Sears just jacked me last night!!! Since my fiance bought me a Yellow Top from Sears, I took it there to get tested because it was drained and not charging all the way. While I was there I paid to have the whole system tested.

The tech concluded that he "thinks the alternator was bad" because his machine kept asking him to test it over and over again. I didn't want to deal with them anymore because they seemed clueless so I paid for the diagnostic and asked them to put everything back together. I told them I'd drive the car home, buy a battery and alternator and swap it myself.

Also, when they tested my battery they said that it had to be charged over night to be tested. I told them that I charged it on a 10 amp for 4 hours and they told me that they probably could not warrant the battery because those Optimas aren't supposed to be charged on a 10 amp. That was fine with me.

When the tech went to put the battery back on the car he reversed the polarity {hooked it up backwards. +-/+-).

It was around 8:45pm and sure enough, the car wouldn't start anymore. While the manager was inside, the tech told me that sears just bought me a new alternator.The manager comes out and simply says they're going to have to keep the car over night.

Can anyone advise on what I can expect for compensation for this type of thing?

 

Well, since they bought an alternator, I wouldn't be expecting any other kind of compensation. But be sure to double check everything before you go, make sure all of your electronics in the vehicle work.

 

Well I talked to them this morning and they said my alternator tested good and he said my battery is bad. They won't warrant the battery because its 3 years old now.

The guy tried to sell me a battery after that crap. I told him to put my battery back in the car and I was coming to pick it up. I said he's crazy for thinking I was going to give him my business after that.

Since the battery was working before I brought it in, I can expect a new one if its not working when I go pick it up, right? Even though they determined that the battery was bad before the tech fried my battery?

 

**Update**
So I went back to pick up my car and they determined that my battery was bad and the alternator was good. They blew the main fuse so they changed that and it was good.
The general manager gave me a brand new battery and refunded the charge for the full electrical system check (test battery, alternator, starter for $12.99). Die hard gold is what I got out of it so I guess it worked out but rather nerve wrecking.

 

I will never take my car in for any thing that I can handel my self for just this reason....
I am very glad it all worked out for you but i have seen many cases where stuff like this goes down and the customer gets charged for every thing.
there mantality is
'go ahead and sue for the cost... we have more atturnies than we know what to do with.. It will cost you $500 to get your $200 back, so have fun'.... jurks

 

I would never take my car to Sears (again), period. About 12 years ago when I owned my '71 El Camino I took it to Sears for a new set of tires. 6 hours later I was still waiting for my car to be finished.

They're a bunch of idiots. You might as well take your car to Jiffy Lube, Pep Boys, or Precision Tune if you're going to let Sears touch your car.....