Dishonest auto repair places really make me angry...

[LeeH]

An oil change place close to my house shut down months ago. Recently a new shop moved into the space. They joined the local Chamber of Commerce, of which, I am also a member. I went in an introduced myself when they first opened. Seemed like nice guys. They only hire ASE certified mechanics.

Last week they had a big promotion that was too good to pass up. It was something like $80 out the door for 4 oil changes, several fluid flushes, tire rotations, etc. Seemed like a great deal, and the guy said we could use the oil changes across both of our cars. Great. I left my car with them and walked home.

Got a call from them a little while later saying everything looked good on my car except the air filter was filthy. "It's so dirty that you'll probably pick up a couple of mpg by changing it out," was how he put it. I said no thanks, but I'd take care of that myself. I'll pay $20 for an oil change, but not going to pay $25 to have my air filter swapped.

I immediately went online and ordered a new filter, which came in today. As you've probably guessed, when I went to change the filter, it looked nearly new. It must have been changed out just before I bought the car 5000 miles ago. Most of the visible dirt was probably wiped onto the filter while trying to squeeze it into the airbox.

Grrr. Trust = gone. Now I have to wonder if they actually changed the oil filter. Did they really drain and refill the coolant like they were supposed to. I'll never know. I do know for sure that they rotated the tires.

I get that the oil change special is a loss-leader and they're hoping to sell me more stuff. BUT, THAT HAD BETTER BE STUFF I ACUTALLY NEED!

Now comes the question of what to do about it. I put the new filter in the car and will pay them a visit Monday morning with the "filthy" one. I'm considering asking for my money back for the card... just can't see dealing with a car repair place that pulls this stuff. I'll probably have a pow-wow with the owner. Would it be safe to assume he condones this sort of thing or is the manager just trying to pump up the numbers?

[Baz]

I think going in for a talk is the right thing to do.

It could be a case of an over-zealous tech trying to help the owner make a profit.

Not the right way to do it.

The owner would appreciate the info from you.

My advice is not to make the visit a hostile one.

Maybe give the owner a chance to make it right with you.

BTW - I always do my own oil changes....always. And whatever else I can do myself.

[Neilk]

VW dealer would do their 17 point inspections on my old Jetta during their oil change specials (it was about $5 more expensive than doing it myself.) I would make a point of checking my air filter before going in and vacuuming out the air box. Several times the service advisor would say my air filter was dirty and needed replacing. I called him out on it telling him that I had just checked it and after the second time, then never recommended any add ons...

[HHI944]

Jag inspected my car, told me I needed new pads on all 4 wheels and new front rotors for a grand total of 1600.....all measurements were within the workshop manual specs......did it myself for 300...
..
Called em on it and the service manager told me ibdidnt know how to measure......grrr

[Gogar]

You can always mark up your oil filter with a screwdriver or a punch before you take it in....

Just have a talk with the owner and tell him you're a 'car guy' and you're good for a lot of repeat business but you don't want the upsale runaround.

[Jim Sims]

The point of loss leader deals is to have the "cherry pickers" with their arms up going for the cherries; one can then more easily access their wallets. To avoid this, don't be a cherry picker. If the deal is too good for the shop to make money on the work then what do you expect..........

[aigel]

This is why I do what I can myself. The only thing I don't do myself is transmissions. There I just hold on to my ankles.

G

[Chocaholic]

Took wife's Honda in for oil change and tire rotation ($80!). Service mgr calls me to tell me she's overdue for a new air filter. I told him I replaced it 3 weeks ago. He said..."uh, well, that's what the readout said....nevermind".

Would like to say I won't use them again, but this happens everywhere. Very frustrating.

[Evans, Marv]

I'd sit down with the owner & make it a matter of fact discussion for his info. Whether or not he was involved doesn't make any difference at this point. I'd also let him know I wouldn't be returning nor would any of my friends or acquaintences. There are plenty of other places to get that kind of work done, that you can develop more confidence in. I never go back to a place that does business like that. Just think of all the people who are not as aware as you that are taken advantage of.

[rfuerst911sc]

Sadly for every car guy/gal like us there are 100 stooges that don't have a clue and fall for these tactics. A relationship with a honest shop/mechanic is to be treasured and respected and not taken for granted.

[DanielDudley]

The local oil place actually takes out the filter so you can see it.

