ADVISORY - V & M Rentals, Gorham ME

It is most unusual for me to post any warning about anything, but in this case it seems to be warranted and necessary. All of our Maine and New Hampshire visitors are important to us. For this reason, I find it necessary to post this advisory, since most of you own and operate various pieces of equipment in York & Cumberland Counties.

A few weeks ago I took my Husqvarna lawn tractor in to V & M rentals, of Gorham, Maine. I told them the tractor needed a tune up, and a new mower deck. Sounds simple enough. I was given an estimate of $119 for the tune-up, and $309 for the mower deck. I was told it should be ready in about a week. Again, sounds simple enough.

Two weeks later I called, asking what was going on. I was told that the parts had been ordered, but the distributor was having a delivery problem. I told them if the tractor was not fixed in a few days, I would come for it and take it elsewhere.

The next day, they called. The man asked me if I wanted to rebuild the old deck or get a new one. I told him I had specifically requested a new one. I then asked why he was asking, since the previous day they claimed it was already on order. He told me nothing had yet been ordered, and he was calling to find out what he should order! Obviously, someone had lied to me the previous day.

I then asked what it was going to cost to get my tractor back, and when it would be ready. He said it would take two more days, and it would cost $792.

That was a whopping $300 more than the estimate! I was angry, to say the least.

Well, it was not ready in two days - it was another 5 days before they called and said it was ready. Again I asked what it was going to cost me, because I wanted to see if they were going to jack the cost up again. To my surprise, again he said "$792.00". I was not happy, but what could I do? At least they had not padded the bill further.

I immediately went to pick up the tractor. By the time I got there, the bill had suddenly and unexpectedly been jacked up another $400 - the original estimate of about $490, which had been raised to $792 was now $1,182!!!!

Angry is not the word I would use. If I were a violent person, V & M Rentals would be gone - rubble! But, they can be thankful that I paid their exhorbitant bill, picked up my tractor and left without anyone requiring medical attention.

When I got home, I pushed the tractor down the ramp, off the truck, and turned the key. NOTHING! It did not start. It did not kick over. NOTHING! I checked the battery - it was fine.
Correct me if I am wrong, my dear friends, but when a person pays almost $1200 for repairs, they have some rightful expectation that, upon getting it back, that it RUNS!

Look, I am not telling you not to do business with V & M Rentals. But I am saying that I will never return, and I strongly urge everyone to consider taking their business to a company that makes at least some small attempt to satisfy their customers, stick to their estimates, and not tell you tall tales - and, hopefully, gives back your machine in WORKING ORDER!

Bill.