They get what they pay for….

LOL just watched this at a local quick change place yesterday.

Not Firestone but a local independent oil change place that does have good service and reviews but was warned by my FIL who goes there they also try doing the dirty filter trick.

Wife’s Honda Odyssey van was at 0% on the oil indicator and I could not get into my regular place so I ended up going here:

This woman is sitting next to me in the waiting area and they come out with this absolutely crusty nasty air filter and show her and tell her they can replace it.

She says: “first of all my filter is NOT that size and I changed it myself 2 weeks ago!”

Them: “hummmina hummina hummina…maybe we grabbed the wrong filter!”

I will not be going back, I just cannot stand places that do this.

In about 1974 I took my 68 Ford LTD into Firestone for a tire rotation. I was in the Navy at the time in Washington. The clown told me that my brakes were shot, my muffler was shot and my alignment was waaaaay off. All BS. I have never set foot in a Firestone store in 50 years. I'm sure they're not all crooks but - who knows.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
LOL just watched this at a local quick change place yesterday.

Not Firestone but a local independent oil change place that does have good service and reviews but was warned by my FIL who goes there they also try doing the dirty filter trick.

Wife’s Honda Odyssey van was at 0% on the oil indicator and I could not get into my regular place so I ended up going here:

This woman is sitting next to me in the waiting area and they come out with this absolutely crusty nasty air filter and show her and tell her they can replace it.

She says: “first of all my filter is NOT that size and I changed it myself 2 weeks ago!”

Them: “hummmina hummina hummina…maybe we grabbed the wrong filter!”

I will not be going back, I just cannot stand places that do this.

No different than a chain tire store that repaired a punctured tire on a Tuesday, in and out with no upsell. Week and a half later still losing pressure, go back on a Saturday. Different guy, now suddenly my tires need to be replaced despite not at the wear indicators, actually 10k under what the mileage guarantee from BFG for tire life. And that days leak was found to be from rim corrosion and suddenly I need to replace all four wheels because in his words “if one is bad the others are soon to follow.” When I asked about bead sealer I was told “it doesn’t work”. He did offer financing, how generous of him!

Went elsewhere, was told treadlife was acceptable but by next winter I should replace them which I knew and planned for. They used bead sealer with no prompting, still holding pressure.

quote:

Originally posted by shovelhead:

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
LOL just watched this at a local quick change place yesterday.

Not Firestone but a local independent oil change place that does have good service and reviews but was warned by my FIL who goes there they also try doing the dirty filter trick.

Wife’s Honda Odyssey van was at 0% on the oil indicator and I could not get into my regular place so I ended up going here:

This woman is sitting next to me in the waiting area and they come out with this absolutely crusty nasty air filter and show her and tell her they can replace it.

She says: “first of all my filter is NOT that size and I changed it myself 2 weeks ago!”

Them: “hummmina hummina hummina…maybe we grabbed the wrong filter!”

I will not be going back, I just cannot stand places that do this.

No different than a chain tire store that repaired a punctured tire on a Tuesday, in and out with no upsell. Week and a half later still losing pressure, go back on a Saturday. Different guy, now suddenly my tires need to be replaced despite not at the wear indicators, actually 10k under what the mileage guarantee from BFG for tire life. And that days leak was found to be from rim corrosion and suddenly I need to replace all four wheels because in his words “if one is bad the others are soon to follow.” When I asked about bead sealer I was told “it doesn’t work”. He did offer financing, how generous of him!

Went elsewhere, was told treadlife was acceptable but by next winter I should replace them which I knew and planned for. They used bead sealer with no prompting, still holding pressure.

I hate lying theives

^^^^^^
My work history encompassed a bit over 47 years in auto dealership parts departments from counter to management.

My philosophy was to keep the customer coming back, to sell them what was needed and not pressure sell anything.

The local Firestone near me has a reputation for being one of the worst rip off businesses in this area and they live up to it. They tried to screw me over years ago and I never went back.

I did tell him that GM had issued a TSB regarding rim leaks and bead sealer being an acceptable repair and that I imagined most all automakers probably had the same thoughts on its use.

But there’s not as much profit in bead sealer.

Twenty+ years ago I worked with a guy who would ONLY go there for things. One of those people there was no talking to, you couldn't change his mind.

His Cadillac had an issue, you could smell coolant burning off. Everyone at work said "let us take a look" and he refused, he took it to the local Firestone. They told him it was a head gasket. Whacked him $1300? $2300? (too long ago to remember for sure) to replace it (One? Both? (None?))

Anyway not too long after we're all going to lunch together, he always insisted on driving. As soon as we backed out of the parking space I can smell the antifreeze (still). I demanded he stop the car and open the hood. He fought me on it and I got "animated" and he relented. I swear to God it took me less than 20 seconds to find a cracked plastic hose connection that was leaking and the cause of the smell all along. "We TOLD you to let us look", we told him they were thieves but he would always respond "No, they do a god job." (based on what!!!!!????)

It always amazed me, not that they were crooked and either changed his head gaskets for no reason, or pretended to. But that they didn't bother to take a few seconds to find the real problem to at least cover their ass and not have the customer returning for the same problem afterwards.

We have a handful of independent shops near me and they all do pretty good work . They are pretty busy too .

Add me to the list of folks who have a competent and trustworthy independent mechanic. And, like others, our guy is in his 60s and has told me he's looking to hang up his spurs.

He told me he wants to sell his shop to someone he trusts. His son seems to fit the bill; great kid (young man) who seems to know his stuff. I suspect he's not interested though.