pfaff auto works SCRATCHED MY WINDOW
 

my car was at pfaff auto works, 214 courtland ave ( Vaughn, Ontario, Canada ), car was there for bumper repairs (pics in my other thread of damage) from april 3 and i just got it back may 2. i checked out the car and everything so far looked ok, they said they did a 2 stage polish, im not an expert, but would a 2 stage polish take off all the tiny scratches and swirls? because it looks the same as before the polish..... i know my car inside and out and can point out the few scratches with my eyes closed. they installed a new front and rear OEM bumper, black, color matched. a tiny 1 inch scratch on the bottom left side of the rear bumper which they just painted..........

but heres where it goes down, they pull out the car, i do another check as i couldnt see much inside the garage and i had to do paper work, AND I SEE A FOOT LONG or longer SCRATCH on my drivers side WINDOW, and another one below that one about 4 to 5 inches long, the customer service lady took my car back in and said well try to polish it out, so i went back inside and waited in the waiting area and i had a view of my car, there were 3 workers being questioned most likely about the scratch by the manager, he comes out and says theres nothing we can do, you have no proof it happened here, dont accuse us, it was only here for 2 weeks.... ( i said, go check your dates its a month ) and i should have said like my friend and his dad stated, 2 weeks has nothing to do with ****, you can scratch something in 2 seconds... but i was super pissed and i couldnt think, because i was super excited to get my car back after the break in............ and now this.... i said i paid $7000 to get my car fixed and this happens...... manager replies, you didnt pay the insurance paid, you just paid the $1000 deductible, so i replied why would it matter WHERE the money came from........ it went to YOUR BODYSHOP DIDNT IT, he then shutup. i also said the appraiser that checked out the car out the day it was brought it checked out the car thoroughly as well as your staff to check for any other damages other than the ones i was claiming, so i dont come back after and make another claim AND NOTHING WAS REPORTED about the drivers side window, manager replies, well you cant really see it, its not noticeable, got me even more pissed off, but i didnt swear at him, i said YOU CAN SEE it a mile away its over a foot long and its a WHITE colored line, against a 5% tint, (scratch is on the outside), he than says we can only do a free install of a new window, and i said theres no way im going to pay hundreds for a new window that i didnt damage and keep my car here for another month or any longer than it already has been here for, he says thats all we can do and walks off without walking me out or saying anything, even the way he was talking pissed me off..... i should have showed him the tiny 1 inch scratch on the new bumper they painted but i was too pissed off and just wanted to leave, apparently theres no other managers above him... which is BS, it shows whos above him on their site.. after he rudely walked off, i went towards the front to get my car back, and thats when i called him a fkn idiot and thanks for turning his back and walking off when i was still speaking to him, i didnt raise my voice or swear at him during the conversation, maybe i should have...

oh ya, there the only MCLAREN and POGANI ZONDA dealership PFAFF, in the entire country (canada) OR even NORTH AMERICA.... when i brought my car in on the first day, i got a tour of the place, and its porsche/audi place, but they had a lambo and r8 inside, and of course my Z was the cheapest, but bought new atleast... and of course theyre the only ones who work on the mclarens and poganis..................

oh ya.... no proof? i have videos and pics of the car april 2nd, and the car was brought in april 3rd, so will they still say that the pics and vids were taken a day before, so it could have happened then?

what do i do now.. hopefully my insurance can stop the payment

before pics

after pics

car was pretty dirty inside the gas cap opening, and the area around the hatch when you open it as well as around the adjoining panels of the rear and front bumper, tail lights and head lights too, ill take more pics before i wash it and dusty and smudges... guess they dont give a *(^%% if your not rolling in a lambo or higher..

im just hoping i dont have to pay for a new window and that it can be repaired.. this sucks.. i had really high hopes and expectations about this place.. that manager was the only jackoff though... everything else seems ok.. id say great but not after what happened..

Wow!

If you haven't signed anything DONT and send the pics of the damage to the insurance company

And tell them you're NOT accepting the car with NEW window damage since it was done in their possession

Did they not do a body damage inspection report when they took possession?

IF so and it doesn't itemize the scratch along the window? They need to fix it.

Obviously they wiped it down with a rag with something sharp on it.

The other minor scratch is maybe something to just have a detailer color match and detail it to fix it rather than repainting the whole section. imo

Sorry to hear But not surprising how a high end shop would treat a non high end owners car

Good Luck.



Also this thread was moved to your region as this a local place you'd like others to avoid.

i was going to post it in my region too, SOMEONE WITH A 370Z PHONED IN while i was in there, i really hope he doesnt go in there, i was in front of the receptionist when that person phoned in to bring in there Z around 430pm may 2nd.

yes they were suppose to do an inspection but the guy says, maybe the person missed it because its a fine line scratch, i said its a WHITE SCRATCH ON BLACK TINTED WINDOW, 12-14 INCHES LONG, and one underneath it 4-5 INCHES LONG. so wtf is he talking about, missed it.....

