This post has nothing to do with making money online but at some point you might have to get your car brakes serviced. Here is my experience with JustBrakes.
We thought we might need to have the brakes on our 2004 Ford Expedition serviced. Thinking that I might find some coupons online before taking it somewhere to get serviced, I came across a company called “Just Brakes.”
Lured in by the JustBrakes cheap $99.88 price + a $10 Just Brakes coupon I gave them a call. The price is apparently for “Most Cars” and Erik said that my Expedition “In Most Cases” would still be only $99.88.
So yesterday we brought our truck into JustBrakes on West Colonial Dr in Orlando, Florida.
About thirty minutes later I was given a call and he said that he “could not do the brakes on this vehicle.” He said that the brake system was “contaminated” and that the entire brake system would need to be replaced at a cost of around $3,000! JustBrakes also said that this type of contamination is common at quick lube oil change places.
I obviously told Erik at JustBrakes that before I was going to spend that kind of money that I would have to get another opinion. I wonder how many of their customers DON’T ask for that second opinion! I then went back and pick up the truck. I drove over to the oil change place we used last because I didn’t know if we would have to end up having to take them to court (and you must contact a manager about the problem before getting any service done). The manager there was nice and he said that while they visually inspect the brake fluid they never open or refill the master oil cylinder.
I then drive on over to Action Gator and Tire (in my experience, a great company) for a second opinion. Guess what? There was absolutely nothing wrong with my brake system. The break pads didn’t even need to be replaced! They said that at most I could consider a Brake flush but that was not even necessary. I went ahead and paid $70 for them to do that service anyway.
After I got back home I looked up Just Brakes on the Internet. I should have done this BEFORE even taking my vehicle there.
At number 3 in the search results for “Just Brakes” is Rip Off Report
But it gets worse because there are actually over 1,000 complaints about JustBrakes on Rip Off Report. This does not include what is (in my opinion) the thousands of other customers who may have been ripped off but didn’t complain about it. You can also read about Just Brakes on Pissed Consumer.
In my opinion, and based on what I’ve read on those complaint websites, their standard marketing ploy of $99.88 cost “In Most Cases” should be changed to “In RARE cases.” This is how they can get away with quoting or charging you basically whatever they want!” It’s the common Bait and Switch. In my case it was not the “oh, you brakes are not a common stock item so it will cost another $75,” but rather the “your entire brake system needs to be replaced” for $3,000! LOL
It’s a real shame that these type of companies are allowed to stay in business.
If you feel you were ripped off (or they tried to) by Just Brakes please reply here. Likewise, if you actually had a $99.88 brake job performed by JustBrakes, I’d love to hear it. My hopes is that this thread jumps into the top 10 of Google for “Just Brakes” or “JustBrakes” so other people will be reminded to do a little research before going for what appears to be the cheapest price. These are just my opinions. Please do your own research and decide for yourself.
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It’s a shame when businesses do this as it reflects badly on the indusrty as a whole. I hate it when people just try to rip people off.
I LIVE IN COLLEGE STATION AREA TOOK MY TRUCK TO GET THEIR BRAKE REPLACED AND THEY CALL ME BACK IN 15 MIN AND TOLD ME I NEED WORK ON FRONT AND BACK TIRE AND IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $ 600 TO $700 TO GET IT FIXED SO I WENT ANOTHER PLACE AND THEY TOLD ME ALL I NEEDED WAS THE FRONT BRAKES PAD WHICH THEY REPLACED. I DO BELIEVE THAT “JUST BRAKES” IS SCAMMING PEOPLE.
yeah i just went there today and found out all i needed was more break fluid and new pads fuckers put new calipers and rotars and pistons charged me 469.99 scam is what i say
First Thing Is To Learn How To Spell !
Try Going To Your Small Shops, First, Get To know Your Mech !
Finish Line Automotive & Transmission, uc Tx,78148
I went to just brakes for the $99.88 brake special which they said my 99 ford ranger was included in ,well guess what when they came back to me after breaking my braking system down said lots of parts were worn out with a truck with only 40,000 miles ended up costing me almost $600.00 but said the next time i needed brakes it wouldnt cost me that again well guess what it didnt ,it cost me $498.00 I will never again give these scam artist my business!
I had brakes done on a ‘04 Dodge Stratus in ‘06 the job only cost the advertised price and came out to around 107.00 for taxes and all. This was done in Dallas Texas and I am back there rigth now with a ‘99 Isuzu Amigo. We will see
I hope your second experience was like your first! You’re the first person I’ve heard say they paid the advertised price after reading threads most of the day!
Lately I’ve been noticing some slight shaking of my steering wheel in my 2005 Ford Taurus. So like all of you I went to a Just Brakes located in Casselberry, FL on Semoran Blvd. because the $99.88 special seemed too good to be true. Well guess what? It certainly was! After “inspecting” my brakes they told me that both rear brakes were failing which caused my two front rotors to become so warped that they needed to be replaced. They then told me that they needed to go ahead and replace all of my rear brakes which included the wheel cylinders, drums, hardware, return springs, shoes, front rotors, and front pads for a total of $547.00 plus tax. I immediately told them to put everything back together and that I wanted a second opinion. At that point they tried to force me into leave my car by saying, “Well, we’ve already got it taken apart and my guys are ready to do the work. So you might as well just let us do it!”. But after some deliberation, they finally let me have my car back. I then drove over to a Midas(who also offers a free brake inspection), and they guy there told me that there was absolutely nothing wrong with my rear brakes and that they appeared to be working like brand new. The only thing he said I did need was to replace my two front rotors since they are no longer machineable, and to have my brake lines flushed and refiled because the copper content was really high. He even said that he’ll adjust and calibrate my rear brakes for free if I wanted him to. Simply amazing. I’m shocked that Just Brakes is still allowed to business in Central Florida.
