[captain1202]

I went to the Havoline oil change place on 441 just north of Baylee Plaza for an oil and filter change today. I have used the place several times before when it was Texaco Express Lube with no incident. Very good service in fact.

Today was a different story. The place appears to be under new management. The attendant checked me in and I clearly stated that I wanted and oil and filter change ONLY. The car was taken into the bay and the service commenced. Shortly thereafter another fellow came in to the waiting room for the "upsell", which, of course, I expected.

He asked of the car had been laid up for a while because the air filter and serpentine belt were "really bad" and the two front directionals weren't working either. In addition the rear differential was badly in need of service.

I agreed to the differential service because I knew it had not been done for the 60,000 miles I put on the car and in fact may have never been done in the life of the car. The rest of the stuff I put on hold for my regular service people to look at.

A woman came in to the office and she could check me out while they were finishing the car. I went to the counter and she presented me a with a bill for $92.00!!!!!

Keeping in mind I went in for a $23 oil change I was quite taken aback. When I questioned her she said the differential service was $59.95!!!! The service amounted to to removing the drain plug, dropping less than a gallon or so of gear oil, replacing the plug and re-filling the oil.

I admit, I did not ask the price when the guy suggested it, but I had maybe an additional $10 or $15 in the back of my mind. MY BAD for not asking!!

In view of that fact, I agreed to pay the bill, but I told her I would never, ever even think about coming back. Furthermore, I would tell everyone I knew, including the TOTV viewers about this experience.

When I got home I checked the following items on the car:
1) Blinkers - both OK
2) Air Filter - barely dusty
3) Serpentine belt - fine
So that was all B.S. The funny thing is, the one thing that obviously needed replacing, my wiper blades, were never mentioned.

Anyway, I post this note so that some unsuspecting person pulling in to this establishment will not have the same experience I did. I'm particularly concerned about someone not in tune with the car, i.e. my wife, getting duped by these clowns. It's hard enough to find good service people without having deal with places like this.

[pjolson]

Went there once. Never again. They tried to sell me everything short of a new car. None of what they tried to sell was needed. We now use Walmart on 466 for routine oil changes.

[buggyone]

"I admit, I did not ask the price when the guy suggested it, but I had maybe an additional $10 or $15 in the back of my mind. MY BAD for not asking!!

In view of that fact, I agreed to pay the bill, but I told her I would never, ever even think about coming back. Furthermore, I would tell everyone I knew, including the TOTV viewers about this experience."

What was their reaction to you saying you had only figured $10 or $15 for the extra service? Also, what was their reaction to your statement about telling TOTV viewers about the experience?

I hope you told someone in charge and not just the cashier.

[The Great Fumar]

Originally Posted by pjolson

Went there once. Never again. They tried to sell me everything short of a new car. None of what they tried to sell was needed. We now use Walmart on 466 for routine oil changes.

I too used to go there but got so fed up with them telling me that my transmission fell out when they raised it up on the hoist "only kidding" but its very nearly that bad..They are as troubling as a Tiger Woods ball drop...I now go to Walmart for lube jobs.....Walmart is not my favorite place but you go in ...tell them what you want and they call you when its ready.....my kind of service...

Blue light special fumar........

[justjim]

Since they were doing something beyond the original agreement you should have been told the cost PRIOR to the differential service. Of course, when they didn't tell you what the additional cost would be, that should have been an immediate red flag! There is an old but true saying: We learn more from our mistakes than we do our successes.

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by captain1202

The funny thing is, the one thing that obviously needed replacing, my wiper blades, were never mentioned.

We had our car serviced there a couple years ago and had new wipers installed. They fell off the next day.

.

[Golfingnut]

The Villages car wash will change your oil and filter and give you a discount on the Car wash at the same time and like the marshalls at the TPC, I have no doubt whatsoever that Tigers drop was fine and honest. They were standing right there and I was not.

[kittygilchrist]

thanks for the post. I appreciate knowing where NOT to go. I recall being told at an oil change place, "Little lady, if you don't get the struts done on this car, you won't make it to Georgia".
thanks again!
Kitty

Originally Posted by captain1202

I went to the Havoline oil change place on 441 just north of Baylee Plaza for an oil and filter change today. I have used the place several times before when it was Texaco Express Lube with no incident. Very good service in fact.

