Village Collision Center

Took my car here to have looked at for some knocking noises. Owner knows I came to him because he was recommended by two frequent customers. I hoped this would build rapport with him. Owner tells me I need to replace inner and outter tire rod due to rotting, sway bar replacement?, and most importantly steering shaft needs to be replaced. Trusting his judgement he asks that I pay ahead for the steering wheel shaft part that he orders from the dealership. While waiting for the part to come in, I tell the story to my neighbor who happens to be a retired mechanic. Neighbor takes my car into his garage, lifts it up, and shows me the areas John (mechanic) tell me needs to be replaced. The parts were not rotted like he said they were, were not loose, or appeared to be in any sort of need for repairing. When the part I paid $300 for arrived to the shop, I told John that rather than dropping my car off to him, I was going to pick that part up that I paid for and have my “brother” look at it. John told me ok, gave me the dealership receipt for the part which I was charged extra for the part, and John told me if I need to return the part I must do so through him. I was going into surgery the following day and was going to be held up 4-6 weeks after. Over the course of the following week I had sent three people to the shop with the part and receipt for a refund, all of which were given a hard time by John and his son before given a refund. They were told they were “out” money for having ordered the part and not given the job. Another time told they didn’t know how to issue a refund and to come back another day. Little do they know the reason why I chose NOT to drop my car off there for work because I was quoted over $1300 for work to be done that in fact did not need to be done. Instead, I paid my neighbor for parts and labor to replace two struts. My car has since been running perfectly fine without a knocking sound anymore. I am not sure how you can argue the fact that certain parts needed to be replaced when I am physically being shown those parts and they do not appear to be rotted or broken as mechanic at Village Collision said they were. I would have been out $1300 or more. It’s disappointing that some mechanics take advantage of people and perhaps someone like myself a young single female. I tried to build rapport with John at Village and told him I was a local who would always bring my car to him if he did me right. Now, I will never go back and he is without my business.