Tom R.

Anyone out there know someone that had a situation similar to this?

I took my trusty 68 pontiac to midas last month to have the muffler replaced under warranty. I had the first muffler installed in 80 or 81.

Turns out Midas cannot locate the muffler for a 68 firebird with dual exhaust. Midas customer relations tells me they will buy my warranty for what I paid 22 years ago.

That leaves me with $50 and a car that needs a muffler. I elevated it a little in Midas, but am wondering if anyone, or anyone knows someone that had a similar situation with midas? A new muffler is about $150 plus labor.... some places will only sell a full manifold back system.

TIA

Red 944

Run open headers
I can hear my buddy's car from almost a mile away when he takes his exhaust off. That's what you should do, make your presence known

SidViscous

Seems odd. I know a local Midas kept a muffler on the shelf for a Ford Model T because a local guy had it done and got the warranty.

Peckster

Step it up to head office customer relations. Ask the shop you are dealing with how to get in touch with them to see if tnat softens them up. If they hang tough, check the Web site or call Midas head office and ask who deals with customer disputes.

If no success there, call their media relations people and tell them you have a hot story and you're going to the local media with it. Ask who deals with the media to find out who they are. Does your local paper have a consumer reporter?

Wachuko

[quote]Originally posted by Peckster:
<strong>Step it up to head office customer relations. Ask the shop you are dealing with how to get in touch with them to see if tnat softens them up. If they hang tough, check the Web site or call Midas head office and ask who deals with customer disputes.

If no success there, call their media relations people and tell them you have a hot story and you're going to the local media with it. Ask who deals with the media to find out who they are. Does your local paper have a consumer reporter?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Ditto!

Flight_951

[quote]Originally posted by Tom R.:
<strong>...Turns out Midas cannot locate the muffler for a 68 firebird with dual exhaust. Midas customer relations tells me they will buy my warranty for what I paid 22 years ago...</strong><hr></blockquote>

How about you locate a suitable replacement muffler yourself and Midas reimburses you for it. If you never used their warranty, would they send you a check for your $50? Heck no! Try some of their common competitors to see if they can get one. Sounds like a rather common fitment even though it's old. Midas has had their share of class action lawsuits over the years. Wouldn't be the first time they wouldn't honor a warranty.

Bob S. 1984 Silver

Is anyone really surprised? If you have a consumer advocate radio or TV station in your area, get them involved. Places like Midas, BK, and other various and sundry chains of all kinds HATE negative publicity. There was a chain in Roachester NY where I USED to live. My buddy drove in a 1948 Desoto two years ago. The manager shrugged, smiled, went to some book, set up a bender and MADE a tailpipe right on the spot. Monro muffler. Sometimes the smaller chains or little places can do what the big ones are unwilling or unable to do.

Tom R.

I had a 48 DeSoto too. I had the 48 DeSoto used in a Cyndi Lauper video, painted like a taxi.

It came with my house. AAA toased the electrical system when their rocket scientist hooked his 12v booster to my 6v battery. I sold the car for 200 and bought an edelbrock intake manifold for the firebird with the money.

Right now I am dealing with their customer relations office. They are up to $150 which is not enough since places like Kanters get 400 for an exhaust system that has no "lifetime warrantee" I know I'm only covered for the muffler but if Midas is putting me out on the street they should at least put me there with a complete new system.

I will keep you guys posted. I didn't go to law school to have a polite clerk tell me she is gonna a$$ ream me by buying my warrantee for what I paid 22 years ago!

Alan C.

Midas like a lot of the other aftermarket exhaust manufactureres are facing the reality of a shrinking market. It doesn't make economic sense to try to stock mufflers for all the older cars. All new cars are shipping with stainless exhaust systems. Take a look at a 92 Ford Taurus V6. The muffler is made from Aluminized 409 SS. The muffler probably looks better than the car!

Cars with exhaust systems like that are why Midas and others are into the suspension and brake business. They needed to change to survive. Your dealer with a little positive persusaion might be able to locate another system from a competitor. If not, the material in that muffler isn't worth the $50.00 he as offered

Alan

Thaddeus

If they executed a contract for a lifetime warranty, they should be held to that contract. They drafted its terms, they set the price, they offered it. They are bound by it. If it is too expensive for them to honor it now, that's too bad: they took a business risk and it didn't pan out. That's capitalism. Boo effing hoo.

I'd call the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection (or whatever office is analogous in your home state) and file a complaint. I've had to do that two times for other similar problems, and both times the negotiations got way more simple for me. Big companies cave fast when the government calls up with the goods...

good luck

<img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

Luis de Prat

Just as a data point, "Bosal" exhaust systems DID honor a lifetime warranty on a muffler I bought 5 years ago for my 83 944. These units are made in Belgium and are about as close to OE as you can get without buying a dealer replacement.

The Bosal muffler cost $500 at the time, and I also mailed in a check for $20 to buy the lifetime warranty. 3 years ago I moved the car to a beachside condo where it sat a lot and the muffler didn't benefit from the climate.

It recently cracked at the inlet flange, so I called the Bosal-USA office in Parsippany, NJ. I faxed them the warranty certificate and they FedEx'ed a replacement muffler. I paid for the shipping, but it sure beats buying another $500 muffler.

jim968

They accepted the lifetime warranty contract. They've had the use of your money for all these years. No, I wouldn't expect them to necessarily stock the muffler, but I'd effin' well expect them to _go get one_ when I need it. If it costs them more than you paid for the warranty, tough. They have a contract to live up to. Time to suck it up and do the right thing.

But... honsetly... to expect straight dealing from a bunch of crooks like Midas??? Probably not gonna happen.

Jim, "But other than that, Mrs. Hitler, how was the honeymoon?"

Alan C.

Not bad. $500 for a muffler that lasts 5 years. Pay $20 and they send you a new one.

The gamble is 2 total mufflers in 10 years for $520. They have less than $75 in materials in the muffler so they still net $370.

That paints a much better financial picture for the manufacturer. Far better than the profit structure on a $50 muffler with maybe a $15 to $20 manufacturing cost.

I'd still take the $50 and be happy.

Tom R.

Customer service went up to $150 on Friday. I spoke with the supervisor today. He went up to $200. I told him I would get back to him.

Borla made a system that went from the motor (not sure if its manifold or header) back that summitracing sells for 580. If I can get that system I might take the 200 and eat the 500 difference.

If not, I will call again next week and see what I can get, or talk to the guy who takes the train in to the city with me that works for the A.G.

Chris Martin

I would just get a set of flowmasters from some place like summit racing and be done with it. That's pretty amazing the muffler lasted 20+ yrs!