DON'T GO HERE UNLESS YOU WANT YOUR MIRROR RIPPED OFF YOUR CAR.
Last Tuesday (8/4) I stopped by a local Shell station in Del Mar, CA to purchase fuel as I do at least once a week. The gas is usually a few cents per gallon higher, but I don't mind. The location is ideal for my commute home (South on I-5), and there's a car wash onsite which helps keep my 1999 Grand Am nice and clean during the week.
My experience up until this point had been a great to say the least. Unfortunately everything changed when my mirror was broken off during a routine pass through the car wash. And I don't mean the mirror came loose and fell off...it was completely snapped off--breaking the base of my mirror all together.
Once the car wash completed its cycle I went inside to speak with the attendant. Understandably he said that I'd need to speak with the manager of the facility, Jim Winslow, to report the damage. After applying a role of electrical tape (purchased onsite) I drove home.
It took a couple days until I was able to finally reach the illusive Jim Winslow only to have him abruptly tell me that his machine breaking my mirror wasn't his fault. Needless to say I was taken aback. I've read the warning sign before entering the car wash that says Shell isn't responsible for antennas, bug deflectors, and aftermarket additions to cars, but a mirror??? The worst part about the whole ordeal was Jim's condescending attitude towards the whole thing. That is, until, he finally agreed to meet me and "send" the damage report to corporate. After seeing the damage he apologized and assured me that he would see what corporate would do.
Over a week has passed, and nothing has happened.
I spoke with Jim again yesterday (8/13) and nothing has been sent to corporate, and his on-phone condescending attitude hasn't changed. He informed me that corporate wouldn't do anything because of a couple scratches on my front driver-side bumper (which were caused by someone trying to parallel park their car a few years ago). According to Almighty Jim, the wise and all-knowing car czar, the scratch on my bumper MUST have caused damage to my mirror, and four years later it magically snapped off. It must have been a coincidence that the mirror finally fell off in his car wash after holding on for so long.
Suffice it to say I will never purchase gas, or was my car at this facility again. Or, at any Shell station for that matter. It's unfortunate that through the actions (or non-action) of one person (Jim Winslow), a company will miss out on my bi-weekly gas purchase and car wash. read more