Oil-change shop caught scamming customers: Marketplace investigation - ONTARIO

[Splinter]

Some kid fresh out of highschool is just fine to do oil changes. It's an oil change, not heart surgery. You have to start out somewhere if you want to be a mechanic, you don't just magically become one.

Kids make mistakes. Adults make mistakes. Mechanics who've been working for 30 years make mistakes. Mistakes will happen where ever you go. What really forms my opinion about a company is what they do about it when a mistake happens. I went back to an engine shop for more work after they messed up my valve lash because they made things right for me after it happened.

Don't blame the kids. Blame the managers who use them like coke mules.

[meme405]

Originally Posted by Splinter

Some kid fresh out of highschool is just fine to do oil changes. It's an oil change, not heart surgery. You have to start out somewhere if you want to be a mechanic, you don't just magically become one.

Kids make mistakes. Adults make mistakes. Mechanics who've been working for 30 years make mistakes. Mistakes will happen where ever you go. What really forms my opinion about a company is what they do about it when a mistake happens. I went back to an engine shop for more work after they messed up my valve lash because they made things right for me after it happened.

Don't blame the kids. Blame the managers who use them like coke mules.

Very true. Whats worse than them not rectifying a mistake though, is it not being a mistake in the first place. Some of these places just flat out lie and cheat to get more money out of a customer. There is no excuse for not having changed out the oil filter on someones car. You assemble the parts that you need when you start and after you go through the motions at the end when you realize "oh shit I still have the brand new oil filter" you would admit you made a foolish mistake and fix it. Yet these places continue to do this to people. So it isnt a mistake its a scam...

[Jmac]

Had an issue with Mr. Lube on Kingsway in Burnaby several years ago. They recommended that I change my air filter and fuel filter (which I had just changed myself), which made me suspicious. Asked them to show me the oil they were using; turned out to be semi-synthetic when I paid for synthetic. They refunded the difference, but I sure as fuck never went back.

[meme405]

Originally Posted by Jmac

Had an issue with Mr. Lube on Kingsway in Burnaby several years ago. They recommended that I change my air filter and fuel filter (which I had just changed myself), which made me suspicious. Asked them to show me the oil they were using; turned out to be semi-synthetic when I paid for synthetic. They refunded the difference, but I sure as fuck never went back.

Yup had a friend recently told that he had to change his fuel filter at a Mr. Lube. Phoned me and asked me, I told him to tell them to pound sand.

For the record on all infiniti models (as many as I know) fuel filters are a maintenance free item.

[E-SPEC]

The only people you can trust these days are Iranian car dealers.

[mac25]

Not all Lube shops are like that. there is a difference between upsale and recommending needed services by date and mileage where there is no visual sign of fluid failure.

as well if you service your car at multiple locations how is the tech supposed to know what's due? not every fluid discolours when due. in fact you are supposed to replace many fluids before they cause damage and before they look like shit.

case in point, a fuel filter is due at 1 to 2 years. many metal filters don't show signs of age and the plastic ones never due. so techs make recommendations based from date and mileage. if your car shows no date for the service it is recommended, even if it was replaced last month at a different shop that had a discount on fuel filters.

you can't test for fuel injector build up so that service is recommended yearly and you shouldn't wait until there are signs of clogged injectors or it can damage the pump.

differential fluid should be replaced before it shows signs of failure to avoid damaging gears. most people think "oh it doesn't look dark" even when showing other signs that it is over due like bubbling, or moisture contamination making it milky.


if you're a cheap fuc* who doesn't know a thing about cars and you go to cheap shops to get the best deal, while not keeping track of your services, don't get made at a tech who has no timeline for what you may or may not have had serviced.

find a good shop and stay with them so you and the staff know what is or is not due.

[meme405]

Originally Posted by E-SPEC

The only people you can trust these days are Iranian car dealers.

LOL!

Did you know I was Iranian, or are you just being an asshole?

[bcrdukes]

Well, you did say at one point your co-workers did call you a car bomb, so.....naturally people will draw to their own conclusions.

[meme405]

Originally Posted by pbrdukes

Well, you did say at one point your co-workers did call you a car bomb, so.....naturally people will draw to their own conclusions.

Lol.

[mac25]

as well i hate people that come into my shop and ask to use their own oil or say why is "synthetic so expensive i can get that same oil at canadiantire for $38".

first off not all oil is API certified and doesn't cover warranty spec. so shops like mine who are liable to the car dealerships to use proper oil can't use your cheapo lordco oil, special additives or fluids.

or the people who come in and say "no i don't want to use synthetic 0w20 in my 2012 civic i've always used basic 15w40 in my vehicles and i want 15w40 in this one to"... lol.


now back to the price.

they complain about the oil costing double the price from canadian tire.

ok go to canadian tirebuy your oil ($38), now buy your filter ($4), now buy a wrench set ($50), now by a filter wrench ($15), and a jack set ($80)...

now go out in the cold and complete your oil change on your back for $187, then you have the right to even suggest the price is too high.

[extracrunchie]

^having tools is not a bad idea, a good investment and can be re-used again and again as a DIY'er

Lots of ignorant owners out there that don't know what they are talking about and would complain.

But there are alot of owners out there that are aware of what these shops is putting in their cars. And you can buy the same grade of oil from CT that other shops sell for more(i know german cars follow a strict grade for their vehicles and only sold at specialty shops or dealership). Its a legitimate question when they ask "why is yours more expensive?" but its ignorant of them because you are trying to run a business.

