Being Lied To at the QuikStop
Oct. 14th, 2013 04:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kybearfuzzLet me start out by saying that I don't like being lied to. I can't imagine that anyone does really. Sometimes people lie to spare your feelings, like telling you that your outfit is okay or that a certain color looks good on you. I can accept that, I guess, to a degree. However, when the lie in question is done to cheat me, then I get really sore.
I was off today, both due to being furloughed due to the government shutdown and also due to the Columbus Day holiday. So after my morning run, I went to lunch and ran some errands. It was time for an oil change, so I decided to stop by QuikStop nearby and get it done. I really hate getting the oil changed. Not that I want my car to fall apart on me or get damaged, but because every time I go to Valvoline or Halvoline or QuikStop or whatever, they constantly want to add things to it.
"Would you like to try our special oil cleaning additive for only $15.99?" they ask, "Or how about our super oil purifier, which causes any burned oil to smell like the fragrant potpourri anally-exuded from winged, gay unicorns as they fly over rainbows? It's only $59.99 for a 3 oz. bottle."
I always say no to these things. Not that I question that they work, but I always wonder if I couldn't buy the same thing cheaper myself at the auto parts store. The pressure, however, is never fun and it makes the oil change experience dreaded instead of innocuous.
So, I drove into the QuikStop on the corner reluctantly. It's a necessary evil to keep the car in good shape, I keep telling myself. After being guided into the bay, I stop by the computer so they can pull up my history. The manager there immediately starts in that I need to upgrade to the synthetic and that he recommends the latest and greatest oil additive, at $15 and $18/bottle. I immediately say no to them. He then recommends the same oil, but the $18 additive. I just sternly look at him and say, "just the oil change" please, same as last time."
"Sure, no pressure," he says.
After a few minutes, the cute-ish daddy bear service guy comes in to show me the air filter and the cabin air filter, both of which need changing. Even I can tell that. I tell him that I have a spare air filter at home to change the one, but that I might need to look into the other. He tells me that the cost is $34.99 to replace, "the same price as it is at Wal-Mart," and that it "requires a special tool" to replace it. So I relent and add it to the cost, basically doubling the money of the entire visit. They finish up, I pay for the oil change and such and leave to finish up my errands.
When I got home, I was curious about what he said. I learned long ago that the air filter replacement was a complete rip off and now wondered if the cabin air filter was the same. After a quick spin on Wal-Mart's website, I found the air filter was about half of what they charged me, so that was lie number one. I imagine there is a "labor charge" of some sort that they argue is the rest. However, I looked up an YouTube video on how to change the cabin air filter. On one Toyota Corolla, you have to use a Phillips screwdriver to remove one screw to get the glove compartment to come out, hardly a "special tool," and another video showed that you only have to squeeze the compartment sides to pop it out. I checked my car and mine just squeezes and pops out. Changing the cabin air filter takes seconds, literally seconds to accomplish. So the "labor" cost associated with changing it is $10-15 for a minute's work.
Now I was angry. I'd been lied to so I'd pay for an expensive service because I didn't know any better. I'll take my blame for part of this. I should have said no and looked into it myself, but at the time, I thought it was easier. However, if I'm willing to take my part of the blame, so should they. What they did was dishonest. At least my involvement was due to ignorance and I'm trying to look at this as an expensive lesson. Now I'm educated on how to do it and I'll never pay for someone to do these things.
This is what I sent to the corporate location's website a few moments ago:
"I was just in your Erlanger shop today. I had my oil changed and the service guy came in to show me my air filters. I was going to change the air filter myself, but the service guy said that the cabin air filter needed changing too. He said it was $34.99, which was the "same price at Wal-Mart" and "requires a special tool" to replace it. I agreed to avoid the hassle.
Out of curiosity I checked Wal-Mart and found the filter was half of the $34.99 charge. I found a video online on how to change the cabin air filter in my car, which showed no special tool needed and is AMAZINGLY easy to change. So I'd like to thank your employee for blatantly lying to me on what it cost and what it requires to change this filter. I now know how to do it myself and will do so from this point on and save myself the cost.
Your shop must enjoy overcharging such services to clueless people like myself. I'm sure you guys in the bay high-five each other every time someone like me wanders through your location and wet themselves in excitement when someone like a elderly grandmother with no mechanical skills and a fixed income drives in and you can overcharge her for everything.
So I hope you enjoy that $34.99 I handed over to you for what had to be the most expensive cabin air filter available. It will be the last dime QuikStop will see from me. I'll be sure to let my friends and family know that they should look up how to change these filters themselves, else they fall prey to the lies your employees tell folks. I'll also make sure my friends and family know about the courteous service I received today so they can decide who they would want to change their oil.
-- Your former customer"
I am curious if they will respond. I'll keep you posted.
I was off today, both due to being furloughed due to the government shutdown and also due to the Columbus Day holiday. So after my morning run, I went to lunch and ran some errands. It was time for an oil change, so I decided to stop by QuikStop nearby and get it done. I really hate getting the oil changed. Not that I want my car to fall apart on me or get damaged, but because every time I go to Valvoline or Halvoline or QuikStop or whatever, they constantly want to add things to it.
"Would you like to try our special oil cleaning additive for only $15.99?" they ask, "Or how about our super oil purifier, which causes any burned oil to smell like the fragrant potpourri anally-exuded from winged, gay unicorns as they fly over rainbows? It's only $59.99 for a 3 oz. bottle."
