Import Doctors-- bad shop, bad experience, and a big loss

[Carscribe@domain.elided]

In the course of dealing with many repair shops over the years, there have been times when things did not work out to everyone’s mutual satisfaction, and often it's just due to simple miscommunications or unspoken expectations. They are usually resolved quickly and a lesson is learned. 

Unfortunately, I'm experiencing an issue with Import Doctors that hopefully other owners may never to go through. I have been just plain lied to by the owner, Bob Wandell, ignored and now expected to eat a major loss, not to mention that a previously pristine and rare Lancia Flavia Coupe is largely ruined. 

It was to be a simple and inexpensive repair-- replace a rear leaf spring. I selected Import Doctors only after the shop agreed to store the car indoors during it's stay. I was very clear about this at the time. Bob stated flatly that the car would remain indoors. I was adamant about this not only because I wanted to conserve the new paint chrome, but the windshield seal leaked slightly and the driver's side window would not close the last 1 inch and the extremely pristine all original interior and wood trim needed to be kept dry. This car had been a hanger queen, in the best sense, all it's life.

The repair took longer than expected due to the first spring not fitting properly requiring a second example to be fabricated or sourced. The task was made more difficult and longer since Bob threw out my original part without asking if I wanted it. After two months the new part arrived and the car was ready to go... except that they had left the car outdoors for the last two-plus months during the San Francisco rainy season. 

Four inch deep standing water in the foot wells of the cabin have essentially ruined the interior, including the formerly perfect wood trim and chrome fittings and trim, original and formerly perfect carpets, door panels, and clouded the instrument faces. It can all be redone, but will never be "original" again, and will cost a bundle. On the outside, most of the new chrome was rusting surprisingly heavily, until one discovers that they had left a car cover on the car for several months during heavy rainstorms. The car cover caused the new paint to cloud in those areas where the wet cover remained in contact, in other words, most of the horizontal surfaces. This too will all need to be redone and substantial expense.

When confronted with the damage and reminded of his broken promise, he said he needed the space and pushed the car out, and that he was not responsible for the damage. He had agreed to call me should he not be able to keep the car indoors, but this he failed to do. I told one phone call or a letter or something would have prevented all of this, and asked him why didn't notify me-- to which he had no answer other than to shrug his shoulders. I find this to be totally unacceptable from a service shop that claims: “We wanted to open a repair shop that was based on the principles of honesty, reliability, and fairness …” 

He has had 3 weeks to make good on this, and to this day insists he did nothing wrong and refuses to accept any responsibility in this matter-- in other words, drop off you car, I'll take your money, but not the responsibility for it's care and safekeeping. Hardly what any of us expect from someone who makes his living from servicing vintage machinery, and all it's special needs. 

My sad bolide will never be the same. Hopefully no else loses a car to this jerk.
Paul Mitchell

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