ADLER & MANDEL INC

They did the work in 1 and 1/2 days, as they estimated. The price seemed high, but I called another auto upholstery shop and they were charging the same thing to replace the headliner. The dealer wanted $160 more, for the same work. The new headliner looks almost like a new car would. They kept the interior clean. They called me promptly when the work was complete. No complaints. Good service.

This is a typical niche auto service business located in an industrial park of outer suburbia. It's no frills but you get what you expect. I walked in and someone was immediately available to look at my issue and give me an estimate. I left my center console for a few hours and came back and it was re-installed in a few minutes.

I took my car for an estimate to replace the top of my BMW Z3. I found it to be reasonable and decided to order it. Three days later I was informed that they had received the top, took my car the next day and picked it up the following day. Adler and Mandel did a terrific job. They were very professional and seemed to have a lot of experience doing this kind of work. The top looks great, works perfectly. The service wasn't cheap but I thought it was't overpriced.

Problems with A&M Work, Invoice # 0068236, 5/13/08. 1) Serious safety issue: inside passenger-door handle has been disconnected -- door must be opened from outside. 2) Passenger door window will not go all the way down (parts-supplier/restorer says window motor installed improperly, should go all the way down). 3) Side-mirror motor switch, in driver's door panel dead -- does not operate left and right mirrors any more. 4) Arm rest recovered in material that does not come close to matching rest of car's leather interior.

I gave them a down payment and took the car back in. They would not give me the car until I paid in full. When I took the car home I saw the the new top was installed crooked. At that time he grabbed the window and shook it hard, he blamed an old installation from a dealer installed window as the issue and that it was crooked and not the top. But he took it in to take a look, when I got the car back this time I had finger prints all over that seemed to be sealant because they won't come off. After this time I took it home and the next morning after a rain storm I had water sitting in my passenger floor. I took it back down and he yelled at me that all Camaro's leak and it is not his fault. It is now at Chevy Chase Chevrolet getting fixed.

Adler Mandel failed to meet several agreed upon deadlines; failed to communicate the status of the service; changed its payment policy after taking control of our vehicle, failed to negotiate in good faith, changing the components to be installed without prior approval, and created an extremely hostile environment for my entire family (my wife and four children witnessed many of the events). One owner called me a dumb f__k and referred to my wife and me as "filthy rats" in front of our children. We contacted the police for assistance, but the policeman was unsuccessful in convincing them to finish the installation, and accept a credit card as payment as we originally agreed upon. Under duress, we were forced to go to the bank to get a money order for the remaining $1,825.50 before we could get our truck back. Reviewed the invoice in detail with 2 of the 3 owners. Two days later, we received a revised invoice requesting $646.75 more. They have not returned phone calls or letters.