I decided to give these guys another shot today because I live three blocks away and my office is almost across the street. My laziness in trying to find convenience over quality has caused me to use this service centre three dissapointing times now.
My first time using them was in the March of 2011 to get my winter tires taken off and my regular maintenance (oil change etc...). I was quoted between $200 and $250 to get the work done. I went to pick up my car that evening and was told that I had to pay them $800+ just to get my car back because "the job needed more labour than originally estimated". This is a classic scam, but I just wanted to get out of there, so stupidly, I paid them. I went to my dealer (downtown Infiniti) and quick lube shops for the next 20 months before deciding that the location of the Mount Pleasant Certiguard was jut too convenient for me not to try them again.
I gave them a second chance in November of 2012 when I was getting my winter tires put on and my normally scheduled maintenance performed. I thought that since it had been almost two years, things might have changed. They hadn't. I booked my appointment two weeks in advance so that I could drop off my car first thing in the morning and then pick it up at 10:00am. My job requires a lot of driving, so this is often one of the only was to get service done on my car without renting a replacement. I got a written quote of everything that they were going to do: Oil change, oil filter and mounting and balancing four winter tires for $460.00. This is about twice what I should cost, but I didn't care. I just needed the convenience. I dropped of my car right as they were unlocking the doors and was reassured that I could pick my car up at 10:00am. So, at 10:00am I walked across the street to see my car still sitting outside. The people in the reception told me that they were working on some cars from the day before and would get my car in right away. I had to take a taxi to a meeting in Brampton, then another taxi to a meeting in Richmond Hill, before taking a taxing back to the Mount Pleasant Certiguard to pick up my car at the end of the day. By the way, it wasn't ready until the following night. 2 days instead of 2 hours! At least it was at the price that they quoted me. I think that the guy who processed my payment felt badly and didn't want to rip me off any further.
I went back for a third time because my schedule allowed their overruns and the convenience. This visit was to get my winter tires taken off, oil change and oil filter changed and a headlight bulb replaced. I had bought the bulb already at Canadian Tire because I was going to change it myself, as I had done on several of my previous cars. This car oddly (Infiniti G37) requires removing the front wheels to change the headlight bulbs, so I thought that I would get it done when getting my wheels and tires changed anyway. I had lots of time, so if they had my car for a couple of days, it wouldn't really bother me right now. Also, I would get a written quote to protect myself. I thought that everything would be fine. When the elderly man in the service station staff was telling me what this was going to cost, he said that even though the headlight replacement was going to be a ten minute job, they were going to charge me over $100 for the labour and overcharge me for the labour for the entire job. The guy actually told me that ripping off their customers on labour costs are where they make their "real money". I couldn't believe that he just said it to my face! There were two other employees in the room with me. One of them looked uncomfortable and a little shocked that the guy just admitted what they do without even being asked, but I guess what the old guy says, is the law of the land.
I feel like an idiot for going back to this garage three times. I will never make this mistake again! I can see by the other reviews on a few different websites that my horrible experiences with this service station are not isolated. I also asked around my office and heard of people having similarly despicable experiences. The best advice is to avoid using this service station. Even if you have to take a taxi across the entire city, it will still be cheaper (and less aggravation) than after these guys are done ripping you off! read more