1996 Infiniti I30 Back-ordered part problem

Tiny
TJP99
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 INFINITI I30
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 128,000 MILES
I need some advice regarding a repair. I had my car in the shop earlier this month for a check-engine light issue. They told me that the check engine light was indicating a speed sensor fault and also a bad knock sensor. They quoted me a price to repair and I said go ahead with the work. I also asked them to perform a Comprehensvie Service Inspection, as I was preparing to send the car to my sister in Florida and wanted to know if anything else needed repair. They performed this inspection and recommended new front brakes, which I also approved.

The repairs took almost a week to complete "because they were waiting for a part to come in". They finally called and said it was ready. I went to pick it up, paid and left (this was June 5th). I then made arrangements to ship the car and it went on a truck to Florida a few days later -- it's there now and my sister loves it.

I got call last Thursday (June 19th 2 weeks after picking up my car from the shop) -- "that the part came in" and to call them to schedule to have it installed. I said "what"? "I didn't know anything was back-ordered for the car". I was confused and had my sister fax me the invoice (I had shipped the maintenance records to her).

On the invoice they charged me $298.99 for a part and also $93.50 for the labor to install it, but I wasn't sure it was the part in question or not. So, I took my copy of the invoice to the shop to talk to them. By the way, there is no note on the invoice that anything was back-ordered. The guy I spoke with was surprised that they had already charged me for the part and also that they had charged me labor. They showed me the part -- it was a whole speedometer head (dial) replacement. I said why would I need that -- the speedometer/odometer is working just fine -- I thought I had a 'sensor' problem. He said the check engine light indicated that the speedometer head (whole dial thing) needed replacing. I said my sister just had to have the odometer verified to title/register it in Florida -- the odometer is working. He was perplexed at this also. He told me I would have to come back when the Manager was in on Monday. I stopped by the office on Monday and the manager was out. So, today I just received a voice mail message that I should come by the office again and they would refund the labor cost and I could pick up the part that I've already paid for -- meaning they are not willing to refund me the cost of a part that I can't do anything with at this point.

So, my question is this -- they never verbally told me anything was back-ordered # 1) when they called to say the car was ready and # 2) when I was standing at the counter paying and # 3 the invoice doesn't state this either.
I was completely unaware that any work was outstanding -- otherwise I would not have shipped the car to my sister in Florida until everything was complete. Am I obligated to pay for this part? Even if I pay for it -- how could my sister even use it since the odometer reading that has been 'set' would basically "roll-back" the odometer (right?).
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Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 AT 3:21 PM

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Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
I would be thinking small claims court right about now. The odometer will update when installed with the help of the PCM, otherwise unscrupulous car dealers would change em all day long!
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Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 AT 5:05 PM

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