JONES MOWER & SAW CTR

We purchased this pressure washer used for $80 less than a year ago to use around the house. It worked fine for 5-6 uses, but then wouldn't generate pressure. We took the pressure washer to this business approximately July 10th because it was close to our house. It was our understanding that we would be called when they determined what the problem was. We called 2 weeks later when we hadn't heard anything and were told they had ordered parts and it should be ready "soon". Two more weeks go by and we have not been contacted, so again we call them and find out that the parts they ordered didn't fix the problem and they had ordered different parts. I asked at that time how much this would cost and the answer was "not that much" by the owner. Ten days later he finally calls us for the first and only time (spoke to my husband) to let us know it is repaired and will be roughly $250 - which is 3 times what we paid for the pressure washer to begin with! My husband explained to him that we had not authorized, nor expected it to cost that much. His response was that the machine is a high end pressure washer "worth close to $800.00" and he just assumed we would be willing to spend that amount. We explained to him that we just wanted a "Harry Homeowner" pressure washer to use around the house. We were willing to spend up to 125 to 150 for it, but we would not have authorized 250 - if we had ever been asked. In hopes of making a win - win for all of us, we asked if he wanted to purchase this high end machine for $500 ( since according to him it was "worth close to $800"). In other words - he would pay us $250 and the bill would be gone. He said he would consider that and let us know in a few days. Of course he did not call us and I called him a week later to find out that he would give us $80 because he could only get $400 for it ("it's worth $800 brand new" is the explanation) and it would take time to sell it. Beyond that he offered no other credit or discount knowing that we were extremely dissatisfied with the time it took, the lack of communication and no estimation of cost before doing any work. Also keep in mind this is our first experience with his business. So, we paid the bill and took it home. He gave us all of 30 days warranty (which is shorter than the 6 weeks he had it), which is not transferrable should I decide to sell it to get the money out of it. We haven't used it yet - but if it doesn't work I will certainly be back to this forum. In retrospect, we should have asked for a written estimate and given him a limit when we left it - but we honestly were shocked that he proceeded without asking first. He was always nice and polite, as were we. But we will not return.