Regarding a 2012 RAV4 2.5 with ~30,000 miles:
My good friend called me to ask about service she received at a local shop. After being quoted $65 for an oil change, she was charged $79.36, which included an "oil additive" that she did not request nor authorize. I found out later on that it was Lucas Oil Stabilizer. $&@%. They told her that it's necessary for hot weather... in Pennsylvania.
I typically service the vehicles of friends that live nearby, but she lives several hundred miles away. Previously, she had been going to Sears, which I'm generally opposed to; the high cost of service is propping up their failing retail operation. To that end, I scoured the Internet, searching for a trustworthy local shop who could maintain her vehicle in my absence. Monte and Sons in Philadelphia was one of several that I suggested based upon the Yelp reviews.
So, back to today's incident. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt regarding the additive. If a Lucas distributor convinced them that it's necessary for summer use, I can give some leeway there. It's snake oil, but I can't say that they knew it beforehand. Shame on them for not at least looking into it, and for adding it to a vehicle that's under warranty.
Charging her for this item without first asking her consent is another issue entirely, and completely unacceptable. I don't think anything more needs to be said about that.
When called back, the mechanic claimed that Lucas is good for high mileage vehicles, and that he heard a tick in hers. I call malarkey. He told her to stop by on Tuesday for a refund of the additive, and I told her to stay away from that place in the future.
It was only $14, but I feel that this behavior is dishonest and likely indicative of how they operate in general.
Heck, they may not have added anything at all, and just charged her an arbitrary amount for being female.
My good friend called me to ask about service she received at a local shop. After being quoted $65 for an oil change, she was charged $79.36, which included an "oil additive" that she did not request nor authorize. I found out later on that it was Lucas Oil Stabilizer. $&@%. They told her that it's necessary for hot weather... in Pennsylvania.
I typically service the vehicles of friends that live nearby, but she lives several hundred miles away. Previously, she had been going to Sears, which I'm generally opposed to; the high cost of service is propping up their failing retail operation. To that end, I scoured the Internet, searching for a trustworthy local shop who could maintain her vehicle in my absence. Monte and Sons in Philadelphia was one of several that I suggested based upon the Yelp reviews.
So, back to today's incident. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt regarding the additive. If a Lucas distributor convinced them that it's necessary for summer use, I can give some leeway there. It's snake oil, but I can't say that they knew it beforehand. Shame on them for not at least looking into it, and for adding it to a vehicle that's under warranty.
Charging her for this item without first asking her consent is another issue entirely, and completely unacceptable. I don't think anything more needs to be said about that.
When called back, the mechanic claimed that Lucas is good for high mileage vehicles, and that he heard a tick in hers. I call malarkey. He told her to stop by on Tuesday for a refund of the additive, and I told her to stay away from that place in the future.
It was only $14, but I feel that this behavior is dishonest and likely indicative of how they operate in general.
Heck, they may not have added anything at all, and just charged her an arbitrary amount for being female.