Walmart latest Auto repair rip-off servicer?

[SvilleKid]

Let me start this with a general RANT!

You would think, with the internet, consumer watch groups, undercover journalism and word of mouth, that auto repair/service facilities that try and rip off consumers for unneeded repairs would have gone the way of the dinosaur! Not so. It is alive, and is full health. ESPECIALLY if the driver is a woman!

A few examples: Almost every time (realistically, at least 85%) that my wife or daughter takes their vehicle in for an oil change, they are told that the serpentine belt is severely cracked, and needs replacement. My wife and daughter both know the standard answer is "My husband/father does the car repairs, I'll mention it to him." Anyone that has examined a few belts knows that the grooved side of the belts have small notches formed into the ridges that allow the grooved sides to bend "backwards" around pulleys (allows needed stretching). These notches are the "cracks" that my wife and daughter are being shown!!!!!! My daughter and wife have both been told their belts were about to fail, with my ladies knowing I had changed the accused belts less than a week before!!!!!

The second biggie is air filters. Being in the know, ALL my vehicles are equipped with K & N air filters. This brand of performance filters is not replaced, It is cleaned and reconditioned (about once a year in the non-dusty conditions we live in). Never-the-less, they are often told the filter needs replacing. My wife even had an Express Oil place in Las Vegas show her a bogus filter (a cheap paper filter), and tell her it was clogged, and needed replacement! And the K & N in place was 2 months old!

Now, Walmart appears to be leading the pack! Prior to Jeremy's wedding in October, my daughter took her Pathfinder in to her local Walmart to get a tire re-balanced. She even knew which tire, because I had told her which it was. She was told that the tires were all "dry-rotted" and required replacement, and that Walmart could not balance the tires due to the dangerous condition of dry-rot. Of course, she called her chief mechanic. She immediately brought the Pathfinder to me. One tire was better than 75% tread, two tires had better than 50% tread remaining, one was within 5000 miles of what I would replace (since replaced). The most worn tire indeed had tiny cracks on it, but NOT on the sidewall, where dry-rot shows up. The cracks were on the very outside edge of the treads, where that tire has been run against a curb a time or two. Not "dry-rot", simply rubber stress on the outside edge of the tread due to the curbs! I took the Pathfinder into my local Walmart, said nothing except that there was a tire out of balance, on the front. They examined the tires, fixed a slow leak, balanced the two front tires, and rotated them front to back. No mention of dry-rot or any other problem. But of course, I was driving it!

My wife is in Ft. Lauderdale, finishing up a contract. She has a tire with a slow leak, and it is also out of balance (probably threw a weight off with the deflating and re-inflating that has been going on.) She is coming home in a week or so, and also needed the oil changed. So, she went to the Walmart in Margate this afternoon. Guess what? Her tires are dry-rotted, and they can't work on them! They can replace them, however! Now, I was down in Ft. Lauderdale a little over a month ago for more than a week. I knew then the tires would need replacing shortly (because it's a truck, trucks are "light on their feet", so to speak, and need decent treads to be stable. Knowing this, I paid particular attention to the tires a month ago. No dry-rot then, so I know they haven't fallen to pieces in the last 4 weeks!

Needless to say, the truck is now at a tire store to get the leak fixed, and re-balanced. They were not told what Walmart said. And amazingly, the tire store did not find any issue with the tires, except they told her they should be replaced in the next 5000 miles or so (which is correct assessment).

So, I guess the lesson here is "Don't let your ladies take their vehicles to Walmart for repairs. Also, make sure that they know, anytime a semi-repair facility (what I term "quickoil-change" joints) tells them about an un-anticipated repair need, that they find someone trustworthy to verify the repair need before letting Walmart or a quick-oil-change sell them a bill of goods!!!

Rant over.

[Ogre]

I hear you brother. I have dealt with the same situation with another auto repair business. Part of the problem is, they hire kids that dont have a clue what they are doing or looking at. The guy under the hood is maybe going to school to be a mechanic or has been shown how to pull a drain plug. They just look for what they are told to look at. Thats why I do all the work myself (that I can) or take it to a respected mechanic.

[pektel]

I don't understand why they think people fall for this stuff. But maybe a lot of people do.

I always laugh when they tell me the drain plug is stripped, and want to charge me for a new one.

[Starscream]

Wow. The people at who work in the automotive section at my Wal-Mart barely know how to change the oil, much less try and rip someone off. That sucks, brother.

