ComplaintsforCallender Lake Marine

• Initial Complaint

  05/15/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I took my boat in last spring for what I thought was a shift cable issue. I was told I would need to replace my entire lower unit to the tune of $6000.00 which I agreed to. Callender Lake ****** kept my boat nearly the entire summer before finishing the work. I may have 3-5 hours use on the boat when I started getting the same issue as well as overheating. Tome the owner told me it was likely the water pump in the lower unit and it would be covered under warranty. After waiting several weeks after dropping it off, I called and finally got an estimate of nearly $3000.00. I went to pick the boat up to take to another shop, and against my better judgement, I let *** talk me into agreeing to the repairs. I was told the boat would be ready in 3 weeks. After 3 weeks I called to check on the progress only to be told by the owners wife "you will never guess what we found after we got everything put back together. A hole in the bellows and that will be an additional $500.00 HaHaHa like it was a big joke.*** the owner acts like he is doing me some sort of favor by taking my $9000.00 in less than a year and has zero understanding of who the customer is. Unfortunately I did not check either BBB or yelp reports before doing business with this company. I only blame myself and hopefully this report will keep others from making the same mistake I have.

  Customer response

  05/15/2023

  Ideally, I would like back what I am having to pay to *********** back after such poor service. I am being charged over $500.00 labor after he refused to answer my question regarding when the boat will be ready. He has been belligerent and argumentative during every conversation and tells me the it will be ready whenever he is done with it. When I told him I would be in to pick up my boat and go somewhere else, that's when he sent me a invoice for $500.00 plus and has not fixed a single thing

• Initial Complaint

  10/15/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  Took boat to get tune up and oil change and to remove old gas on May 11, 2021. The boat ran before today Picked up today 10-15-21. The new battery we bought and made a special trip to take him has melted battery posts. The boat started when we took it there. Now, its destroyed. They handed the oil to my husband and charged us for an oil change though they said they did not do one. He said he was tired of working on it. We told them we could not go over 1500 dollars max when the boat was broughtto them. No work was to be done that was not specifically called and asked us about. They charged for a new jack and a cleaning charge we did not approve. My husband was treated very rudely. I don't believe this guy is even a real mechanic. We left a deposit of 700 dollars with the boat in May. We then paid $1312.41 today to get the boat back 10-15-21. We would like a lot of our money back. We didn't have a boat all summer. We live on a fixed income. This is very disappointing.

  Business response

  11/30/2021

  Business Response /* (1000, 6, 2021/11/02) */ I do apologize but when the boat was dropped off, I was asked to rebuild a carb for a **** *** ***** ********** that sat for 6 years to a decade. Upon drop off Mr.***** was given a verbal estimate of what it costs for fuel system work and the lead time of a month before we could even start looking at it because of Covid and summer rush. He agreed and signed work order, on file that we will include in pictures. By signing order sheet, he agreed for us to further investigate the damage of fuel system and motor. Mr.***** said nothing about a 1,500 max amount or that he and his family were on fixed income. Along with fuel work estimate, that was originally given to Mr. ***** at drop off, we were having issues with starter and wiring to battery. First rattle out of box batteries were dead. Warrantied batteries for the first time with *********** coming to our location to swap out. We used his last name and phone number. Yes they were super starts under warranty. Motor would not spin fast enough. During inspection of starting system we found battery cables too small and not of correct length(too long) to carry current/voltage properly to starter. Battery in boat the positive lug was literally melting during troubleshooting (under warranty)by ************ for the second time. We questioned starter as well because we didn't know the state it was in for it as well had been sitting up for 6 years with the same wiring. We came up with an estimate of said repairs, notified the customer and sent an email. In the state of the fuel system, if for some reason we would have to warranty fuel work down the road for any reason. We ask that all fuel related items to be cleaned or replaced. ***** was reluctant about fuel pump and why it also had to be replaced. "It is not a rebuildable item I responded". In original bid we also quoted out starter. Mr.***** agreed with fuel work but declined starter and wiring. He came to the shop on 7/27/2021 and put down a deposit of 700.00 on receipt number XXXXXX allowing us to proceed with repairs and order parts. Boat was dropped off with leaves and pine needles in the boat to where technician had to charge for clean up due to not being able to do his work. There are hardly any trees here. Tung jack for trailer stopped working and became a safety hazard so we replaced. In some cases we have had trailers come down on peoples legs because customer refused to maintain there jack. We will be inclosing pictures of work order with signature along with copies of estimate and final invoice. When the cranking of motor issue came back in the end Mr.***** was on the phone with us and voiced that he could not put anymore money into boat. He wanted to pick up boat and blamed us over the phone even though we had warned him about the issues ahead of time. When he came to pick up he was visually upset. He had asked if the oil change was done and we responded by telling him we had planned on doing it after we made it lake ready or right after getting the motor up to temperature. Usually done after a good lake test because oil would be thinner and hot. He refused the oil and filter given to him. I get that times are hard for everyone but if someone cant afford or have the means to be investing money in a **** *** ***** 5.8L, then all they had to do was say no and only pay for my troubleshooting fees. In most cases in older motors, ones that have been sitting for a long period of time, most respectable shops will require that the whole fuel system to be taken care or no guarantee. Especially if the customer wants the best outcome. We only want the best outcome. Consumer Response /* (3000, 13, 2021/11/15) */ Boat was brought in to drain and replace old gas. Boat had been stored, asked for oil change due to age and tune up. Lead time of 3-4 weeks was quoted. Five months later after following mechanic's suggestions on fuel system, he asked to "start new ticket" on electrical. I requested a quote. I received a bill with errors and replied asking for adjustment. Spoke with mechanic on phone. Could not start Boat, had melted battery terminal with repeated attempts to start. I asked if starter could be tested. He told me he did not want to work on Boat any more. I picked up my boat the following morning. I paid the bill, including items I did not ask for or receive. By their reports the boat ran poorly when they received. Now it will not run at all.

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