Don't disregard the other bad reviews as easily as you might if it were about a restaurant. People have different tastes and ideas about what makes an experience "good enough" and cooks and waitresses can have bad days. A bad meal is likely the worst that can happen if it turns out you were wrong to give them a chance. And ladies not all of you but a vast majority will willingly admit you don't know a thing about cars and you will spend more time and thought on choosing a hairstylist, and would NEVER ignore bad reviews about that.
Now, with YOUR vehicle, surely you will do a little homework on potential costs and seriously consider the reviews here-why else would you be here on this site if you didn't care? You might even checkout the BBB? So, since you ARE here I'm going to proceed in expectation that I have the correct audience. IF you stumbled upon this, maybe you're on the way there and looking here for funsies, or they got you with idea of coupon or discount -good luck to you, close the browser now, this post ain't for you. Most Everyone gets a discount btw, especially if your simple oil change turns into more, either because it's "needed" or because they failed to do things right at your last visit, or you balk at the cost or play damsel in distress. The charismatic manager-he doles out discounts and makes you feel special. YOU are NOT special. He is a salesman, he wants repeat business and he's really only doing his job if he can get you to return or has high sales figure for that Monday afternoon conference call with district manager.
Now, if your going there for more than an oil change YOU'RE going to the wrong place to begin with! If you didn't know that, it's unlikely you'll be able to judge whether or not something that needs repair down the road was a result of their initial negligence, oversight or maybe just their limitations. Im not suggesting you brought the car in for oil change and they went in the back and totally messed it up and came out and said it needed all these things. I AM telling you if they say you need a new battery how do you know it's not the alternator? How do THEY know? Do they have ALL the diagnostic equipment that a full service mechanic would have? NO. Can they check codes? NO. Was it true you needed a new battery? Might be. Might be when that new battery is dead a month later you don't realize that they didn't do anything nefarious but they were just incapable of providing a full diagnostic. But they're unlikely to tell you that and playing Devil's advocate that's YOUR fault not theirs, because you took your car in to a place that specializes in OIL CHANGES and it needed other things, you kind of suspected it too or maybe outright knew it.
If you just can't help yourself because they made you feel like a friend before and everything turned out all right, at least know what the service your requesting should cost considering labor and parts but even if your there for an oil change, know what that should cost-call around first. Don't forget to factor in your lost time waiting-are you missing work or doing this on your lunch break, do you have to pickup your kid from school later, or just would rather be doing something else? If you think you'll be in and out, if they say they can fit you in, if they suggest they're not THAT busy so come on in...know those are pretty much default responses and remember they are NOT your friends and they have sales to make. All if this being said, go somewhere else, I beg you. Their lack of duty of care I experienced at my last "oil change" resulted in $700 out of my pocket, but hey, I did get that discount! In addition, since it wasn't my particular experience, I'll just say I know someone else who went to get oil change but mentioned other issues. She was so excited-mechanic "had her in and out gave her a discount and fixed the problem." The only thing is problem has returned, issue misdiagnosed. So that cheap oil change visit is really turning into a costly headache. But don't worry grease monkey, she's planning to go back to you! You're just so nice and then there's that discount! read more