370z OWNER who phoned 214 courtland ave, vaughan, PFAFF auto works, on may 2nd around 430 PM,

BEWARE !

ffs, just called a nissan dealership, $480+tax for a drivers side window, + labour + tint will be nearing $1000 im guessing................ this is really depressing

your insurnce company wont cover the window if it was damaged in the possesion of a garage. I would recomend the following steps.

1. get the help of your insurance adjuster to provide the documentation that the window wasnt damaged and provide this information to Pfaff. Offer them one last chance to make it right, thats what they have insurance for if they don't want to pay out of pocket.
2. If they wont do make it right take them to small claims court. It is very easy to file a claim you don't need a lawyer and you have very good documentation. Should be open and shut. If you win you do not have to let them do the work. Get the money and have it done where you want.

I would expect that they will settle and not go to small claims court it will cost them more than the window to attend court. Don't forget they need to pay your court costs if you win.

I had trouble with Pfaff VW in the past when I had my Jetta. They broke my windshield changing a wiper blade, didn't tell me and let me find it then fessed up and replaced the windshield. and on another ocasion scraped by bumper on somehting and tried to argue that it must not have been them as VW didn't use the blue that was transfered to my bumper on there cars. As if it was only a car that they could have rubbed the bumper on, who knows what they hit. In the end they did nothing but I got the worst of it buffed out.

I always had the feeling that place was fishy...

doesnt small claims court take several months?
and i dont want to ride around with those nasty scratches on the window...
i also have a video i took, but wont they say, my pics and videos are from april 2nd, and i brought my car in on april 3rd, so wont they say it happened a day before i brought my car to them, than ill lose in court and will have to pay for their court costs...?

but thats really stupid too, if it happened BEFORE, than why wouldnt i claim that as well with my insurance, and like i said and as you can see, its not small, and VERY noticeable, they make no sense...

i wonder if its an easy fix? i can barely feel it with my finger nail... ill have to wait until monday to check.. as shops are closed on weekends.

insurance said they cant hold the payment because there not a "rely" shop (not affiliated with insurance company) and said my only option is small claims..

this is really depressing.....

i feel for you. small claims is a bit of a pain but not too expensive but yes it will take months. you can proceed with getting it fixed in the mean time which establishes your damages,, you don't need to wait for the settlement to get the window fixed. You get compensated for your costs if you win.
My wife had to sue her former employer for constructive dismissal so I am familiar with the process, I can PM you an outline of the process if you are interested.

sure, thanks..

but i dont want to take them to court and lose...
like i said i have pics from a day before i took the car in, so wont they say those vids n pics were taken a day before or something stupid like that..............
dammit i knew i shoulda became a cop or lawyer..........

Start the process, they may try to settle earlier. Are they on BBB?


Edit: looks like they are on BBB. Open a complaint with them.
One last thing, email a few other employees higher up in their company including the CEO I see on their website. Don't insult anyone, that may only help you feel better

Man that's a burn

:iagree:

my buddy had nothing but problems with them and his Maserati.

i will do that now, what do you suggest i include in my email, so i dont resend multiple emails?

Will send you a pm

the BBB will only put them on the BBB list, but they cant enforce them to do anything.

i used the BBB for "rooms furniture and accessories" waited several weeks, business did not respond, and they said they couldnt do anything, but put them on the list so other can see the details of the complaint against them.

i then filled a form with ontario consumer protection, waited 12-16 weeks, the file was handed over to an investigator, just last week i received a call and he said he knows the business has alot of complaints, over a 100? if not more, but not all people know where to make there complaints nor have the time or patients, so the investigator (retired cop) was to have a meeting with the executives last wednesday, he stated that i should receive a call from the business to either get the proper product or money back, and if i didnt like the answer they gave me, i should call him back and he would take care of them, and if they did not attend the meeting, 2 days later i would have to sue and the ontario consumer will be taking care of everything, wont cost me a single penny, and the business will probably have someone get arrested or a fine of $500,000 +, so ill ask the investigator which route i should take?

1. like the other member said, i should email the higher bosses, ceo etc..
and
2. either BBB or go straight to ontario consumer protection? or both?

tyvm,

it was raining yesterday, so i couldnt take more pics and videos, ill try today.

the car was also dirty around where the installation took place... some "high end" body shop

Christopher Pfaff
President and CEO

Mark Fisher
Chief Operating Officer

Jeff Pabst
General Manager of Pfaff Autoworks

should i email all 3 or just ceo and gm of the bodyshop i took it to.

wonder why the manager said theres no one above him.......

Yup, I would start with that

Thank You all for the suggestions

GL man, id be furious if someone ****** up my Z also

thanks.. wish i had everything recorded, you should have seen the way the manager acted, turns his back and walks off as im talking..

did he eventually get it taken care of elsewhere?

Yes but his problems were not anything damage related. He felt they do not treat the customers fairly, he is same age as me so younger guy driving a nice car so people "hate" on him, I also experience this with my Z at times.

Man,
wtf ever happened to customer service. The guy actually said, your not paying, your insurance is..... f'n red flag right there.

Im sorry to hear this happened to you, any way you try to sort it out is going to cost you time and money for their shotty work and care.