Today was a different story. The place appears to be under new management. The attendant checked me in and I clearly stated that I wanted and oil and filter change ONLY. The car was taken into the bay and the service commenced. Shortly thereafter another fellow came in to the waiting room for the "upsell", which, of course, I expected.

He asked of the car had been laid up for a while because the air filter and serpentine belt were "really bad" and the two front directionals weren't working either. In addition the rear differential was badly in need of service.

I agreed to the differential service because I knew it had not been done for the 60,000 miles I put on the car and in fact may have never been done in the life of the car. The rest of the stuff I put on hold for my regular service people to look at.

A woman came in to the office and she could check me out while they were finishing the car. I went to the counter and she presented me a with a bill for $92.00!!!!!

Keeping in mind I went in for a $23 oil change I was quite taken aback. When I questioned her she said the differential service was $59.95!!!! The service amounted to to removing the drain plug, dropping less than a gallon or so of gear oil, replacing the plug and re-filling the oil.

I admit, I did not ask the price when the guy suggested it, but I had maybe an additional $10 or $15 in the back of my mind. MY BAD for not asking!!

In view of that fact, I agreed to pay the bill, but I told her I would never, ever even think about coming back. Furthermore, I would tell everyone I knew, including the TOTV viewers about this experience.

When I got home I checked the following items on the car:
1) Blinkers - both OK
2) Air Filter - barely dusty
3) Serpentine belt - fine
So that was all B.S. The funny thing is, the one thing that obviously needed replacing, my wiper blades, were never mentioned.

Anyway, I post this note so that some unsuspecting person pulling in to this establishment will not have the same experience I did. I'm particularly concerned about someone not in tune with the car, i.e. my wife, getting duped by these clowns. It's hard enough to find good service people without having deal with places like this.

[mulligan]

I have grown to have a great deal of confidence in Wildwood Tire for all my mechanical/oil change needs. Local owners, honest, reasonable prices, and they have done good work for several neighbors when I sent them there. They're on 44 on the left just before 301.

[rubicon]

There are so many of these franchise repair where some just seem to take advantage making it difficult for the honest shops.

By the way this post was about a bad experience with a local repair shop and not about sexism and Tiger Woods

[Buffalo Jim]

Captain : Thanks for the informative post . It always amazes me how some business owners choose to take the low road . There is plenty of business available for the " honest merchant " . No need to stoop so low .

By sharing your experience you have no doubt helped many of your fellow Villagers .
It was a bit sad to see that someone chose to wade-in with a critical comment accusing you of sexism . To that poster -- lighten up ! .

[queasy27]

I go to Wal-Mart for oil changes and they've never tried to upsell me, which I appreciate. They open early and are usually able to get me in right away.

[Standard disclaimer about Wal-Mart applies, should you be so inclined.]

[justjim]

Most new cars have a maintenance minder on them and except under unusual driving conditions your oil doesn't need changed until 6,000 or even 7,500 miles. I know a lot of the oil change franchises tout every 3,000 miles but your car manuals disagree. It might cost a bit more ( not if you follow your manual) but I take my car to the Dealer and that keeps my warranty up to date. Years ago I had an attempt to scam me when I took my car into a place similar to OP and was told I needed new shocks or my tires would wear and would need replaced. Two months prior----I had my shocks replaced and no way did they now need replaced again. Be careful out there----automobile manintenance can be an outright scam!

[Mikeod]

I used to to go to one in CA because they had a good price for oil changes on my diesel truck. One visit I asked them to service the differential. At my next visit, they approached me in the waiting room with a sample of my differential fluid to show me how bad it is, and recommend changing it. So, I asked to speak with the manager and pulled my receipt from the previous service with the charge for the differential service. I told him either you're trying to scam me, or you didn't perform the differential service I paid for last visit. Either way, I want the fluid changed and I want to watch it being done, or should I call the sheriff. They did the service with me watching. I never went back.

[batman911]

I do not want to say all, but all the franchised oil change places I have visited (mostly for safety inspections) have all tried to up sell me on needless services. They will do the oil change at cost just to get their "victims" in the door. I change my own oil because I would not let their untrained workers touch my engines. What ever happened to the neighborhood gas station with trusted owners and workers?