mgirardo
Brunswick, GA
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I think I'd have some reservations too since two different gas station mechanics mentioned it. However, Ely and Wells aren't that far apart, only about 140 miles, so it's possible they are owned by the same person and it's a common scam.
Perhaps also because you have Canadian license plates they thought they could scare you into spending money to fix nothing. Was there a hotel next to the gas station? They probably could have given you a good rate for a room while you waited for the "no work required" repairs to be completed.
-Michael
Michael Girardo :: michael@ecxc.com
2009 Jayco Greyhawk 31FS Class C Motorhome
2006 Rockwood Roo 233 Hybrid Travel Trailer
Four Green Feet
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camperpaul
Wherever I park my travel trailer
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Joined: 05/10/2006
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I have been told many times about the "terrible noise" made by the engine in my Suburban.
One guy wanted to rebuild the carburetor and replace the spark plugs, wires and the distributor.
Paul
Extra Class Ham Radio operator - K9ERG (since 1956)
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Was a campground host at IBSP (2006-2010) - now retired.
Single - Full-timer
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1982 6.2L Diesel Suburban 1500
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Joined: 06/20/2009
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Read about a story of a RV'r here (MH) getting scammed in Needles, CA. tire problems, same thing guy runs over from adjacent shop...phew glad I caught you those tires looked wrong when you drove in.........$$$$$$$$$$ and down the road he went.
Don't know if it was buyers remorse...scam job.....or combo of both.
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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I suspect they're targeting RVs since so many of them are driven by those who really are not aware of how they work and in some cases least able to handle problems in the desert. NOBODY is going to be diagnosing "terrible problems" from watching you drive up.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
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Bird Freak
Calhoun, Ga.
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agesilaus wrote:Sounds like the Georgia I-75 Highway Bandits.
I never heard of this. If its true where did it happen?
Eddie
03 Fleetwood Pride, 36-5L
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hershey
Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA
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haddy1 wrote:Same scam is quite common in Needles, CA, but I've not heard of it in either Ely or Wells. Perhaps the guys in Nevada are related.
This guy is notorious at his scams. A garage next to a service station in Needles.
hershey - albuquerque, nm
Someday Finally Got Here
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hershey
Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA
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Many years ago when I-40 was still Rt-66 the service stations along that route were notorious in their scams to rip the travelers off.
Santa Rosa, NM was a hotbed of rip off stations.
Each station had a battery checker on wheels at the pumps (yeah, they used to pump the gas for ya') and when they checked your oil they would stick a small screwdriver into a battery cell and short out a couple plates. Put the ole meter on it an of course they could show you that you needed a new battery.
Installed a battery, took the old one and cleaned it up really well, unshorted the cell and did the same routine on the next pigeon.
Each station attendant had an Elmers glue bottle with an oil/gas mixture and would squirt it on the fuel pump. Of course they made sure they had a correct fuel pump on the shelf that had been removed from the previous pigeon.
I'm sure all the stations along the desert route of Rt 66 did the same things.
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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wells, NV. Yes they are scams artists. a friend of mine got took by them. cost him over $400 to get out of the shop. I told him if he had this problem it would not cost that much to fix. IF HE HAD A PROBLEM. key words there. We drove down last year in my car and when we stopped for gas in Wells, he was telling me about the guy coming out from the shop to tell him of a problem with his rig. Wait til I email him about this scam, he will be fit to be tied.
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rgraham
Missouri
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Joined: 02/10/2002
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They got my brother in Needles said he had a bad tire course he believed them bought 2 tires , they said I needed new springs in Flagstaff, and in Williams my shocks were leaking after he shot some oil on them, they would also stick a icepick in your tires they were bad out their, fill your car up your self and leave don't let any of them dudes around it, and don't listen to their sales pitch, that Needles California has always been a den of thieves,,,,
Richard
1987 ford f250 6.9 diesel
1997 Innsbruck by Gulf Stream 28ft fifth wheel with slide
and the wife and co-pilot Trudy
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fredbon
Pacific Northwest or SoCal
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WOW, sounds like traveling the SW desert in the 50-60's.
fred
Fred and Bonnie
Frankie & Scarlett, (The Cats)
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2006 Saturn VUE
As I've Matured... I've learned that artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
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