[fastfredracing]

I have seen some stuff that would make your skin crawl. I worked for several different places in my young years, and 90 % of the time, the small independent guys are the ones who will not rip you off. By far, the worst I have ever seen, was at the hands of the larger chain places ( Sears, Goodyear, Pep Boys etc...)
The worst rip off I have ever seen, however , was at the hands of a local independent garage.
A lady brings me her 1985 Chevrolet conversion van. This was prob 15 years ago. She has just had the carburetor replaced at this other garage to the tune of $450.00 some dollars , but the van still will not run right, and after several returns to the garage, she cannot get any satisfaction. She asks me to look at it for her.
As most of you know, Conversion vans suck eggs to work on. I rip out the dog box, and get at the engine compartment, and once there, the "new" carburetor looks dirty, and I cannot get the air cleaner wing nut off. It is rusted to the stud. I wrestle it off, and wa la. No one has ever touched this thing. It is still the original q jet, and I am 100% sure that I am the first guy who has been in there in 5 years. I found a broken vacmum line, replaced it, cleaned the carb, set the idle, and her van once again ran 100% . I asked to see her invoice from the other shop, as I am now thinking that she surely has misunderstood what they sold her. Sure enough , right there on the invoice. They charged her for a brand new carburetor, labor to change it, and extra time to replace plugs, set the timing, and adjust idle/fuel mixture. Fookin' rotten I tell ya.
I have witnessed someone cleaning and painting a cylinder head, and charging for new. I have seen more in spec parts relaced than you can ever imagine.
I honestly believe that most out there are just honest guys trying to make a living, but trust me, the crooks are out there.

[Zeke]

It's how business is done at the chains. Commissions and quotas. If you want your oil changed by these jokers, then just let them waste their hot air on you about the sell-ups. I do feel sorry for those not in the know who are susceptible to these tactics.

I don't know how these guys can go home to their wives and families at night after ripping off ladies all day long.

Let me amend that statement. I wonder how guys who cheat women (and men) through deceit threat their wives.

[RWebb]

It is possible that this was a sale intended to introduce the new biz to the locals, and that there was just a tech that got carried away.

BUT, you will want to think hard about using Google Maps, and yelp to warn other customers, depending on how your talk with the owner goes.

[GH85Carrera]

When I took my El Camino into a local shop for 4 tires they started on the BS. They told me I needed an alignment and brake pads an rotors. I calmly asked to talk to the manager. He was about 30. I explained I do all my work on a car that I have owned for 20 years. The only thing I needed was tires. But they just lost the sale because they were lying rip off jerks.

[johnsjmc]

Women get it even worse than men. Years ago my mother took her car in for an oil change. The guy wanted to upsell her on an engine shampoo . He insisted it needed it to avoid overheating problems. He wouldn,t take no for an answer. She finally said to him she couldn,t do it without asking her husband and he let her leave.(She was widowed at the time ,but not stupid).
One other question You show the inside of the air filter but the other side is where the dirt accumulates. How bad was the other side?

[john70t]

Transportation is a basic requirement of daily life and the economy.
There are ethical standards for many other professions, but for the average consumer this falls back to the private BBB or small claims. A layman versus a "professional"

So for most people, it's a matter of choosing which business is most likely to not rip them off.
Interesting that this thread is a gripe about mechanics, by mechanics.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by john70t

---snip---
Interesting that this thread is a gripe about mechanics, by mechanics.

Hey John...

I look at it as a healthy discussion about service and excellence by those who understand those two criteria...and try to live by it themselves!

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by LeeH

Got a call from them a little while later saying everything looked good on my car except the air filter was filthy. "It's so dirty that you'll probably pick up a couple of mpg by changing it out," was how he put it.

This would have been enough to make me never go back....

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by johnsjmc

One other question You show the inside of the air filter but the other side is where the dirt accumulates. How bad was the other side?

Good catch... flip side below.

I've done my own oil changes for years. I read too many stories of quick oil change shops over tightening and cracking the plastic caps on the cartridge filters on Mazdas resulting seized engines. I was pretty excited at the idea of having it done for about what I pay for the oil and filter.

I'm very interested to hear what they have to say. Funny, when I was picking up my car, they were showing a woman a cabin air filter that was off the charts dirty. Supposedly, it came out of her car. Really makes me wonder if that's one they keep on hand.

I hate the thought of publicly trashing someone's business, but worse is the idea of letting them treat people this way with no consequences. Right now they only have one Yelp review and it's positive. So much so that it sounds like it was done by a friend or employee. If I post about this on Facebooks it would reach numerous Chamber of Commerce members and others who live close enough to be potential customers for this shop.