[longknocker]

That's True Everywhere, Brother! I Remember Taking My Toyota In For Routine Service At The Toyota Dealership & The Service Manager Coming Out & Telling Me My Timing Belt Is About To Break & Needs Replacing. I Told Him, "That's Weird, I Just Had It Replaced Last Week At Another Shop!" The Advisor Crawfished Out Of That One Quickly!

[chippewastud79]

Personally, I am not sure why anyone goes to WalMart for anything. I loathe that store, not a single smiling person to be found. There isn't a shred of help to find in the place and their prices aren't comparable to what can be found elsewhere for less money.

[Commander Quan]

It's not just Walmart it's everywhere. Before I met my wife she would go in for an oil change (which she did every 3000 miles religiously) and leave there spending at least $100 in upsales.

[BigFrank]

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

It's not just Walmart it's everywhere. Before I met my wife she would go in for an oil change (which she did every 3000 miles religiously) and leave there spending at least $100 in upsales.

Totally agreed. Dealerships for me have been the worst. I take my car to a local spot that has a bunch of young guys in my age range who are the mechanics. When I go in they give it to me straight and simple. When my wife goes in ( low cut shirt on of course ) she always gets employee discounts, and freebies. So, needless to say she takes both of our cars in.

[maninblack]

This is why I do it myself. Not worth the headache of dealing with a guy with two teeth.

[Xoner8]

Hello everyone. As an ASE certified tech and owner of several general repair shops, I am as well aware of anyone of the stress of useless upselling. It gives my entire indutry a bad name. Sometimes, that transmission service is necessary to prevent future costly repairs and the honest shops are just looking out for your best interest. But, and I don't mean any offence, if you take your $40,000 car to a glorified grocery store for service, the outcome shouldn't be a surprise. Spend the extra few dollars for a reputable indapendent shop to do your routine maintenance, that is where you will find the greatest value and care...

[Ogre]

Originally Posted by Xoner8

Hello everyone. As an ASE certified tech and owner of several general repair shops, I am as well aware of anyone of the stress of useless upselling. It gives my entire indutry a bad name. Sometimes, that transmission service is necessary to prevent future costly repairs and the honest shops are just looking out for your best interest. But, and I don't mean any offence, if you take your $40,000 car to a glorified grocery store for service, the outcome shouldn't be a surprise. Spend the extra few dollars for a reputable indapendent shop to do your routine maintenance, that is where you will find the greatest value and care...

100%

[ninjavanish]

I wonder if cowboys ever got that...

Guy takes his horse to the farrier...

Farrier says... "your horses shoes are worn."

Cowboy says... "That's funny... I just had them rotated and balanced a week ago."

Farrier says... "Well, I recommend having them changed before every cattle drive."

Cowboy says... "Cattle drive?! I'm not that kind of cowboy. High Ho Silver AWAY!"

Then he rides off into the sunset.

*Queue Credits*

Originally Posted by ninjavanish

I wonder if cowboys ever got that...

Guy takes his horse to the farrier...

Farrier says... "your horses shoes are worn."

Cowboy says... "That's funny... I just had them rotated and balanced a week ago."

Farrier says... "Well, I recommend having them changed before every cattle drive."

Cowboy says... "Cattle drive?! I'm not that kind of cowboy. High Ho Silver AWAY!"

Then he rides off into the sunset.

*Queue Credits*

[Coach Deg]

I used to have to make trips down to Port Charlotte and would have a couple of hours to waste. One day I pulled into walmart and said might as well get an oil change while I am wasting time. About 20 minutes later they page me overhead, I go to the auto area and they tell me I have no oil in my car! No oil!!!! And they want me to sign some form informing me i should change gaskets. I'm like just change the oil. Couple of months later same thing. I have never been to walmart again for auto repair!!!!

[RevSmoke]

it doesn't happen only to women.

I had purchased tires with free lifetime rotation and balancing at the local Tire Barn.

Made my first appointment to have tires rotated and balanced, told them I only had 30 minutes, would that be OK? "Not a problem."

Got there, reminded them of my time constraint, and was told not to worry. 25 minutes later the tech working on my vehicle comes out and proceeds to say, "Your air filter is clogged, your wipers need replacing, and..." At which point I interupt him, "Can you explain to me why the hood of my car is open? Since when do you need to open the hood to rotate and balance tires?"

He tries to explain that this is a courtesy service that they do for customers.

I asked, "are my tires done?"

"No"

"Pull my car out and bring it around front."

