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Review content:
I had a high performance exhaust to install on my 2008 roadster, I was suggested by a friend to go to Batey for the install. After the install my exhaust rubbed the ground every chance it got. I had left the shop with out a properly installed exhaust and Batey (and staff) didnt warn me. I returned the next day to ask if he could adjust it, he became quite defensive and accused the manufacturer (Solo Performance) of building sub par parts, and that I needed to take it up with them. He confidently proclaimed ""Ive done this for 31 years, and I know a manufacturing mistake when I see one"". Trusting him, I called SOLO, and was put in touch with a rep that was shocked at the photos and video of the exhaust I sent him. He then asked me to return to the shop so he could talk with a tech and work things out. He even offered to send a whole new exhaust if the tech said it was needed. I returned (3rd time) to Batey at which point he stopped me at the door all but yelling ""What are you saying, that I didnt install it right?!"" Talk about feeling awkward, I just wanted some assistance with a bad situation and to make my car drivable again. Mind you that I NEVER once raised my voice during any of these encounters, nor did I argue with him. Why? I am a mechanical and systems engineer by trade, I KNOW how hard it is dealing with the public and fabricated parts from distant providers, plus I try to put faith in my friends recommendations for cheap and easy exhaust installations. Batey refused to talk to the manufacturer. He raised the vehicle one last time hoping to show me the problem in the design, so I video taped the event. I immediately noticed two bolts going into the catalytic converter that looked ""stressed"" as the heads were rounded and the washers were cracked unevenly under them. Batey noticed I was videoing the damaged bolts and became hostile. He ordered the car to be lowered and told me that ""Ive done my job, now go find someone else to harass"". I called SOLO, they recommended Midas on Nolensville road. A tech there immediately said ""oh I can fix this, it just needs to be loosed and pushed in properly"" He then showed me how the parts were not even fitting correctly from the exhaust into the converter, and slowly rubbed his fingers over the damaged bolts... to which he said ""uh oh"" he tried to loosen them, no luck. He had to drill them out of my converter. BATEY CROSS SCREWED THE BOLTS IN. This totally explains why he refused to even once loosen and adjust the exhaust to a proper height, why he blamed SOLO, and why he became so hostile as I videoed the damaged bolts. The Midas tech was able to install the exhaust PROPERLY in 15 minutes. He even buffed out the scratches on the pipes where I had drug the ground due to Bateys poor install. Talk about going the extra mile. (He also commented on how well made my exhaust was, and that I had picked a real ""winner"") I hate that I am supporting a chain over a local, but if the locals are too prideful to admit a mistake, or inability to install a simple exhaust (I could have done this if I still owned a lift and air tools). 31 years of technical experiences is wasted if you become too prideful to admit a mistake. I am not going back to his shop to ask for any money back, he was quite aggressive when I pulled out last time. So I will leave him to the BBB. I am simply going to swallow the $61 Midas bill just to avoid going back to this guy. I never had to order additional parts to complete the install, everything was right from the beginning from SOLO. I dont doubt this place has recommendations, he was super friendly as he courted my business, I just hope your installations go flawlessly or else you may end up with a very arrogant owner with poor ""damage control"" skills.
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