Billy Bob
I started in the Transmission business in 1967 and left in 1999 entering the medical field.
I became an National figure in the industry therefore the fictional name is Billy Bob.
I have been in hundreds of AAmco shops, and thousands of independent transmission and repair shop throughout the US .
I have spoke at national conventions and was very active in the ATRA.(Association of Automatic Rebuilders Association)
I started my own shops in 1989.
AAmco terms,
RDI.=Remove Dissemble and Inspect
A small amount is charged for an RDI ,that’s where they tow your car in pull the transmission out and show you all the bad parts.
ARO=Average Repair Order
That is the invoices that they write in the shop they want to see rebuilds not repairs
I owned 3 independent Transmission shops.
So here is what would happen,
I would bring in a car and then call the customer with a firm quote.
I remember a 78 Chevy that I quoted $750 to rebuild an Turbo 200 transmission.
The customer called AAMco and told her that it was probably a adjustment or computer glitch, This was at my shop around the year 1992.I explained that the car needed a rebuild and center support had failed also that computers did not come out in GM cars until 1980 ½ but please let’s get it to AAmco , I would pay the tow just to get it out of my shop. (Anyone in the transmission industry would know that this car had a spun center support part # 8628212 therefore no reverse. Interesting I still remember the #) My cost on parts for the rebuild was probably about $125.
The lady called after the RDI begging me to pick up her car I refused because I have a real problem with people who did not trust me. If they did not trust me before the job, how could they trust me after they gave me $750 and AAmco told them it was just an adjustment?. Her quote was $1800 from AAmco with a 6 month warranty.
I did a daily radio show 5 days a week and I believe that makes you accountable to the public.
People would call me after getting an RDI and ask me if I would take the car in.
I made that mistake one time.
AAmco had drilled 3 holes in the Valve body which did not belong there, made it very difficult to make the Transmission work properly.
Not in Public,
AAmco employees do not wear their companies coats hats or shirts in public, they do want to be confronted by irate customers.
An Adjustment, or Computer?
AAmco gets people to their shops by saying that it may be a minor adjustment or computer glitch.( I notice now they are going for the check engine business now. (God help the consumers!) I wonder if they are doing the oxygen sensor scam?
Magic Pliers?
In the city I lived in ,an AAmco dealer had “Magic Pliers” that they would make a leak worse on the low pressure side of the transmission line if the customer refused the RDI.Or refused to have it rebuilt after the RDI.
(this was told to me by 4 different former employees that I hired in my shops.)
Panning for Gold?
Seattle early 80s..
The newspaper ran an front page undercover investigation claiming that when AAmcos did routine services they were trying to sell rebuilds and they were even accused of salting the pans. All Transmissions have some metal and fiber in the pans this is accumulated right from the dyno,AAmco shows the pan and makes the big bucks.
In the late 70s AAmco had almost 30% market share by the mid 80s 13% now probably less than 5%
In 2006 Cottman Transmissions bought AAmco out a few years ago maybe they have changed the practices.
I would hope the consumers would catch on.
It was reported that AAmco paid $500,000 in the late 70`s to develop their phone script. Every AAmco uses the same script that is designed to get you car in.
They do not have the personal touch of an independent trying to help the customer.
I know it sounds kind of sick but I actually enjoyed seeing a car from my shop being towed to AAmco because it was a “I told you so moment”
I remember a tow truck driver saying to me, this is going to AAmco? Are they crazy? and I told him it was probably an adjustment.
Billy Bob