I always say no to these things. Not that I question that they work, but I always wonder if I couldn't buy the same thing cheaper myself at the auto parts store. The pressure, however, is never fun and it makes the oil change experience dreaded instead of innocuous.
So, I drove into the QuikStop on the corner reluctantly. It's a necessary evil to keep the car in good shape, I keep telling myself. After being guided into the bay, I stop by the computer so they can pull up my history. The manager there immediately starts in that I need to upgrade to the synthetic and that he recommends the latest and greatest oil additive, at $15 and $18/bottle. I immediately say no to them. He then recommends the same oil, but the $18 additive. I just sternly look at him and say, "just the oil change" please, same as last time."
"Sure, no pressure," he says.
After a few minutes, the cute-ish daddy bear service guy comes in to show me the air filter and the cabin air filter, both of which need changing. Even I can tell that. I tell him that I have a spare air filter at home to change the one, but that I might need to look into the other. He tells me that the cost is $34.99 to replace, "the same price as it is at Wal-Mart," and that it "requires a special tool" to replace it. So I relent and add it to the cost, basically doubling the money of the entire visit. They finish up, I pay for the oil change and such and leave to finish up my errands.
When I got home, I was curious about what he said. I learned long ago that the air filter replacement was a complete rip off and now wondered if the cabin air filter was the same. After a quick spin on Wal-Mart's website, I found the air filter was about half of what they charged me, so that was lie number one. I imagine there is a "labor charge" of some sort that they argue is the rest. However, I looked up an YouTube video on how to change the cabin air filter. On one Toyota Corolla, you have to use a Phillips screwdriver to remove one screw to get the glove compartment to come out, hardly a "special tool," and another video showed that you only have to squeeze the compartment sides to pop it out. I checked my car and mine just squeezes and pops out. Changing the cabin air filter takes seconds, literally seconds to accomplish. So the "labor" cost associated with changing it is $10-15 for a minute's work.
Now I was angry. I'd been lied to so I'd pay for an expensive service because I didn't know any better. I'll take my blame for part of this. I should have said no and looked into it myself, but at the time, I thought it was easier. However, if I'm willing to take my part of the blame, so should they. What they did was dishonest. At least my involvement was due to ignorance and I'm trying to look at this as an expensive lesson. Now I'm educated on how to do it and I'll never pay for someone to do these things.
This is what I sent to the corporate location's website a few moments ago:
"I was just in your Erlanger shop today. I had my oil changed and the service guy came in to show me my air filters. I was going to change the air filter myself, but the service guy said that the cabin air filter needed changing too. He said it was $34.99, which was the "same price at Wal-Mart" and "requires a special tool" to replace it. I agreed to avoid the hassle.
Out of curiosity I checked Wal-Mart and found the filter was half of the $34.99 charge. I found a video online on how to change the cabin air filter in my car, which showed no special tool needed and is AMAZINGLY easy to change. So I'd like to thank your employee for blatantly lying to me on what it cost and what it requires to change this filter. I now know how to do it myself and will do so from this point on and save myself the cost.
Your shop must enjoy overcharging such services to clueless people like myself. I'm sure you guys in the bay high-five each other every time someone like me wanders through your location and wet themselves in excitement when someone like a elderly grandmother with no mechanical skills and a fixed income drives in and you can overcharge her for everything.
So I hope you enjoy that $34.99 I handed over to you for what had to be the most expensive cabin air filter available. It will be the last dime QuikStop will see from me. I'll be sure to let my friends and family know that they should look up how to change these filters themselves, else they fall prey to the lies your employees tell folks. I'll also make sure my friends and family know about the courteous service I received today so they can decide who they would want to change their oil.
-- Your former customer"
I am curious if they will respond. I'll keep you posted.
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My suggestion
Date: 2013-10-14 08:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-14 09:55 pm (UTC)For a long time, I took my car to the dealer on the recommended schedule, because I got it nearly new and I wanted to keep it well-maintained. But then money got tight, plus I switched offices, so the dealer isn't nearly as close and convenient anymore.
So now if I need maintenance, I just take it to the independent (and well-reviewed online) garage near the house. They're really good about giving me a sensible answer when I ask "okay, what needs to be fixed now, and what can I put off until later?" so I think they're playing fair.
no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 01:39 am (UTC)Seriously, that sucks. Car washes do the same thing. They keep asking you to add on all these things that really jack up the price.
"Special tool" What, he thinks most people don't have a phillips head screwdriver?
Good letter--either you'll get ignored or they'll send you a coupon.
no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 02:42 am (UTC)I'm curious. Is there a reason you don't have the service done at your local Toyota dealership? I used to think I was saving money by using Jiffy Lube, but I'm beginning to believe that's not the case.
no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 01:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-16 12:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 03:22 am (UTC)I would suggest is find your local Toyota dealership(s) and see what they're charging for comparable services. They may be an even better options for future service.
Armed with that information, I would then call the shop directly and speak to the manager of that particular location and cut a bitch. Not likely to accomplish anything, but it seems to me that you'd be best served by confronting their shitty practices directly.
no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 07:40 am (UTC)Does it make me a bad person for laughing at the above paragraph?
Good for you, though. At least you know better now.
no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 08:18 am (UTC)"Special Tool", indeed!
I love the letter you wrote!
Excellent!