East Coast Honda

My daughter brought her 2007 Honda Element in for routine service, at an agreed upon price of $219.00, which unfortunately included only an oil change and some routine checkups, no tuneup. She was informed t service, at an agreed upon price of $219.00, which unfortunately included only an oil change and some routine checkups, no tuneup. She was informed that she needed new brakes, and apparently given a price. She did not realize that "new brakes" meant only new pads, and that the price for installing new pads (pads only, no rotors or rotor work or wheel cylinders or anything else, just pads) was almost $400.00. When she picked up the car, she was informed (then, not before) that the car was vibrating excessively for no explicable reason that they could find, although the one guy began to speculate about axle problems. My daughter had none of this vibration before bringing in the car. She test drove it, and was astonished at how bad it was. The manager, Scott Proctor, took a ride and attributed the problem to unevenly worn tires (caster and camber problems) and the new high noise level and vibration to the re-alignment contributing to the new vibration. The total charge for labor on the car was over $500.00 and the total bill came to well over $700.00. We arrived to pick up the car about 2:35 but did not get out of the place until after 4 P.M. We had purchased tickets for a boat ride at 4 P.M. at Brookgreen Gardens, but when we stated that we had this appointment, Proctor was very unsympathetic and stalked off into his office, throwing a wad of paper into the basket in anger and disgust, having no patience with a legitimately unhappy customer. Finally, reluctantly, he discounted the labor by $95.00, I guess figuring that the car was there for less than four hours, supposedly being worked on, and the charge of $95.00 an hour for four hours max did not add up to more than $500.00 labor. A more than $700 bill for the amount of work done on this vehicle is outrageous. Anyone considering purchasing a Honda in Myrtle Beach should go elsewhere, or just choose a different vehicle. DON'T GET STUCK with East Coast Honda service, its exorbitant service prices, and its rude help. I will say this: the lady behind the desk was extremely friendly, kind, and understanding, but obviously had no control of the situation. I don't see how she could work in such a place. If you need brake pads, go to your local mechanic, or Meineke, or Midas, anybody but East Coast Honda unless you want to get stuck with a huge bill. More