Brakes Plus — Local services in Duncanville

Technicians Jordan and Matt, were very professional. My review would have been 5 stars had James not been totally unprofessional and become completely unhinged. 1st red flag is when he tells me, "I can't just skip the cars in front of you." during the first consult call. This was never a request or something I even thought about. I used the online appointment portal and requested it 2 hours later per the City Garage website. James calls me and essentially accuses me of wanting preferential treatment. The whole time his tone is off-putting. But this place has great reviews. So I get there as soon as I can. James and I chat and during he says, "You don't have to get it done here. There are cheaper places, because we aren't the cheapest." I say just want it done right, again thinking of the majority great reviews. Matt (I believe) one of the techs shuttles me home, for which I am very appreciative. James calls me back hours later as everyone needed a lunch break; completely understandable. He tells me that my caliper bolts are ruined from my driving the car with bad rotors and pads. I'm confused as the cost is approximately $100 more after tax from $324 - $422. I call back and ask if that's for new calipers. He quickly rebuts and says "no that is for caliper bolts pins and little bushings that come with it (rubber)". He then proceeds, unsolicited to tell me I can take my car somewhere else and, "I'm not a kid and it sounds like you think we are doing something unprofessional. We can put your used parts back on it if you want and you can come get it 'cause I'm tired of talking about it." Mind you I've talked to James for all of 10 minutes tops between phone calls at home and in person at their office. I ask how much would it be to get the old parts put on. He says, "$125 I'll go tell the tech to do it now" and hangs up in my face. I call back to remind him that he told me the old bolts were useless and I just asked about cost. He asks, "Are we done here?" and hangs up in my face a 2nd time but before doing so says his store manager Gina Martinez will be there tomorrow; arguing with me the entire time. I call back and get Jordan (I believe) who is cool, calm and assures me that he can get my car to me today as long as parts get in while James is in the background with his voice raised. James was completely unprofessional and seemingly incapable of completing basic customer service such as not yelling...

This is the first of two reviews that I am leaving for Brakes Plus. This review represents a negative service experience followed by a much more positive one at the Inwood Road location in Dallas, Texas.

I was referred to this location based on the service manager's apparent experience with transmission issues as I was experiencing noise when shifting in lower gears and additional noise when downshifting while making a left-hand turn. Despite keeping the car overnight, the staff at this location was unable to find anything wrong. According to the invoice, they performed a tune-up for which I was charged over $325 in labor, and they replaced the spark plugs for an additional $136. No other details were provided as to what the tune-up included. The service manager recommended that I take it to a transmission specialist for further assessment.

My next move was to take it to two separate transmission shops. There was no problem found with my transmission, but the transmission fluid was low, something that I'm assuming should have been caught by Brakes Plus since I took it there to have the transmission assessed.

I have been a loyal Brakes Plus customer, so I decided to try a different location for another assessment as to what was wrong with my car. This is when I took it to the Inwood Road location, the details of which are provided in a separate review. Based on their assessment of my car, the cause for the noises I was experiencing were an oil leak and an extremely low oil level, as well as brake problems requiring new brake pads and rotors. Once again, I'm left wondering why this Brakes Plus location, despite the fact that I was charged over $500 for a tune-up, never discovered that I had almost no oil in my car and seriously worn brakes, particularly when the their specialty is supposed to be brake service. What exactly did I pay them all that money for??

I feel that I was done a great disservice by being charged such an exorbitant amount and put back out on the road with a potentially serious oil leak that could have led to irreversible damage to my engine, and brakes that were worn almost to the metal. Shame on you, Brakes Plus, in Duncanville. I will not be returning to this location for service...

I heard great things about this place and when I had the opportunity to use them I took it but declined service and here's why.. Speedy off of Clark and Danieldale originally had my vehicle but unfortunately could not provide the service needed. I took it to them first because they were closer to me. I called City garage and talked to Mark. Mark told me that they could have my vehicle towed from speedy at a great price and they'll check my vehicle to let me know exactly what the issue is. They had my vehicle from Tuesday through Friday. On Friday morning I received a diagnostic report that totaled a bill over $1,000. Besides the towing fee of $105 and the diagnostic test of $150 the other was all for the car and majority of it was Labor. Labor was $195 an hour, the car part was double the price then what I could have ordered it for. I started to search around and was able to find a shop in Red Oak who would accept the diagnostic results and fix my car at their shop. They were able to tow my vehicle from duncanville to Red Oak for $80. I was paying City Garage $105 for towing it from Danieledale and Clark to Cedar Ridge and Big Stone Gap...that's less than 5 minutes from each other. I could have pushed the vehicle up there and saved that $105 only if I knew. Steven told me that the towing price was a flat rate. I asked if they offered any discounts and I was told that they offered 10% military discount which I would have qualified for but there was a cap at $50... really? For a bill that was going to Total over $1,000 and only receive a $50 discount anything is good but I was expecting great. My car is now waiting to be serviced at another location after it is completed I will go and provide a review for...