Classic Robbery!

Here is the story:

Mazda Tribute, misfire was diagnosed.
Service man called and told me that sparkplugs and coils need to be replaced.
Next day he called me saying that it did not help and main computer PCM needs to be replaced.
He asked 1600$ + Tax.
I refused the offer and found couple used PCM.
First one was with different ID number, it came from Mazda Tribute with automatic transmission (my Mazda Tribute has manual transmission).
Service man told me they copied my data but can’t make it working properly.
Why did they need to copy my data?
Just go to internet and check on how to flash PCM. All you need is to download the latest software image from Mazda or Ford and flash it.
After consulting with someone he told me that board is different and there is nothing they can do.
Do you expect Mazda dealer to know that different board will not work?
I would say “YES”. Also I found a lot of information on internet regarding board compatibility.
NP.
I brought second PCM with the same hardware ID.
Can you imagine my reaction when service man called me telling the same bs.. ?
They copied my data and got “Cruise Control” module so my ABS will not function
I was asking again:
Why do you need to copy my data at all?
Just flash it with latest factory image!!!

The same pause with not understanding what I am talking about…
He called me in 1 hour again saying they figure out how to fixed ABS issue.

So here are the charges:

1.2 hours diagnostic --- they probably charge for the first wrong one to replace my recently installed sparkplugs and second one when they determine it was PCM.
Consider most dealer’s services would waive the diagnostic charge if you do repair.
0.5 hours – spark replacement, which was not necessary to do

Attention:

1 hour – coil replacement.

Question: How can you replace sparkplugs without taking coils out?

They just consider customer an idiot…

3 hours – computer flashing.

You can find a lot of video on internet where people do Ford escape PCM flashing for 10-15 min.

And what do I finally have?

About 800$ bill for sparkplugs and coils and 5.7 hours of their labor.
As guys have no idea how to flash PCM properly I will have to visit another service to flash PCM with last factory image.

Conclusion: Absolutely unprofessional service but very professional robbers.