Something I have always done the few times I have had to make insurance claims over the years is, never ever let the insurance company right a cheque to the person performing the fix. Always get the cheque written directly to you then you pay the shop when you are satisfied they performed X $ worth of service/repairs. Otherwise these shady shops take the insurance money and then cheap the f out on the repairs so they can massively increase their profit on the job.

I had no idea you could do that. How would the insurance company know how much to give you unless the work is all done

I work at a dealership AND I know a lot of friends who own shops. Let's just say it's not uncommon for the two to help each other out sometimes ;)

In my cases with State Farm I had to get multiple quotes or at least a quote from their recommended company (which is always a higher amount then the standard reasonable cost required). They cut you a cheque for that amount. Now find a shop that has a good rep, and get a quote for repairs, don't bother mentioning insurance is paying. Just tell them you are paying out of pocket but you want the job done correctly. I have done this for 2 car claims and 1 house claim and always came out of the situation with a smile and some extra pocket change.

It's your insurance you have been paying into so if there's any "extra" to be had better to be in your pocket instead of some jack wads pocket.

I'm not sure if all insurance companies allow you to do this but State Farm does.

Manager sounds like a complete ****.

Good luck with everything man.

i couldnt do that, already asked the insurance before i took my car in and they also said i couldnt stop the payment to them because i didnt take my car to a bodyshop my insurance (belair) recommended, and i work near and in front of one of the ones the insurance said to go to, i wouldnt take my little cousins TRICYCLE there, thats how bad most of these places are, and not only from the looks of these places, but also from past experiences with some of those bodyshops, you take a car in, and a couple days later your back for the same problem, if not another problem they have caused.

and yes, thats what he said, lets just say i can write out what he said word for word. (phone)

thats the dumbest thing to say, first off, it doesnt matter who pays, its going to his bodyshop, 2nd so what if i won that money in the lotto or my family paid, so he would say its not my money still? TECHNICALLY I PAID, NOT my insurance, I DO pay insurance each money..... what a @*(^^@ dumb***

thanks, i wish i had the whole convo recorded....

but i remember everything he said,

-did you do the pre inspection,
(manager) we dont look for fine scratches and she probably missed it and it might not show up on a camera...

so why didnt you take note of it, and yes it does show up on camera, HERES MY CAM, LOOK, AND YES she DID miss it, BECAUSE IT WASNT THERE BEFORE

and i already told you about him saying, well your not paying for it, your just paying the deductible, than i destroyed him again with my come back

(manager) ok, go buy another window, and we will do labor for free.
theres no way im paying for the damages you caused, and im definitely not letting you touch my car again

(manager) who would want to damage your car on purpose
WHO SAID anything about doing it on purpose, your not making any sense right now, it was an ACCIDENT obviously..............

(manager) your car was only here for 2 weeks, so theres no way anyone could have done it.
WTF.... my car was here for a bit OVER A MONTH, and WTF you mean you cant scratch a car in 2 weeks, YOU CAN DO IT IN 2 SECONDS, let alone 2 weeks...............

(manager) are you accusing of us damaging your car.
WELL WTF ELSE AM I SAYING.

mind you, everytime i replied, he went on to the next thing that he said.. because he probably felt so god damn stupid... saying things that made absolutely no sense...

and i didnt swear at him or at all during our talk.. end of the convo where he pretty much said accept what i offered or get out, i said this is fkn bs. he turned his back and walked off, i had to walk myself out, and than i said thanks for walking me out, fkn dickhead. see you in court

someone i know whose son works as a mechanic at pfaff, ill ask him and see what he says, and im waiting on my friends lawyer to ask him, because i dont want to waste time and money in court.

oh ya, also waiting on an investigator/retired cop, from Ontarios ministry of consumer protection, who already got one of my problems solved

I also feel bad for you. I told you where to go after I had $24,000 worth of damage on my car - so not sure why you went there and why you even paid the deductible. Most autobody shops are willing to cover the deductible to get the business from the insurance company (and you) anyways.

Anyways that's all said and done. At the end of the day you have to be satisfied with your car - and as long as you went to an "approved" dealer from your insurance company, I suggest you start with them.

Good luck - I honestly hope it all works out for you without you having to pay out of your own pocket.

thanks man,

someone i know takes their car there on a regular basis for multiple things, and hes never had a problem, he deals with 2 other consultants from pfaff tuning, but the car gets worked on at the same place pfaff auto works most of the time, so...... and the person i know whos a mechanic there..

Sorry to hear that.. but on the bright side it won't be nearly $1000. Labor should be about 1-2 hours at most, and tint shouldn't be more than $80. Not too sure about shop's labor rates in your area, but the one I work at is $85 an hour. So maybe closer to $600-$700 in total? They should definitely be paying for it though

HOLY ****, i just washed my car and there are quite a few 1 inch scratches all over the car and some are white colored, im so **** PISSED right now...

im no expert on detailing, but doesnt a stage 2 polish take away the swirls and fine scratches? because they said they did a complimentary polish and my car looks like absolute ****, im fkn getting even more pissed now, the buff marks or w.e you call it when you suck at polish looks nasty......