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by Acura604

I would rather pay the premium at a dealership ...

Yeah, cuz nobody calls them "stealerships" for a reason?

[bcrdukes]

Originally Posted by mac25

as well i hate people that come into my shop and ask to use their own oil or say why is "synthetic so expensive i can get that same oil at canadiantire for $38".

first off not all oil is API certified and doesn't cover warranty spec. so shops like mine who are liable to the car dealerships to use proper oil can't use your cheapo lordco oil, special additives or fluids.

or the people who come in and say "no i don't want to use synthetic 0w20 in my 2012 civic i've always used basic 15w40 in my vehicles and i want 15w40 in this one to"... lol.


now back to the price.

they complain about the oil costing double the price from canadian tire.

ok go to canadian tirebuy your oil ($38), now buy your filter ($4), now buy a wrench set ($50), now by a filter wrench ($15), and a jack set ($80)...

now go out in the cold and complete your oil change on your back for $187, then you have the right to even suggest the price is too high.

I'm gonna add to your list.

For those of you who live in condos, most stratas forbid tenants/owners to perform oil changes or any kind of maintenance on their vehicles within the parking garage. If/when you get caught or someone reports you, you get fined and then have to deal with the strata.

Is it worth it? Better to just pony up and pay a shop to do it. But everyone has their own set of circumstances so really, there's no right or wrong to this. Just some food for thought.

[GS8]

Welcome to the Walmart generation. Where people think they can pay almost nothing yet have almost everything. The truth is (oh God, common sense) is that the little you pay, the more likely you'll get milked elsewhere to recoup the losses the place would have if they just did your oil and sent you on your way.

Preying on the naive is never a good thing but some people just deserve it, lol.

I've learned to make friends with my service techs at my dealership. Giving donuts and coffee for example can go a long way.

[Jas29]

Mac25 why do u hate it when people ask to use their own oil
Posted via RS Mobile

[bing]

Originally Posted by mac25

as well i hate people that come into my shop and ask to use their own oil or say why is "synthetic so expensive i can get that same oil at canadiantire for $38".

first off not all oil is API certified and doesn't cover warranty spec. so shops like mine who are liable to the car dealerships to use proper oil can't use your cheapo lordco oil, special additives or fluids.

or the people who come in and say "no i don't want to use synthetic 0w20 in my 2012 civic i've always used basic 15w40 in my vehicles and i want 15w40 in this one to"... lol.


now back to the price.

they complain about the oil costing double the price from canadian tire.

ok go to canadian tirebuy your oil ($38), now buy your filter ($4), now buy a wrench set ($50), now by a filter wrench ($15), and a jack set ($80)...

now go out in the cold and complete your oil change on your back for $187, then you have the right to even suggest the price is too high.

Those cheap asses don't have a right to complain. I only own entry level luxury but oil changes run me $140-160 per visit (where synthetic oil cost $80 and with a filter $100).

[Lomac]

Originally Posted by Splinter

Some kid fresh out of highschool is just fine to do oil changes. It's an oil change, not heart surgery. You have to start out somewhere if you want to be a mechanic, you don't just magically become one.

Kids make mistakes. Adults make mistakes. Mechanics who've been working for 30 years make mistakes. Mistakes will happen where ever you go. What really forms my opinion about a company is what they do about it when a mistake happens. I went back to an engine shop for more work after they messed up my valve lash because they made things right for me after it happened.

Don't blame the kids. Blame the managers who use them like coke mules.

Exactly.

An oil change is probably the simplest thing you can do on a car. It's not an issue if it's a kid still in high school changing it. After all, it's one bolt in the oil pan and the fill cap in the engine bay. Hell, my roommate's 8 year old daughter changed the oil in my car one day (with supervision of course, but the point is there).

As for upselling, well think of it like the dollar menu at any fast food restaurant. They're there to draw you in with cheap food, but then they'll ask if you want cheese or fries or if you want to upsize your meal. They may lose money on the initial purchase but they'll then hopefully make money once you decide to go with a coolant flush or something else.

I'll admit I've been told that certain fluids are "bad," even though I knew for a fact that they were still good (one quick lube place even showed me a "sample" of my coolant colouring... which was funny because I was running Honda's blue coolant and the sample was a dirty green... and another time I was running pure water and the sample again was green ) but I'll simply tell them no thanks. On the other hand, I've been to quick lube places where they'll first ask me if I knew when the last time certain fluids were changed and they simply told me the recommended intervals and to come back if I'd ever like to get them done there. No scams, no "samples," no nothing.

But if you're looking to just get an oil change and know how to say no to the things they try to upsell you on, I have no problem with going to a quick lube place.

[extracrunchie]

Originally Posted by Jas29

Mac25 why do u hate it when people ask to use their own oil
Posted via RS Mobile

Because the customers don't bring in the correct spec oil(oil weight or API standards) and his shop is liable for it.

I am sure if the customer bring in the correct oil, hes more than willing to complete the oil change.

[bensta]

pretty much all oil in big box stores is api certified except for some high performance racing oils (royal purple, redline oil etc). even lordco stuff is api certified...

having a bad experience with a express oil change on my first car was my first and last visit ever to an oil change place.. over torqued my drain plug, then put in a rubber plug that was just barely snug.. when i went to change the pan the next day the plug was so loose if a rock nicked it, it would have fallen out.

[Mr.C]

Video is up.

Greasy Business - Marketplace - CBC News

It is super shady.