ATS of Denver almost passed the test

[tandersen]

After reading glowing reports of fine work I took my '01 2500 to ATS of Denver for a pillar mount gauge installation. They had my truck for 9 hours, no problem, I wanted it done right. $276 labor. When we picked up the truck I looked at the work in the cab and found it looked nice. Driving the 120 mile trip one way back home when I turned on the lights I found the green bulb covers I asked for had not been installed. I called ATS the next morning and talked with Carl who I asked to mail me covers and I would install them. Later I looked under the hood to find everything ok. I crawled under the truck to find the trans temp wire going down the frame rail wound around the steel lines. No tie wraps. The wire was laying loosely across the transmission with a large slack loop on the front drive shaft. I called ATS and talked with Renee, who identified herself as the owner. She thought she knew who did it and assured me someone would call me back within 15 minutes. That was Friday the 26th. No one called. I fixed the problem. $276 labor. You decide. Fair warning.

 

[DKiesewetter]

ATS is a badass transmission shop. They have done AMAZING work for us... as for installing gauges: sorry to hear they didn't tie up the loose ends like you wanted. I doubt they put their best guy on a gauge install. Finding good help is hard for anyone.



I would still say their reputation and work in general is superb.



Doug

 

[rrausch]

Ranee is Clint's wife.



Over a year after I got my Stage IV, I had a new TripleLok Commander wired up by them--they did an Outstanding job.



I had my driveshaft removed, balanced, and replaced by them--they did a Great job on that too.



Last Sept. I was visiting them and mentioned to Mike, right before closing time that I thought my Trans needed a kickdown adjustment--I described the symptoms to him. He didn't look too happy about my description, asked for the keys (even though it was 15 Min. till they were closed). He took my truck out for a drive (even though it was rush hour), came back right at closing time, drove it right up on a lift, drained the transmission, pulled the cover and the Valve Body, took the VB upstairs to Jeff, they conferred over it, installed a new spring, Mike ran it back downstairs, slapped it in, put the pan on, filled it up with fluid and sent me on my way. No more "kickdown" symptoms. Needless to say, I was impressed.

 

[tandersen]

They did not give me a discount for using poor help. The people I dealt with while there were all very polite and knowledgeable but I am still the loser.

 

[guava]

Assuming you paid with a credit card, I'd dispute the charge. Its your right to get what you pay for. I use visa almost exclusively just so I have the ability to put VISA corporate in my corner. Businesses hate having to justify themselves to VISA and if they get to many complaints/disputes, then visa will not work with them.

 

[jrandol]

tanderson, if you really feel that you are on the loosing end of the stick I would give Clint a call (he is owner with his wife Ranee) I have had nothing but positive experiences with them on all my transactions, and I did a fair amount of business with them on my truck in 2003. A vendor/manufacturer has to make a profit but they dont keep making profits unless they service their clientele. Clint and Ranee are very upstanding people, I'd give them a call directly and am sure they will tend to your concern.

 

[WBlackburn]

I am seriously thinking on having ATS install gages for me. They have done transmission work on my old 92 (G-trag) and I was completely satisfied.

Please call and talk with Clint, then post your results so the rest of us can see.

What gages did you have installed.

 

[tandersen]

guava I paid cash, jrandol I do and I did, WBlackburn as I said in the original post I talked with Ranee and am still waiting for the return call from last Friday. I had egt, trans temp and boost installed.

 

[rrausch]

So let me get this straight. They installed a Boost Gauge, A trans. Temp gauge, and an EGT gauge. 2 of those are not easy to install--which is why you had them do it. They did a good job installing them and because they didn't route ONE wire the way you wanted it done you are willing to trash them on this forum?



I think that says more about YOU than it does about ATS.

 

[Straight6Jeff]

Guages are about the easiest thing to install, and routing of the wires and tubing is even easier. Wrapping the wires or tubing around other existing components is inexcusable. If there is excess, create a service loop, and tie it out of the way. Everything should be in loom and routed away from moving parts. If you pay for a professional install, you should get professional results.



My family owned a repair shop for 20+ years. Now we did on occasion have a mechanic with their head up thier rear. It was simple, do it right or don't let the door hit you in the rear. The Tech at ATS might have been having a bad day, or maybe they were in a rush to go home, who knows. But it is ATS name on the sales/labor slip, not the tech's.

 

[DHayden]

So let me get this straight

What is this paragraph about? Somebody paid their money and expects professional installation. Just because they have a great reputation doesnt mean somebody didnt have a bad day and fubar something. I didnt see him "trash" anyones reputation and if he talked to Renee and she said someone would return the call then I would darn well expect a call back. "one" wire wrapped around your driveshaft would make short work of that "great" install.

I'm a laid back guy but it's not your money, not your truck so why even get into it and say something off the cuff like that? I guess it's a bad day and a pet peeve for me but

I think that says more about YOU than it does about ATS

Statements like that on service YOU didnt get really gets my goat. Your last sentence has alot of truth, more for the person who wrote it.

