The Big Chill

The big joke here in Tucson is that you need to keep a pair of oven mitts in your car to drive during the hot summer months. So imagine how miserable I was when the air conditioning went out.

I took the car to a big well-known car service chain, and after about three inconvenient hours of AC evaluation, I was presented with the so-called estimate for repair.

The guy suggested I'd have to fork over $600.00. When I looked a bit shocked, he started to come down in price, as in "I guess I could get it down to $450 bucks." I thought I was in Nogales, Mexico trying to buy a serape.

The thought of having to negotiate for car repair sent a chill down my spine, so I gave him the cold shoulder. I wondered what he would have left out to cover his costs, had I agreed to his "deal."
Not only did I think the estimate was way out of whack, I didn't want to freeze up that much of my assets in an older car.

The next day I found a small shop across the street. I didn't tell the mechanic what I'd been quoted, but I gave him the same explanation of the trouble. His estimate came in at less than half...and he guaranteed his work.

The car AC has been running great for two months now. And I get a warm fuzzy feeling every time I turn it on. Okay, I guess it's really a cool feeling.

We — that is, automobile owners in the Zipingo community — want to know if you've got similar story to share. Click on Rate a Business on Zipingo. Rate the mechanic who did you wrong or right! In the Community Forums, it would be "ice" of you to share your hot stories about repairing your AC...or any other part of your car.

(Sorry, I just can't stop with the puns.)

~ ZipingoKim, Zipingo Beta Service and Support