TheSamba.com :: View topic - Mario Gavazzi aka: Vintagewerks in North Carolina

Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:42 pm

Mario has left the area and no one knows where he is but not before he took me for $750, as a deposit for work on my car. Fortunately for me he did order some parts, which remained at the shop for the next owner to install, which he did after insisting I needed a new engine.

This shop while no longer having the same name hasn't gotten much better. They had my car for 5 months to paint it and tore apart so I could not remove it. I guess that's where they get you. They've got it all torn down. I negotiated with the new owners for a paint job and repair to the heater, as well as many little annoying problems.

The paint job was not cheap, $2200 and is not a thorough perfect paint job. He did not fix my heater which he was given $200 additional and my car was returned to me NOT road worthy. Most of the lights didn't work, the fuel guage, the horn, and my windshield wipers, all came back not working when they all worked before. The evening I drove it home I saw that there was a short, the car wouldn't stop running. I called the proprietor to no avail. He did not answer the call or return my call. I managed through the internet to figure out there was a short and fixed it myself. For the next few days I called the proprietor again and again, no return call and he will not pick up my calls. I go to his shop, I have no other choice, and ask that they fix the problems they made. He accepts no responsibility for any of it offering these cars have shorting problems.

The point is my car should have been returned to me in as good of condition as it was received and it didn't. When I asked him why he would not return my phone calls he said he didn't have my phone number, although we had spoken several times via cell phones. My last visit there I told him I needed to talk to him about my car. He was immediately offended and asked me to leave the property. It is not unusual to be angry when someone has taken your money and then won't return your calls when there are problems. these guys are living in lala land. They think we are blessed to have them work on our cars and should be greatful for whatever they manage to do. Forget the emails I have stating what we agreed to, his response was whatever. He specifically told me on my fix it list were the windshield wipers. I told him, no they weren't we had just had them fixed. I asked him to get the list. He reads the list and no windshield wipers are on it. His response, "Whatever".

He professes that they put many new "free" parts on my car. I question whether that is true and even if it were true that was his decision and not one he asked me permission for. What I paid him for I did not receive.

So the shop located at 1779 West Webb Avenue, Burlington, NC still remains in shaddy hands and I would run. No one at this shop keeps there word even if it is in writing.

PS Single mother of two kids, recentlly out of work and he played with me. Everyone else BEWARE!

Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:10 pm

make sure to start a new thread in this forum with the current business name, so the shop gets it's "due credit"..... :wink:

Mon May 23, 2011 9:37 am

The new owners have changed the name. They seem like really nice people. I met them at the Greensboro show at Piedmont Dragway. I got to see the shop and it seems like they are really trying to get the place in shape. I saw some of their work and I am thinking of buying one of their VW's. I know there is a lot of bad blood, but I think things will be good. Eddie is a really nice guy. I'm going to give them a chance, I will let everyone know how it turns out.

Mon May 23, 2011 10:51 am

Be extremely careful and be ready to pursue legal action. I'm guessing you didn't read my post. These people stole money from me, stole parts I had in the care and my bug has serious electrical problems because they carelessly put it back together. They did not complete the work they were paid for and expected me to be happy with what I got.

Additionally, the paint job isn't holding up and I've only had it home a few weeks. There is a bubble on the hood and what look like the beginning of chips also. You are setting yourself up for disappointment and being ripped off.

He did seem like a reasonably nice guy but that changes when he has your money and he won't return your phone calls. Then he told me I needed to call to set up an appointment so they could fix it. How do you set up an appointment for them to fix it if he won't return your phone calls?

BEWARE!

Mon May 23, 2011 1:30 pm

I'm really amazed that anyone would try to continue to run a VW shop at that tainted location.

Mon May 23, 2011 5:38 pm

GeorgeL wrote: I'm really amazed that anyone would try to continue to run a VW shop at that tainted location.

It's like making a go of "Love Canal Organic Farm."

Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:56 pm

newvdub reported back to me that these people endeavored to perform a bait and switch on him, which is was smart enough to not do. He agrees there is something definitely slimmy about this shop. Beware!

Sat Dec 24, 2011 7:26 am

make sure you do not deal with this turd

Sat Dec 24, 2011 9:50 am

he's in Miami, doing boat stuff now. At least he'll feel at home with all the fiberglass and bondo.