 

[snowracer69]

Originally posted by DHayden

What is this paragraph about? Somebody paid their money and expects professional installation. Just because they have a great reputation doesnt mean somebody didnt have a bad day and fubar something. I didnt see him "trash" anyones reputation and if he talked to Renee and she said someone would return the call then I would darn well expect a call back. "one" wire wrapped around your driveshaft would make short work of that "great" install.

I'm a laid back guy but it's not your money, not your truck so why even get into it and say something off the cuff like that? I guess it's a bad day and a pet peeve for me but





Statements like that on service YOU didnt get really gets my goat. Your last sentence has alot of truth, more for the person who wrote it.

You and I sir agree to the fullest extent of what you just wrote!

 

[csutton7]

tanderson--thanks for the info---and it's your experience that counts for you not what others say--you went there in good faith and paid them a lot of money and didn't get the same in return--I would have done the same as you concerning your post and when you posted it--5 days later--you gave them time to call you back-they chose not to---bet they do now--



rruasch--wrong bulb covers, one loose dangling wire, wires rednecked wrapped around tubes and such and no call back--just a little more than one wire---you have an excuse for every ATS mishap--why didn't Ranee call him back or someone else--why are the wires rednecked in and why weren't the proper bulbs installed and why is there a loose wire----tanderson didn't get the high quality he paid for and he has waited and now posted 5 days later to tell all of his experience and you come off trying to make him look bad--typical ATS band beater---they screwed him and now hopefully they will refund him some money and then all you ATS bandbeaters can jump up and down and say how good they are because they came thru--BOTTOM LINE IS THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE--ATS screwed up ---guess they aren't perfect--chris

 

[jrandol]

ta, I completely see where you are coming from and had it happened to me I would be frustrated to, you spent your dollars to have something done. Not trying to take sides here but dissecting the information posted.

Even though as you posted above they said they would call you back I think if it were me I would call them back and try to get some resolution. I dont see where you win by letting your frustrations build up while you wait for a phone call and I dont see ATS winning either by not finding a solution to this issue. I'm not trying to make an excuse for ATS or anything but maybe they really did misplace your contact information or someone forgot to write it down to call you back, not saying thats right but we've all been guilty of doing it ourselves.

Its just a suggestion TA, but maybe call them back and see what happens, delivery of the message is everything. I am sure both parties would like to find a "win-win" solution to this.



Have a great day!!

 

[y-knot]

I too am sorry that the guy's at ATS did not meet your expectations. I have only dealt with them about transmission issues, they were about great on that.

Sounds like you are pretty knowledgeable on how things should be, why not do the install yourself? There is nothing hard about it, and it's fun working on the truck. I'm not diminishing the fact that your truck did not receive a professional and finished installation, just wondering. Good luck with the next venture.

 

[MCummings]

If it were a $79 gauge install job,, the results would be acceptable, but for $279 LABOUR, There should have been Color Matched and properly trimmed ZipTies every 6", and the gauge wires routed in Wire loom.



Merrick

 

[y-knot]

I thought the labor cost was in-line with the items installed. He stated they had the truck for 9 1/2 hours, all of which was not spent working on it, but still things cost money! They have to pay taxes, utilities, worker comp insurance and many, many other so called "Hidden cost". There are also the materials used (remember the lift that raised the truck, the drills that drilled the holes, taps, and a boat load of other things most don't think about), wages to pay (I hope you are not one of the many that feels know one should make a decent wage except for yourself) and the list goes on. I believe in paying a man a decent wage for a decent days work. Now this tech seems like he did everything right, by your own admission except for the routing and securing of one wire under the truck. If it bothered you so much why not just fix the damn thing while you were under there snooping around? sounds like two ty-wraps and your done. I know you pay your valued money for the job, but you did receive a quality job with the exception of the wire under the truck, and the most important thing is it WORKS, and LOOKS good. People are only human, and thank godd that they still are. The biggest problem facing people today is the computer generation. It has produced a whole lot of people that understand it's use, and how to manage their problems with it. But at the same time, fewer and fewer people are doing any of the jobs that require manual labor or the use of the hands for things besides typing. Computers are as stupid as a guy in a new Ford 6. 0L, they only do what they are told, but they can do it fast and over and over the same way with very little error. Sorry, but humans will and do make mistakes. I personally don't think it was a mistake, just not like you wanted. Is it possible that you were surprised about the total bill and were a little up-set? Maybe needed something to complain about? I don't know, I am just asking.

I do think it is uncalled for to you to trash the name of any company over such a stupid problem. It is not anything major, just personal preference. You went their for a gage install, they did the job, it looks good, everything works, and is neat looking. The wire under the truck and the green lite cover to me a small, picky items that don't add up to the amount of complaint. If you feel that you were not take care of, then don't go back. I have the feeling you expected them to reimburse you a certain amount of the bill, I hope they do not, and see know reason why they should. You have the gages, be happy.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Guys I am closing this thread as what's said has been said and there is nothing productive coming out of it. There is no need for a bashing session.



Thank you for understanding,

TTaylor - Moderator