More like Risdon'ts…read more
Summary: No accountability, no apology. Never again. Entire car searched - without permission - then being further disrespected by the owner yelling at you in the middle of the garage. Not sure what his deal is, but none of that was okay.
I came here today for a routine oil change and tire rotation. When I called to schedule this two days ago, I gave the make and model of my vehicle since sometimes they need to order in a special filter or part. The owner assured me they had everything.
I'm all for supporting local businesses, and while I've only gotten gas here for decades, my family has also brought in vehicles for oil changes and similar basic services.
I told the owner I'd wait in the little table area they had out front and the key was in the car for them.
Partway through, he came to get me to show me the wear on the front tires and suggested skipping the tire rotation and paying more to get new front tires.
Sure, no problem, let's do it. Thank you.
I went back to the waiting area.
A while later, another guy came out to ask me if I knew where the lug nut key was so they could remove the tires.
I asked if they'd checked in the back where the spare tire was. He said they had and couldn't find it.
We walked over and I was immediately surprised to see that my tools and personal items from my car were out on the ground and they were putting them back in my car when we walked up. I looked in what were the logical spaces next to some car tool kits, but no luck. They told me they'd already checked everything, and when I looked up, I saw that someone was rifling through my glove box and then saw that my personal items were all moved around in the front, the doors, and center console areas of my car as well. They clearly took the liberty to look through ALL of my car, without thinking to take a few steps to where I was and updating me prior and asking if they could look since they didn't have the needed tool.
I kept it cool and simply mentioned to the guy rifling through my glove box that I'd prefer he didn't do that.
I then saw the imprint of a greasy hand on my front seat where someone had previously leaned to look through the now disheveled center console.
Once it was clear that the needed part was not somewhere in a kit in the car, I asked the owner for a clean towel. I wanted to wipe the grease from my seat. He brought it over, I wiped the seat, then thanked him again as I handed it back.
Clearly all of my personal items and space had been searched through and while I felt violated and that being asked permission would have been nice, I kept focused on trying to find a solution for this missing part.
When it was clear the tires would not be removed since they didn't have the part, and the kit I had didn't have it, I thanked him again and asked him for the receipt.
The oil change was $165 and some change. I kept calm at that price tag, thanked him one last time, then asked him where I was supposed to pay.
At that point I shared, "I want to share some feedback so that you are aware - I would have preferred if you asked me first before going through my car."
He immediately exploded in the middle of the garage, to the point that I gently raised my hands as a gesture of wanting to de-escalate.
He blew right past that and said that he was watching the whole time and that they put everything back and that since my key was in the car, they could do whatever they needed as part of the service.
I told him that I understood leaving the key, of course, so that they could move the car, but didn't understand that to give permission to go through all of my personal items and entire car. I attempted again to come back to my point that it would have been nice to have been asked - especially since I was right out front.
He immediately snapped back, still yelling, saying that he wasn't going to "debate me" and that it was my responsibility to tell him upfront if I was going to be "sensitive."
I was in disbelief. What was the disconnect?
He continued to yell at me, blame me. It was clear the owner didn't give a shit.
I told him that I was done and that this was extremely unfortunate and could have gone very differently. I didn't feel safe - forget feeling respected.
Was I missing something? If I have a leaking sink and I let in a plumber to fix the sink, then come back to check and find that they've gone through all of my cabinets and drawers with greasy hands and looked through my entire apartment because they needed a part, would that be my fault for not having the part and for not saying at the start that I was "sensitive" to what I assumed was basic communication and decency?
I couldn't wait to pay and be out of that incredibly disrespectful space. Again, this was incredibly unfortunate and could have gone very differently. As I got back in my car, I saw the fresh fruit I'd brought with the original intention to gift as an additional thank you.
No accountability, no apology. Never again.
