[Shotimes] you be the judge: charge for AC service

[van Oss]

Yesterday morning we took my wife's 95 LX wagon in for AC service.  $134 
later (inc. $75 labor, $50 for 2 lbs. R134), momma very happy.

That afternoon, momma unhappy.  Car blows only hot air.  Take it back, and 
they discover one of the AC lines has burst (reinforced rubber tubing, it 
looked like) with the increased pressure of the morning fill.  Now they want 
$320 (inc. $130 tube, $100 labor, $50 for 2 more lbs. R134).

I raised cain, arguing that if the system had been visually inspected in the 
morning, the impending failure of the tube would have been spotted.  Crucial 
point:  When they showed me the tube, the flap of rubber was dirty on the 
edge, indicating it had been that way for a while.  They said it's such a 
rat's nest that a visual inspection of the whole system is impractical and 
they rely on a vacuum test.  I replied that a vacuum test may not stress 
rubber tubing as high pressure would.

Said I'd pay the bill but it would be our last work there.  (We go to church 
with the owner.)  Evening guy knocked off the labor and second refrigerant 
charge, bringing second bill down to $160.

Any comments?

VO