I used to see a lot of that during the years I was in dealership parts sales. Very rampant when I worked out west during snowbird seasons. They’d stop for gas, get the hard sell how dangerous their car was to drive and it immediately needed it fixed by them.

I can’t tell you how many times they’d show up at the dealership I worked at and have us inspect their car for the “imminent” hazard which almost all the time was fabricated. For example, used motor oil had a particular smell to it from combustion byproducts. Look under a car, see both front shocks dripping oil, wipe and smell it, hmmm, smells like engine oil and the oil splatter is only on the front of the shocks, not the rear. Spray bottle hidden in a shirtsleeve trick.

Today if I go to a dealership and I see the preventative flush service literature and signage all over the place my alert alarm goes off immediately. Once the service writer starts with the spiel I tell them “before I retired I spent a long time in dealership fixed ops. We will get along just fine if you drop that wallet flush stuff right now.”

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I still don’t understand why Sam’s and Costco don’t have alignment machines.

Because the simpletons that work at these places don't know how to do them. They are not properly trained technicians, they are tire monkeys. Tire's are easy, alignments, not so much. I wouldn't want them doing an alignment for me.

THe last time a tire shop suggested I needed shocks, he showed me the scallops and explained cars get a dead spots in the shocks from just driving in highway conditions, not utilizing much movement.

I went over to the parts store and immediately bought my own and installed them when I got home. Sure enough, there were dead spots.

When I brought it back for rotation, they noted new shocks had been installed.

For those in Florida, Mavis bought out Action Gator Tire. Seems things have changed as the upsells have started. Went a couple months ago for 2 new tires and the guy said "I haven't looked at your brake fluid but you should change it due to mileage." What makes him assume I didn't change it? Got my tires and alignment and got out of there. Won't be going back for anything other than warranty as I do my own rotations.

I only get tires from discount tire or if I do it myself, tire rack. same company.

Discount Tire doesn't sell anything else so they will point out bad wear patterns when replacing and suggest I get an alignment somewhere.

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Originally posted by mcrimm: The service writer said my brakes are almost to the metal and if I wanted to keep my family safe, I should replace them immediately. I took the car home, pulled a wheel and found probably 70% pad left.

I'd gotten a free oil change in May of last year (I got 3 years of free maintenance which I didn't know transferred on a used car) at 24k miles and they said the front pads were done. They said it's still covered so they replaced the pads. Come November, I'm back in for another oil change and the guy says front pads are down and need replacing. I just said you guys replaced them in May. He said it must be the way I drive. Said they were down to 4mm. I said leave them. I already bought pads and a sensor wire for less than $100, it will take me 30 mins a side since I don't have a lift. They wanted $900. KMA. Out of free maintenance so I'll start doing my own.

Come April they send me a coupon for a $50 oil change so I take it in (it'll cost me a little bit less to do it myself but I wanted to see). They did it and didn't mention anything other than my front pads were at 5mm (which was at 4mm last time they checked in November) and the rears were at 4mm.

I bought rear pads and a sensor. So whenever the car trips the sensor, I will replace those pads accordingly. Hopefully my rotors are still good. Only at 45k miles. Cheapest I can find front rotors are $230 each. smh

I only get to see my daughters car a few times a year when she is home from school. By the time she came home after graduation one school that I work at had closed the auto repair shop already. During the year I could bring in a vehicle and get an alignment at school and bring the class donuts. She returns to grad school at NC Chapel Hill in a month, so by then I need to do whatever her car needs before she leaves.