***Update***
The owner replied to my original post (listed below) saying it was un-ethical of me to try to use the coupons that THEY sent out. The coupons that we called in an booked the appointment with ahead of time. This guy needs to learn how to take feedback without becoming so emotional.
***Original post***
I don't like to leave negative reviews, but our experience at Mike's Auto Clinic was frustrating enough that I feel it's important to share and hopefully prevent others from making the same mistake.
Over Mother's Day weekend, we received a promotional text from the shop offering 50% off oil changes and 15% off any repairs for moms. We scheduled an oil change and asked them to look at a known issue with the car.
We were told there was a $191 diagnostic fee, but it would be applied toward repairs performed. That seemed fair, so we agreed.
After the inspection, they came back with a long list of minor issues and confirmed the major one we expected--a failing alternator. What we didn't expect was the total cost:
Oil change: $170
Alternator replacement: nearly $1,200
Diagnostic fee: $191
Total (with tax and fees): Over $1,600
When we called to discuss, we spoke with a man named Cody. While explaining the issue, he kept switching between "alternator" and "starter," which was confusing. When I pointed this out--just trying to make sure I had the correct information--he became defensive, as if I was attacking him. I wasn't.
I then asked if the oil change had already been done. He said yes. (This will be important later.)
Next, I asked about the Mother's Day promotion. He said he wasn't aware of it, so we sent him the text. He later came back saying they could waive the $191 diagnostic fee and take something off the oil change, bringing the revised total to around $1,300.
However, they refused to apply both parts of the advertised offer--saying they don't "stack" discounts--and would not honor the 15% off repairs and the diagnostic fee credit as initially promised. This felt incredibly misleading.
After discussing it, my husband and I decided not to proceed with the repairs. We didn't trust them, and the whole experience felt shady.
When I called Cody back to cancel, he said the final charge would be $191 for the diagnostic and $170 for the oil change. I asked if we could at least still use the 50% off the oil change, since we weren't going forward with the other work. He said yes.
The total should have been around $276 plus tax. But then Cody told me the total would be $340. I asked how that made sense, the math didn't check out. I'm a teacher--I know basic math. He recalculated and said it would now be $304.07, citing an extra fee for using a credit card.
Though frustrated, I agreed and said I'd come that afternoon. A few minutes later, I realized I could pick the car up immediately and called back. Cody sounded hesitant. I asked if that was okay, and he said he just needed to make sure it was ready--odd, considering both the oil change and diagnostic had been done the day before.
Then, two minutes later, he called me back and admitted: the oil change had NOT been done after all.
I was relieved. I told him not to do the oil change and that I'd be right over to pick up the car. We still paid the $191 diagnostic fee, but I'm thankful that was the extent of our interaction.
Had I waited until the afternoon as originally planned, they likely would have done the oil change and charged us that inflated $170.
So not only did Cody lie about the oil change being done, but they also refused to honor their own promotional offer and didn't follow through on the promise to apply the diagnostic fee toward repairs.
Every step of the way felt misleading, disorganized, and dishonest. It wouldn't surprise me if they train staff on how to upsell or confuse customers into unnecessary charges.
We got out of there paying $199 after tax on the diagnostic that just consisted of labor.
To top it off, on the way home, my car started making a brand-new noise it didn't have before bringing it in.
Needless to say, I will never return to Mike's Auto Clinic--and I strongly urge others, especially moms being targeted by their "special offers," to steer clear. This felt like classic bait-and-switch tactics. read more