Thoughts on Quickie lube places

[maximus]

I don't care for the chain places. When I was in college, I used a "ma and pa" type place and they always did a great job. They always asked what brand and weight I wanted. The tech even had me start the car after he refilled to check the oil level. I always got first class service. It felt good to support a local business, too.

"Complete Oil Change" in Ruston, LA.

 

[Superbuick96]

My friends' older brother is a manager of an Iffy lube, and has work there for 20 year or so. He told me at some of the particular stores in my area they hire some real idiots. They had a deal with a prision hiring ex-cons stright out of prison for minimum wage. He has dozens of stories about careless mishaps from these knuckle dragging mouth breathers. Needless to say he would never have friends or family, or his own vehicles serviced at his iffy lubes, unless he was doing the work himself....Not to mention a full syn oil change at these places cost around 80.00 dollars!!Most of us would prefer to do it ourselves for 20-25 dollars which includes filter...

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Superbuick96
My friends' older brother is a manager of an Iffy lube, and has work there for 20 year or so. He told me at some of the particular stores in my area they hire some real idiots. They had a deal with a prision hiring ex-cons stright out of prison for minimum wage. He has dozens of stories about careless mishaps from these knuckle dragging mouth breathers. Needless to say he would never have friends or family, or his own vehicles serviced at his iffy lubes, unless he was doing the work himself....Not to mention a full syn oil change at these places cost around 80.00 dollars!!Most of us would prefer to do it ourselves for 20-25 dollars which includes filter...


I'd watch real carefully to make sure that $80 synthetic change was yeilding me synthetic oil. I wonder how many people pay for synthetic oil and get what ever flavor they serve for the $19.95 oil change special!

 

[Colt45ws]

I worked at a WM TLE for a year and a half. There are certain people there I would trust to change oil on my car...and certain people I would not.
When I first got hired on, one dumba$$ in particular has been fired and rehired more times than I can count on one hand. He will screw up the three times, get fired, and get rehired in 30-60 days to do it all over again.
I do cars at my own rate and ignore upper managements speed complaints. In reality I was well under their speed requirements, they just have no idea how to properly schedule. I have made very few mistakes. (We are all human here.) Nothing that was not easily fixable.

 

[demarpaint]

Just the fact that you're a BITOG member speaks volumes, to me it means you care about cars. I'm sure there are some good guys working in the automotive service industry, I deal with a guy now that I trust. I use him when I don't have time or the weather is to bad to be doing the work myself. But most of the experiences I had were memorable, the memories weren't the pleasant type. That unfortunately ruined it for the few good men. When I have work done, I watch, but that is very rare since 95% of the work I have done is by me because of those unpleasant memories.

 

[cheetahdriver]

i have two places i trust. one is a regular garage that does all of my automotive work, and one is a quick lube place (not a chain, but locally owned) where i do my oil changes. my garage charges way too much money for the change, so i only do an OC there when i have something else going on. the quick lube place does a good job, but i bring my own oil and filter, and they know not to top anything else off (brake fluid, ps fluid, etc), instead just telling me if they think something is low.

both places know me (as an oil nut), and that may be one of the reasons i get good service. i certainly wouldn't go to a place i didn't know the folks at for a 15 minute change.

i also watch them like a hawk.

 

[TheOak]

Originally Posted By: StevieC

...
I went to a Mr.Lube a couple of times when I was dealing with flare-ups in my back. I would pay them the labour and provide my Amsoil and filter. Was worth it for me...


This is what I do - but WalMart ... cuts their $30 down to $18 and change.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

I used to have a dealership do mine. My wife worked at the dealer and I paid 6 bucks in labor and brought my own oil.