htm#complaint
The relevant text on the site is:
Use form VS-35 (Vehicle Safety Complaint Report) to file a complaint. To ask how to file your complaint, call the DMV Division of Vehicle Safety Services at (518) 474-8943 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. weekdays.

When I called the DMV a helpful but somewhat discouraging rep gave me the news: there are "many" (she's "not allowed" to give me a number) complaints about this place. But it takes hundreds of complaints to shut a car repair garage down.

You can start a complaint process if a repair wasn't done properly and NYS will try to resolve it. But as for shutting this joint down...the shocking news is that car repair shops have a powerful lobby in Albany.

thanks for the info. ill send in a form this weekend. everyone should. theres got to be hundreds of us in the area who have been hit by these scum buckets. lets do it.

hi all. just to let everyone know, apparantly, from what i have heard, that scum bucket tony, the jerk manager and most of his crew of morons are gone. they went out of business and there are new owners at the non service station. i wouldnt go there anyway as the some of the thieving mechanics are still there. they stink and are rip offs. i hope tonys karma kicks in good. good bye and good riddance ahole.

Subject: Maybe they changed owners?

I just found this garage. I changed jobs and now work down the street from him. He is AWESOME! I use to go to the dealership...never again. He just did a 30,000 mile check up and saved me a ton of money. Not only does my car (Toyota Avalon) run great but I don't feel like he ripped me off! I have no idea why they have so many bad reviews?

Jane

Subject: Great job thanks

Great Honest Guys! Helped me out tremendously and in A hurry. I got A fair shake out of them and will recomend them to anyone. Plus they guarantee the work for 1yr, 12000 miles WHAT! Thats great. AAA served me well. Thanks Agian

Subject: Your welcome

First time I ever had the chance to rate my mechanic! The people at CHSS as its refered to here are excellent - they accomodate me and their price is fair but the best part is they actually care. They pay attention to what I want fixed and always discuss the issue with me - very honest. I hate the car dealer and I finally found a home for my baby I can recomend to anyone because I know they are super nice. I wanted one stop to have all my car work done and these guys do everything under one roof so they never have to send me back to the dealer. They have women there too so that makes my wife feel comfortable too. They also are part of a nationwide warranty thing called Gemini but I've never had to use it although I am at peace knowing that I have no worries if I am visitng relatives in the city. Call them for an appointment though as they are always very busy - but thats another sign of a great mechanic shop - just like a great restaurant!

janegood wrote: Thats unfair Voodoo. They asked me to rate them after i got my car done. apperently there is alot of bad things flung about the internet. After a quick search this site has the most to say, the rest is history..

Not unfair at all. Glowing posts by four separate people, each with one post to their name, all in the space of 10 minutes is more than suspect.

shocking (!) development:

all recent glowing posts share one IP address.

it's like there should be a term for this be behavior. here, let's each do a letter. I'll go first:

S

Subject: Good place

I always found them to be honest and reasonable. Never a problem with my Dodge or my Saturn. Even when they had an easy shot of ripping me off on some transmission work they instead were honest in only replacing the parts needing replacing and knocking some bucks off the bill.