Oil Change Purchases - Buyer Beware!

[modularv8]

Went to Pepboys today to return an oil filter that came with an oil change combo deal. I didn't need/want the filter. Anyway, while returning it, the cashier open the filter box and inspected the filter. Then she got a flashlight and peered into the filter. Then she did the sniff test and then had two other employees perform the sniff test for confirmation. The whole event was methodical as if by a protocol. I thought it was funny, so I asked "Do people really return used oil filters?" She said, "Yes, we actually get alot of them. Some people are so cheap that they try to return used oil filters by cleaning them up real good, so we have to sniff them to be sure. We also have people trying to return used oil in new motor oil containers." I said, "Wow!, that's unbelievable"

Anyway, just wanted to pass this along. Apparently, there are some rotten folks out there performing sacrilege on our motor oil.

 

[addyguy]

I can't believe parts-store clerks sniffed an oil filter to check it! I find it hard to believe the store would 'sanction' that as a acceptable protocol!

Too weird!

 

[Quest]

yup...seen that many, many times (and not surprised).

seen folks cheepened out by buying fresh/new car brake light bulbs, put in the burnt one, and return to wallymart for a full refund.

seen folks trying to return opened/used motor oil in a clean oil jug pretending it's unopened to the unsuspecting cashier for a full refund.

What else? female intimate shops have customers returning soiled(worn) panties for refund?

What's new these days?!

Q.

 

[Artem]

I always check the seals on oil containers and open oil filter boxes to examine the condition of the filters before buying.

I've seen one too many DIRTY oil filters, some even dented (dropped?) or missing the seal.

 

[modularv8]

Originally Posted By: Artem
I always check the seals on oil containers and open oil filter boxes to examine the condition of the filters before buying.

I've seen one too many DIRTY oil filters, some even dented (dropped?) or missing the seal.


Which brands of motor oil have seals on thier container?

 

[tinmanSC]

Originally Posted By: modularv8
Originally Posted By: Artem
I always check the seals on oil containers and open oil filter boxes to examine the condition of the filters before buying.

I've seen one too many DIRTY oil filters, some even dented (dropped?) or missing the seal.


Which brands of motor oil have seals on thier container?

Valvoline does.

 

[sciphi]

Had that happen with a gallon of Maxlife ATF once. Somebody had clearly used it, and then carefully poured the used ATF back in. Thankfully it was caught at the register instead of when it was needed.

Not surprising that folks are doing that.

 

[chubbs1]

I like Castrol and Motor Craft because they actually have a foil seal. The others you have to check. I haven't had a problem from any oil yet.

 

[glum]

People are such scum. Can you imagine buying an oil filter, only to find out--after removing and disposing of your old one--that the "new" one ... wasn't new? Or worse, not even realizing it, and having the "new" filter operate in bypass mode for however long it was in there? Or maybe the seal leaks at the worst time, and you run low on oil long enough to ponder how much engine damage occurred. Wow.

I usually buy Valvoline oil, and always check those tamper rings. Some products (e.g. brake fluid, fuel additives, etc.) have foil or plastic seals under the cap, and when I'm buying that type of thing, I ALWAYS remove the cap and check the seal. I've often found broken/missing seals, although sometimes it looked like the glue had simply failed.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: modularv8

Which brands of motor oil have seals on thier container?

Every oil container I've ever seen, no matter what brand, has some kind of seal on the container, whether it's the plastic ring attached to the cap or a foil seal underneath the cap.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I like the foil seal. M1 has it. OEM Nissan oil filters are also sealed in shrinkwrap within the box,and the box flaps are glued shut.

 

[John_K]

Originally Posted By: modularv8
Went to Pepboys today to return an oil filter that came with an oil change combo deal. I didn't need/want the filter. Anyway, while returning it, the cashier open the filter box and inspected the filter. Then she got a flashlight and peered into the filter. Then she did the sniff test and then had two other employees perform the sniff test for confirmation. The whole event was methodical as if by a protocol. I thought it was funny, so I asked "Do people really return used oil filters?" She said, "Yes, we actually get alot of them. Some people are so cheap that they try to return used oil filters by cleaning them up real good, so we have to sniff them to be sure. We also have people trying to return used oil in new motor oil containers." I said, "Wow!, that's unbelievable"

Anyway, just wanted to pass this along. Apparently, there are some rotten folks out there performing sacrilege on our motor oil.


I had a Walmart clerk do that to me and claim it was used when it wasn't! I also bought a 4 qt. jug once, got it home and found it was used oil! I didn't think anyone would believe me so I took it to the recycling center and bought another one. Now I always check the seals and condition of the contents before I buy. People are pigs.

John

 

[Skid]

That's really sad.

I've heard of people buying laptops at a place like Best Buy, and opening the box at home only to find a brick inside. Try to explain that one to the return counter.

 

[shpankey]

Sad & maddening at the same time.

 

[mechtech2]

Returning used oil in the new bottles for refunds is standard in Chicago area Walmarts.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I like the foil seal. M1 has it. OEM Nissan oil filters are also sealed in shrinkwrap within the box,and the box flaps are glued shut.


The problem is that I would not put it past some lowlifes to actually go through the bother of glueing on a new foil seal on the returned bottles containing used oil.

 

[fdcg27]

I first learned of the practice of refilling a jug with drain oil and then returning it on BITOG.
I guess I was always lucky, since I never bought a jug of used oil and I am now very careful to check each container of oil I buy.
As for filters, IDK.
How could you possibly clean out a used oil filter well enough to return it?
Unless you use a very special high-end filter of the sort not found at either Wally or one of the chain parts stores, I would think that the cost of the solvent used plus your time would exceed the cost of the oil filter.

 

[rraiderr]

I thought the sniff test was used for something else.

 

[JZiggy]

I bought a set of $$ iridium spark plugs once... the boxes had cheap, used Autolites in them!!!

 

[dishdude]

Sorry, but this doesn't make sense. There is no way you could clean up a used filter enough that it would require several people, a flashlight and a "sniff" test to determine if it is unused.