Auto repair facilities are CROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKS

[Cutehumor]

Hey drew, I bet they didn't do some of the work they charged for!
I feel for you. My dad emigrated over here 40 years ago . He gets taken advantage of all the time. But he's gotten to the point that he financially can't afford the repair shops anymore and relies on me to maintain his 03 Sentra. I learned from his mistakes and motivated me since 19 years old to learn about maintaining/repairing cars.

 

[VeeDubb]

My experience is that the franchised chains - the quick lube centers, the tire centers, etc.- are the worst. I have never had one not try to sell me something unnecessary. I avoid them in the same way I avoid used car dealerships. Last time my in-laws went to one, they got raped.

Dealers are hit and miss. I'd say 50/50.

I've had the most success finding honest mechanics at independent shops recommended by others. I've been screwed once or twice, but haven't been serially raped for the most part.

 

[rjundi]

I purchased four Bridgestone RE960's(cheapest price by far) at a Firestone Car Care Center last year. 3k miles before I had a dealer perform a major service(30k)on my Subaru WRX.

Somehow Firestone's magical printout of recommended services came up to $550(I recently paid $310 for Subaru service). I told them about the 30k service and the service adviser simply stated it was based on mileage and they had no record of what was performed before even though in the midst of winter my air filter was dirty. I mentioned more pricey and they said we do lots of preventative "flushes".

I felt creeped by the place after and will never set foot into a chain like that after that showing. I'll pay the extra $10-$15 for a tire and go to my independent, dealer or trusted independent tire dealer.

It sounds like your parents fell into the trap. Places offer and they accept.

Then again my wife does fine with her [censored] look and will give it back plus some. Just before we married they didn't mention the alignment needed after replacing her front struts where she asked for an estimate prior. She said do it and I am not paying anything more than the estimate. She won as she did not back down.

 

[Drew99GT]

I went and chatted with the owner; see, the owner and my Dad have been friends for a long time and one of the techs there used to own a gas station/repair facility about 25 years ago and my dad used to take his cars to him. He (his name is Dennis) is a totally stand up guy and would never do this kind of crapola. The guy that owns the place sold it a few years back and that's when things really went down hill, so he bought it back to try and help long time customers (my Dad's probably been going there longer than anyone - that's why it peeves me they're doing this stuff). There's obviously still a bit of slime dripping off the walls but he was grateful for me bringing my concerns to him and he gave us a $100 credit towards anything we need in the future. And he did reiterate that we should have told them I had done some of the same work (and another shop did the trans) - my mom called before and asked me what I thought and I told her, but pops wouldn't back down. So, that's that!!!

 

[Drew99GT]

I'm starting a file with all the receipts from auto care (duh, I thought everyone did that!), and a list of things I've done and keep it in the glove compartment and tell my parents to just bring that in with them to base when things need to be done as I'm about ready to get out of the family car maintenance business. I've done it to help them get perfectionist service and save them some mulla, but like many of you have said, it just doesn't work out. You could give a family member heart surgery for free and the family cohesiveness would get damaged.

 

[mechtech2]

I have worked in dealerships, and have had my own shop with a partner for many years.
I agree that repair shops and body shops usually get as much as they can, and can justify it with gobbledygook. I don't trust them either! Only Doctors and lawyers charge more for less output. Well OK, politicians and bureaucracts, too. Also TV Weathermen. Etc..
We are very different in my shop and are not getting rich, I might add.

 

[VeeDubb]

I've found the best way to get good auto service is to establish a relationship with one that has done a good job for you. Then work with them, make their life easy, don't nickel and dime, and recommend them to friends. Over time this really pays off. I've been working with the same service advisor at my VW dealer for 5 years now. He definitely takes care of me, doesn't upsell anything, gives me loaner cars (they don't have a loaner car policy), will do any warranty work for me (including the ones where they lose a little bit of money), and gives me discounts.

 

[rpn453]

Welcome to life in capitalism, where you are responsible for your own money and for educating yourself on basic situations within this system. Everybody gets hosed at one time or another!

Please note that I am not against capitalism.

 

[Mr Nice]

Drew,

Did you know it was the MAF was bad before they took their car to get fixed ??

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: VeeDubb
I've found the best way to get good auto service is to establish a relationship with one that has done a good job for you. Then work with them, make their life easy, don't nickel and dime, and recommend them to friends. Over time this really pays off. I've been working with the same service advisor at my VW dealer for 5 years now. He definitely takes care of me, doesn't upsell anything, gives me loaner cars (they don't have a loaner car policy), will do any warranty work for me (including the ones where they lose a little bit of money), and gives me discounts.



That's too slick for my taste.

 

[oilyriser]

At least when you get your hair cut, you can tell if they're doing something, because bits of hair start falling all over the place. But I bet the air filter in the car still has your fingerprints on it.

 

[VeeDubb]

Originally Posted By: moribundman

That's too slick for my taste.


Hey, it worked and I didn't get raped.

Plus, we're friends now so the posturing ended about four years ago. When I don't like something, I tell him straight up now and when he can't do something for me, he just tells me without having to spin it.

 

[moribundman]

Had my service advisor been a young lady, I might have asked her "If I scratch your back, will you claw mine?" It wasn't to be.

 

[VeeDubb]

Too bad. Because when you unleash that type of charm, how would she refuse?

 

[moribundman]

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Honesty isn't a habit that works part-time. JMO

 

[PF52]

My dad takes his car to a quick lube place, and they ALWAYS take him for over $100. Seriously, they always recommend something extra - a tranny flush, coolant flush, cabin air filter, "motor vac", etc. I'm certain General Motors never intended an Impala to require four tranny flushes before reaching 75,000 miles, but my dad's car sure has had that many. I tell him to "just say no" but he seems to fall for it every time.

 

[moribundman]

I offer currently canooter valve service for only $50.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: css9450
My dad takes his car to a quick lube place, and they ALWAYS take him for over $100. Seriously, they always recommend something extra - a tranny flush, coolant flush, cabin air filter, "motor vac", etc. I'm certain General Motors never intended an Impala to require four tranny flushes before reaching 75,000 miles, but my dad's car sure has had that many. I tell him to "just say no" but he seems to fall for it every time.

I'm sure unDummy would disagree.

 

[Kestas]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
I'm starting a file with all the receipts from auto care... and a list of things I've done and keep it in the glove compartment and tell my parents to just bring that in with them to base when things need to be done...

I've done that to auto shops and find that this info doesn't get to the mechanic. They just ignore the info and do their business as usual. They're just not used to people who take an active role in maintaining their cars (and they're lazy).