Just Brakes -
16284 Midway Rd, Addison, TX - (972) 407-0705
I took our 2006 F150 in for the 99.88 break special. The manager, Charles, took me out to the truck and explained all the repairs needed in order to be kosher with laws or he couldn’t do the repairs. It ended up being over 1,100. When we went to pick up the truck one of the tech’s came in from the garage and said “you know you have a transmission problem, right”. We said no - why do you say that? The tech said that its leaking fluid and making a loud grinding noise. We informed them that it wasn’t making a noise when we brought it in nor had there been any fluid leaks as we park it in the same parking spot every night and no fluid has been noted. He took us out to the truck and showed us the fluid… yes, it was there! He said he had the transmission guys next door take a look at it and they advised not driving it. None the less, we headed out. I followed behind the truck and could clearly hear the noise coming from the vehicle. I called Charles, the manager, on the drive home explaining again that none of this was going on when we dropped the truck off. I asked if there was any way they damaged it during repair and he said its doubtful but to bring it in the next morning and they would take a look. We decided to call Ford as the truck had an extended warranty which covered the transmission. Ford called us 3 hours later to tell us that there is nothing wrong with the transmission! That the vacuum hoses were not reconnected causing damage and that the noise was from the 4 wheel drive trying to engage because they didn’t hook it all back up properly. It cost us over 370.00 and a rental car of 50.00 to have Ford repair what Just For Breaks had damaged. We also were a day late heading to a family reunion as we had to wait a full day for Ford to complete the repairs. Upon informing Charles of what Ford had found, he wanted me to bring it in for “warranty work”. I advised him that I would not let them touch the vehicle again and that I want to know what he was going to do to clear this up! He said to fax the repair bill and it would have to be reviewed by a “committee” at Just For Breaks Corporate, which would take 10-12 days and then they would call me telling me what they were going to do. This is a clear case of bait and switch and shoddy repair work! I will NEVER take any vehicle to Just for Breaks and pass on the negative feedback to all my friends and every posting I can find!
I’ve used Just Brakes several times. They tear down and reassemble at no charge, even if you don’t agree to let them work on the vehicle; they walk around the vehicle with me and show me all the visible components and explain any defective equipment; they itemize the work order and agreed to let me check their prices on the Internet before agreeing to any work.
The $99 package carries a lifetime guarantee, and they put standard warrantys on all the other work and parts they do. Their standard package is a good one, as long as you maintain your brake system on a regular basis. If all you do is tell someone to change the pads and ignore their recommendation to replace or repair things that are worn but still working, then you end up getting what you deserve.
Positive posts by employees of Just for Brakes have no credibility. Zero. This company should be class-action sued into non-exsistence.
I took my car in for an inspection because my brakes were making some noices…they told me I dont need my brakes fixed, they were fine. I ended up not paying anything. I think it depends on your location. I do have to mention that my leather gloves went missing from my car…I called the shop about my missing expensive leather gloves, they never returned my call. I am almost sure someone from the shop took it while inspecting my car.
We just got done with a year-long nightmare with Just Brakes here in Thornton, CO, on 120th Ave and Washington St. At first, I had taken my 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage (a pretty small economy car) there to fix the brake pads which had a life-time warranty from a previous Just Brakes repair at the $98 price from a Southern Colorado location. It was 2 years later, so not too bad for the amount of miles I put on the car.
The manager at the time, Lanny, replaced the pads but said the rotors were warped/worn and could not be machined and that they needed to be replaced. So, $460 later, brand new pads, shoes, and rotors.
Then, less than a month later, the brakes are grinding again, took it back in for warranty work, and WOW, all of a sudden Lanny tells me that we need new calipers, imagine that. I was stupid enough to pay for it, they machine the rotors under the warranty, replace the pads and shoes, AGAIN, and supposedly put on new calipers (found out they were really just re-conditioned used calipers, not new).
Of course, 2 weeks later, the brakes are again grinding, enter the sale of new struts, $600.
Since then and for the past 6 months, just about once a month we’ve had to take the care in for “warranty” work and they just can’t seem to get it right. It’s a freaking nightmare dealing with them and they refuse to replace their own defective parts, instead stating that the warranty is up on everything but the pads and shoes, and that they will stop doing any warranty work unless we buy all new rotors again.
Now Lanny, and thier new manager Dan, are trying to tell my wife and I that the rotors from the factory (OEM supposedly) are designed to wear out in less than 8 months, which I know is complete BS! We refuse to give them any more money, and will take it to our local mechanic which we should have done in the first place (all this started with them because of thier own stupid warranty).
I’m drafing up the lawsuit right now against them. We’ve had it and want it done right. We already know we paid way too much, and I won’t even start of the “entire new” brake system that they were legally obligated to fix before allowing us to leave and refused to put the vehicle back together on my wife’s 2000 Jeep Wrangler, that was $1,400 we found out we never needed to spend.
It doesn’t matter the few decent experiences anyone’s had with this company, they are complete rip off artists, and I only wish I had scoured the internet before ever agreeing to a single out of warranty repair there. I feel like a complete idiot.