He said, "I'll get your bill for the work that was done."

That's when I asked to speak to a manager. I didn't pay any bill, didn't get my tires rotated and balanced that day, left the manager a bit disappointed. Went to my normal mechanic, told him about the situation, asked him for a similar deal on new tires (with rotation & balancing for the life of the tires) to which he agreed. So, I had him give me new tires, throw the others in the trunk, and two days later went back to Tire Barn.

You know what, I got a total refund for the tires, even with almost 5k on them. Seems it is wise to keep the local clergy content. Seems he was worried that I might preach about fraud and stealing from the pulpit, and name names of places where such things happen - even to clergy. Wonder where he got such an idea from.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

[Salvelinus]

Some possible insight about the chain oil change shops.

At 100,000 miles I was living in Wyoming and was told to have my transmission fluid changed. Hadn't done it previously so I thought why not? Seems like after 100,000 miles that should probably be done (may or may not be true I have no idea).

I get back to Vermont and take my truck in to have the oil changed. They list off a number of things I need done which included the transmission fluid change. I mentioned that I just had my transmission fluid changed before the trek across the country and the manager tells me "oh I just have this list here for things to suggest you should have done based on your cars mileage, I'll make a note that you had that done so that we won't ask you again". I never went back, don't need robots that are incapable of making decisions based on what my vehicle actually needs anywhere near my truck.

[Bluetick]

My MIL 82 years old, everytime she takes her car for an oil chage, has to call me on the phone, "Do I really need this??". They nag her to flush the radiator, transmission, brake system and power steering.

The best one so far, Walmart service god said motor mount was broken. She called me, I told her "I'll be right there". Went to the desk, we went out to the car, I asked him to point out the "broken part". He stuttered, "I don't know where it is, but something is wrong". She later told me he said he had a buddy who could fix it next week as Walmart did not do this type of repair.

[Silound]

Funny thing, I have never had a problem with Sam's Club when it came to tires. They're a little slow, but they have competitive prices and they do solid work. I've gone behind them and checked lug torque, tire inflation, and everything I could think of any they're always exactly to spec with the printed reports.

Good thing, they never try to sell me anything, although they have on occasion told me they won't work on older tires that have < 5000 miles of tread life remaining. No biggie, as usually that's what I'm there to replace anyway.

I will add a vote to support your local mechanic. I have a transmission guy who I've gone to for years. My last truck had some issues with leaky gaskets and other problems, but he wouldn't take payment for labor after the first time. I kinda felt bad, I knew he was embarrassed that despite all his efforts, he couldn't stop the problem from recurring after a while. Turns out years later I discovered the engine in the truck was just too powerful and heavy for that transmission, but I had no idea until I had the engine overhauled....apparently that was the 4-bolt main they used in 1-ton trucks in 1977, and somehow it ended up in my 1/2 ton. No wonder it ate 3 trannys over the course of 30 years. But I've taken vehicles to him for years now anytime I need work done, and I refer as much business his way that I can.

[SvilleKid]

Originally Posted by Silound

Funny thing, I have never had a problem with Sam's Club when it came to tires. They're a little slow, but they have competitive prices and they do solid work. I've gone behind them and checked lug torque, tire inflation, and everything I could think of any they're always exactly to spec with the printed reports.

Wish I could say the same for Sam's! We took my wife's previous SUV back to Sam's 3 times complaining about lack of balance on a fairly new Goodyear Wrangler. I even pointed out, all three times the dimple inthe sidewall that indicated tread separation. Got blown-off All three times. Shortly after the third time, the tire blew, damaging her fender, and leaving her on the side of the road between Augusta and Columbia at 10 pm. Sam's refused to do anything about it. I had two rotations and balance returns at 8500 miles instead of 7500 miles. Said voided their responsibility. Sold me a new tire at a 25% discount (big whoop, damage to SUV was more than that). 4 months later, when we gave the SUV to our daughter, and I went to pull off tires to do a brake inspection, I found that Sam's had put three wrong lug-nuts on, stripping three of the 6 studs. 4WD Pathfinder. Taking the front rotor/stud ring off is a real PITA! Cost of replacement studs and lug nuts, less than $10. Time costs, over 8 hours. Of course, Sam's denied any involvement, though the tire was the very one they'd replaced 4 months before, and had not been off SUV since they touched it!! Needless to say, that was the last time I purchased tires at Sam's!!!! and, BTW, I've never purchased tires at Walmart. My wife only went to the one in Margate because it was close to where she was.