[Porsche-O-Phile]

What's the legal basis of all this kind of stuff? I seem to recall a post recently (think it was in the Jiffy Lube thread) where someone got into it with the manager, cops showed up and basically took the guy's side. Seems to me a shop can't hold YOU liable for their damage to your vehicle.

I know there's a "mechanic's lien" created on a vehicle whereby they have legal possession of it until they get paid, but I'd tend to think there's some kind of provision to that whereby the charges have to be legitimate. I can't have so-and-so bring in their rusting 1982 Toyota pickup in, bash the windows in with a ball-peen hammer and then say "you need to pay me $15,000 for repairs or you lose the title to the vehicle". That'd be ridiculous.

For one I'd think agreeing to service on your vehicle with such-and-such a shop (alignment in this case) creates a contract that they do the alignment for the agreed price and anything not part of the exact alignment is outside the scope of work authorized. If they screw it up, it's up to them to return it to the condition it was brought to them or better. I'd be curious to hear if this is correct and if so, what the legal basis of it is.



I agree though - do your own work. Last time I needed tires, I bought JUST the tires (online) and brought them and the rims down (off the car) and had them mounted & balanced. There's very little work I don't do myself. Alignments would be a little bit much I think though, although there are one or two people out there that do 'em themselves. If/when I next need one, I'm going to the dealership - I don't care if it does cost more.