Why I'll never go back to ATEB

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Abitibi

Abitibi

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Threads
20
Messages
128
Location
New Westminster, BC
Not saying they are bad people or have no clue what they are doing but this is my experience with these guys and why I'll never return to their shop.

1) When I brought my Patrol to ATEB for my BC inspection they told me I was required to have a clutch safety switch (so truck can't start if clutch not pressed down). I told them I never heard of such a thing but they assured me it was required to pass the inspection so I told them to go ahead as I needed my truck. About $230

I later made a call to MVB Victoria who confirmed me it was not required and didn't think it ever was for 5spd vehicles.

I went back to ATEB and after a while managed to convince them they had charged me for work not required. I asked them to remove it as I didn't want to pay for it but they just told me to keep it... at the end I offered and paid for the part but not for the install. Fair enough. (the price for their BC inspection was decent...)

I still wonder how many 5spd owners ended up paying for non-required work over the years?..

2) Last week I took my Pajero to ATEB with start (glow plug system) issues. I had already changed the wires from main harness to the plugs, put new glow plugs and had ECU rebuilt but the truck was still a dog to start in the morning. Since they are only 2km from my house I thought I'd give them another chance. They told me they put both the relay and the ECU through their extensive tests and diagnosed both of them to be fried... "you need a new relay and a new ECU" hum???
Charged me $200 for that.

So I took the truck back where the ECU had been fixed, told them about it and they put a new relay (yes it was shot) and tested back the ECU which was fine. Put it all back on the truck and it now runs like a champ.

So I called back ATEB to let them know of my concerns. (We all hate to pay for questionable work/diagnostic don't we?)

End of the story is they offered to pay back my $200 but told me never to return to their shop. Well, Fair Enough! I wasn't expecting to see any money back (thanks!) but simply wanted to address this issue.

I should have listened to Canuck's own experience when he dealt with them for his IP...

So just thought I'd pass it along...

Cheers,
Mr. D
 
Actually, I never had them ever do any work for me and I never would have them do any work for me after my experience over parts with them and the one estimate I got from them. Those experiences put up enough red flags for me. Everything else I had heard about them was second hand from other people who had work done on their JDMs (not just 4x4s).

That said, I understand that they do treat some Cruiser owners very well and these people are happy with ATEB. Myself, I would rather support other Land Cruiser mechanics who have proven themselves in terms of their support to the Land Cruiser community and their integrity of workmanship. In my view, the later counts for a lot more than claimed specific knowledge and expertise about a particular vehicle.
 
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at least you got some $$$ back

Thats a shame but your diligance paid off...well done.
some are treated well, others not so well....
I will say they have a couple knowledgable technicians but there business practice is less than professional sometimes.
Also if you are purchasing product to install yourself they may try to rape you. The other day I asked for price of lower rad hose, they qouted me 120 bucks. I purchased new from another cruiser shop a genuine Toyota hose for about 45 bucks....
do your research ladies and gents.
:beer:
 
Abitibi there are a lot of holes in your story. You should visit the above post. I would like to see your reply.
 
I Agree with Lance's statement. Abitibi only presented his side ( surprise). There is far more to this than he posted.
 
Sailor,

I've replied to your other post. I respect you defend a shop you respect, I'd do the same but it wouldn't hurt if you'd learn some from LanceCruiser. He got and posted facts without reading between the lines or being sarcastic "surprise" and more on your other posts...

Cheers!
 
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I respect your respect. Lance is much cooler than me- I must admit that one.
 
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