Quick Oil Change Places

   / Quick Oil Change Places #1  

HillStreet

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2013
Messages
1,071
Location
Maine
Tractor
Kubota B2650HST. Kubota Z125S
I have been using a certain, national company for doing my oil changes for 20+ years. I serviced my company cars as well as my own without any problems to speak about. I went again to one such place today and it went like this:
I drove up to the door where an employee came out to greet me. He asked what I wanted and I told him full synthetic oil change, grease, and rotate tires. He said sure, but tell the guy that checks you in what you want. I asked him why he is asking me what I want when I have to tell the other guy what I want. I asked 電on稚 you guys talk to each other? And he walked away saying sure.

Then 30 minutes in the waiting room (only three customers the total time and they were in front of me), and the boss comes in to check me in. He pulls up the truck file (I知 a regular) and he says last time you had a synthetic oil change. I said right, as I told the last guy. He said he did not talk to the other guy. And I asked him 努hy do you guys talk to me for redundant information but don稚 talk to each other while servicing my truck? He said 的 didn稚 talk to the other guys? I said 典hat痴 my point? He has an air filter in his hand that looked like the type my truck has. He walked back into the shop, and I asked him if that was my air filter. He said yeah, I brought it to talk to you about it. I said, but you carried it into the waiting room, checked me in, never showed me the filter, then walked out, what is it that you want to talk to me about the air filter? He said its clean, you don稚 need a replacement.

When it was over, he presented me a receipt printed with my information but it was printed with the letterhead upside down. Then he said the vacuum doesn稚 work so 田ome back another time when the vacuum works and we will vacuum it?

Then I very politely, and confidentially told him that he needs to reevaluate how this company does business. Some of the things I said 1. Receive customers with a purpose妖o not come out to say hi, what do you want if you don稚 care what I want. 2. If your employee tells me that you will check me in in 30 minutes I will leave because that is too long to just wait at a quick change place, and 3. If your vacuum is broken do not tell me to come back when the vacuum does work (wait in line again?), just knock off $5 to show your sincerity. 4. If vacuuming is part of your advertised service, then make sure it works. Have a preventive maintenance program, have a checklist that will identify these things, have a spare, OR compensate customers for the lac k of your advertised service.

I know that I should call the company but I do not want to complain about somebodyç—´ livelihood. Maybe I expect too much but a simple oil change is just thaté*� simple task. I just don稚 have confidence in these people that they will do it right.
 
   / Quick Oil Change Places #2  
I service our cars, truck, tractors, mowers myself. This is why...

A few years ago my wife and I are near a ***** lube store ( probably what you're referring to). It was a cold February day, I look down and it was time for an oil change. There were (4) four guys standing there so no waiting. Instant service! We've never been to one before but I'm impressed, they immediately vacuum the car out...then one guy runs in with this really nasty black looking air filter..."you need one...and it's only $20" I say go ahead, and I'm thinking....hmmmmm...the car has 12,000 miles on it, never has been off of asphalt...but oh well.
So I pay the bill... I forget, about $40-$50 or so. I start the car, we're going down the road, motor sounds like it's falling apart. Soooo I make a U-turn...pop the hood in their lot...no air filter, the air box is hanging open, and it's filled with acorns!!!!!
I get the "manager", saying rather than vacuuming the car how about vacuuming out the air box and where's my #@%÷#@ air filter!!!!!
So I watched them blow it out, put in a new (off brand) filter.
I traded that car a few years later...never ever had acorns in airbox, air filter never very dirty.
By the way...at home I google searched *****lube sucks...1000's of similar stories and complaints.
 
   / Quick Oil Change Places #3  
Years ago a friend worked for some chain lube place. All the young punks seemed to do, more than work, was figure out ways to screw over the unsuspecting customers.

BTW. There is jiberish in the op that makes it difficult to follow the story.
 
   / Quick Oil Change Places #4  
Up until a couple years ago I did my own. Now, I wait for the $19,95 specials. The guys that demonstrate the greater consumer confidence are usually behind the cash register. Not under your vehicle. I think these companies understand that the service dudes can't be trusted with the cash register.
 
   / Quick Oil Change Places #5  
I would prefer a place where the vehicle is on a hoist and I can at least watch the guy through the glass. I can just imagine a guy sitting in the corner of the pit, smoking a Dube, watching his I-Phone while he is supposed to be doing your oil change! I guess, as they say, A job is what you make of it! lol
 
   / Quick Oil Change Places #6  
A Portland, OR tow truck driver said the company gets several calls a month from people whose oil drain plug falls out, after using one of those quick-change places. He was delivering a friend's car that happened to.

Bruce
 
   / Quick Oil Change Places #7  
A while back, I posted a thread about a service pit for the yard machines including the SCUT. Threads like this make me want to dig it wide enough for my cars.
 
   / Quick Oil Change Places #8  
Had a neighbor take their 6 month old Ford PU to one about 25 years ago.
He sat in waiting room and watched them pull another vehicle up to his and put jumper cables on his.
Then he watched the cables "dance" when they tried to start his!
Long story short, when they shot the oil in from the bulk system the hose end went into a hose in valve cover and shot the new oil into the intake. When they tried to start it it hydra-locked and bent connecting rods in engine!
It was assistant manager doing the work.
Then they wanted to replace engine with a rebuild!
He got new engine installed at Ford Dealer!

I bought a 2016 Kia from Hertz Used Car Sales last year and because it still has factory warranty I took it to Kia Dealer for service to protect warranty.
It cost me $34.95 + tax for synthetic oil change, tire rotation, vacuum and wash!
They also did a multi point check and told me battery is getting weak, everything else is good. I changed the battery myself.
 
   / Quick Oil Change Places #9  
Glad I live in a small town where EVERYBODY knows each other. I take my vehicles to a lube place owned & operated by this guy who’s always there. He would always give me a heads up on certain items that may need attention, knowing that I like to take care of them myself. Some time ago, my son was curious about the process and the same owner invited him into the pit to see things from below. That’s the kind of place I like!

Not sure about the rest of ya but I never get out my truck when there. Do they let you drive in the bay over the pits or did they make you go in the waiting room?
 
   / Quick Oil Change Places #10  
^^Nine examples of why I will perform my own service work until I am physically unable to do so.^^
 

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