Sams Club nightmare

joutlaw · 01-09-2006, 05:18 PM

I was at Sam's Club getting new tires for my 2000 Millenia L. We went shopping and came out and I was amazed that my tires were already off my car. I was like nice this might not take long. Then all sudden the car drops with no tires/rims from about 3 feet in the air onto the suspsension and brake components on all 4 at least. Apparently one of techs had a issue and was tryin to lower the car, but must have used a button that completely drops the lift b/c it fell fast under all the weight.

I was livid to say the least. It left indentions in the concrete ground where it fell, so I know it hit hard. Nothing visible appeared broken, but I didn't look real close b/c I was in utter shock.

So I ask for the manager and he comes over says I need to file a claim and they would fix the damage. I then called my insurance company and they said they are getting an adjuster to look at the car. They advised not to drive the car b/c they could say damages occured after.

They finished and put the tires on the car. The tech did a service drive and it looked ok from the parking lot, he pulls up and tries to give me the keys and I said no way ... you park it.

So we file the claim and give a statement, then they try to get me to move the car to different parking... I said I've been advised not to drive the car. They said its not well lit and you car could get broken into... I said thats fine.

So what do you think... I would bet the alignment is severely off, and probably have bushing and control arm damage. I bet the struts didn't like it too much either. Possibly frame damage, but I don't know.

Any insight or suggestions.

Darth Konvel · 01-09-2006, 05:32 PM

Something like that would leave me absolutely speechless. At the very least, I'd take it to a mechanic you can trust to get it looked over.

joutlaw · 01-09-2006, 05:40 PM

I filed a claim(comprehensive) with my insurance company and they are towing it to a body shop. I didn't feel like waiting on Sam's claim person to call, and they still havent yet. I didn't have a way to work so I got a rental through my insurance. I'll be out of pocket the deductibe, but I'll get it back. I imagine the insurance company and Sams will go to court, but they have in store video so its pretty much open/shut case.

I was speechless... in utter shock when it happened.

I went there this morning after getting a rental and took pictures of the car. I found a nice new baseball sized dent in the door. So this is going to end up costing a bit I'm afraid. I also took pictures of the shop where the indentions were in the concrete from the fall.

I will say Progressive, my ins co, has been great through this.

anthrobe · 01-09-2006, 05:52 PM

I use Progressive and have been very happy with them. You probably have a whole lot of damage on your brake system, wheeel bearings, upper/lower ball joints and such. You did the right thing by not touching the car. Good luck to ya. Just make sure progressive does not hit your policy with points for the claim. Make sure that they keep on top of sams club.

uglygoat · 01-09-2006, 06:39 PM

too bad the mechanic wasn't underneath it when he decided to drop it onto the ground with no wheels on....

you 'prolly don't need to hear this, but never take your car to walmart/sam's for service. i manage a car rental for a living, and we have put countless people in cars that sams/walmart has destroyed by not properly servicing them, usually it's not putting oil back into the engine after an oil change, or not putting the right oil filter on etc...

Genghis77 · 01-09-2006, 06:50 PM

I knew someone who bought 8 gallons of paint from Walmart, custom blended. All of them had loose lids and paint all over the interior of the car. Turns out the damage was total, they couldn't make it look decent again. Cause, the clerk's first day on the job and incomplete training.

BlightyBrewer · 01-09-2006, 06:59 PM

I can't believe this story! There are some right cowboys out there! Hope you get it sorted joutlaw

I have a similar story about a chain tyre / exhaust outfit. I had to get my exhaust changed about a few weeks after the car had been MOT'd (annual government safety check). After they fit the exhaust, they told me the front drive shaft boots were split. My reply was, "that's amazing, cos it has just passed an MOT". The guy looked a bit shocked, like he had chosen the wrong person to dupe. After inspecting the boots, I found the split was axial across the concertina, rather than circumferential...an obvious knife job! I went ape at them. Couldn't prove anything, but a few months later the whole outfit went bust...justice!

**DeRoux's Broux** · 01-09-2006, 07:09 PM

man, joutlaw. it had to do some damage. that weight falling from 3 foot, w/ no rubber on the wheels? good luck with it. i know wal-mart/sam's can be a beeee--aaaattcchhh when it comes to law suits or settlements.

stick it to 'em for the rest of us little guy's!

Darth Konvel · 01-09-2006, 07:20 PM

I don't think the wheels were even on, DeRoux

Fell right on the suspension by the sound of it.

That's pretty shady, Blight. Glad to hear they aren't doing business anymore.

joutlaw · 01-09-2006, 07:23 PM

I'm afraid there could be frame damage. It's a 2000, but the wholesale is probably around 5K. I don't know how they determine if its a complete loss, but I'd figure wholesale value is involved.

Thanks for the input guys... I'm just trying to make sure I'm thinking of everything in terms of settling this.

BTW, no word from Sams yet.