Walmart Auto Care Center - Sanford (Rinehart Rd)
Visit Date:…read more5/24/2026
I am extremely disappointed with my experience at this location's Auto Care Center today due to poor communication, lack of transparency, and the amount of time wasted.
At 9:42 AM, I called and spoke with a female associate regarding my vehicle situation. I explained that I would be having my car towed in for a tire replacement/service. She took the tire measurements and confirmed they could assist me. I specifically asked whether it would be a wait and was told yes, with approximately 5-6 cars ahead of me.
I also asked whether they would be open tomorrow because tomorrow is Memorial Day (Monday), and I was trying to determine whether I needed to urgently arrange towing and service today or if I could wait until the following day. I was told they would be open.
At 11:22 AM, the tow truck driver contacted me and informed me that Walmart rejected my vehicle because I was not physically present when the vehicle arrived. This was never communicated to me during my original call, despite me clearly explaining that the vehicle would be towed in. Had I been properly informed upfront, I could have arranged accordingly and avoided unnecessary delays, confusion, and towing complications.
The tow truck driver also informed me that while attempting to deliver my vehicle, he experienced an attitude from a short bald employee working in Auto while being told they would not accept the vehicle. Because Auto Care was refusing the vehicle at that time, the tow driver stated the only thing he was able to do was leave my key fob inside the gas cap area before leaving. This added even more stress and concern to an already frustrating situation.
Another major issue throughout this experience was the inability to reliably reach the store by phone. Multiple times, the phone would continuously ring with no answer, forcing me to repeatedly call back just to speak with someone.
This inconvenience was especially difficult because I have a disabled mother at home and was already hesitant about leaving her for an extended period of time. Had I been properly informed upfront regarding the policy and realistic wait expectations, I could have arranged appropriate care and transportation plans in advance instead of spending hours dealing with miscommunication and uncertainty.
At 11:47 AM, after trying multiple times to reach someone, Leanne transferred me to what she stated was a manager up front. No one answered and the phone continuously rang.
I called back again at 11:50 AM and spoke with Joanne, who was the only employee who genuinely attempted to assist me. She listened to my concerns, attempted to reach leadership, and showed professionalism and empathy throughout the interaction.
At 11:54 AM, I spoke with Tabitha, who identified herself as a coach. She stated she would contact the Auto Care Center leadership team to get clarification on the policy and look into a solution. She later called back and confirmed the policy, but I again explained that I had not been properly informed earlier in the process. I asked whether anything could be done regarding the inconvenience and additional costs incurred due to the miscommunication, and she stated the cost would be reviewed once I arrived at the auto shop.
My vehicle was checked in around 12:30 PM. I attempted to contact Tabitha afterward to let her know I had arrived, but once again I was unable to reach anyone without repeated calls.
I then asked the mechanic how long the service would take after explaining my situation, and I was told it would be a minimum of one hour. I agreed to wait. After waiting approximately an hour with no movement or updates regarding my vehicle, I eventually had to arrange to be dropped back off at home.
At 2:10 PM, I called again and left a message with an associate requesting a callback from Tabitha. At that point, there had still been no movement on my vehicle.
As of 2:45 PM, service on my vehicle finally began, despite my vehicle having been checked in around 12:30 PM and being told earlier that the wait would be approximately one hour minimum.
Jacob was the employee who ultimately completed my service and contacted me at 3:08 PM to let me know my vehicle was ready, which I appreciated. He was professional and nice during the interaction. However, it appears the actual service itself took a little over 15 minutes to complete and was completed only after I left my message requesting to speak with Tabitha regarding the lack of updates and delays.
As of writing this review, I still never received a callback from Tabitha regarding my concerns or the message I left earlier in the day.
This entire experience was unsettling and could have been handled much better with upfront communication, accurate expectations, and better customer follow-through.