When is an Oil Change not an Oil Change..?

Hi All:

In these days of busy holiday shopping and party planning and the busy
times in our lives I wanted to point out that even in an oil change we
must be diligent.

Last Thursday I stopped at the Saturn of Albany for an oil change with
my wife, and the staff were friendly and they were not really busy.
Had four customers in the waiting area etc. They took the car looked
it over had us sign some papers and said it would be ready soon. Also
asked if we wanted a car wash. I said ha ha yeah I always want a car
washed when its rain or snow falling as it was when we arrived. Guy
said you have a good point there. Not too eventful. We sat in the show
room, bought a few doo dads for ourselves and friends from the gift
area and the service man came in and said the car was ready. It took
around 30-35 minutes from time of arrival to end.

I asked where the car was and the man said it was under the canopy in
front, I said can I have the keys? And he said they are in the
ignition. I said that is a hell of a place to keep a car unattended.
He said he spoke out about that same issue a few nights back but
nothing was done on it. He also thought leaving cars in the parking
lot with keys in them was risky. No matter I pay the $27 dollars and
go out and find that the seat had a plastic cover on it and a paper
drop cloth on the drivers mat which was not removed. I then took the
junk out of the car and threw it in the trash.

Not thinking about the matter my wife asked me to check and see if
they toped off the fluids and check the tire pressure on the car. I
told her not to worry they did the procedures every other time we were
there so I was assuming they did this time as well.

I check the car over when we reached home in the garage, and she was
right. None of the fluids were topped off. No pressure was checked in
the tires (I had to add the air and fluids myself). I was quite angry
and by the time I was going to call the Saturn service department back
they were closed.

Not to be too careful I checked and they did actually change the oil
in the car, since it was clean on checking and they did put a new
filter on. The next day I called the dealership and blasted them for
not doing what they were PAID to do. I also pointed out they charged
more than everyone else in the area and did not produce good work for
that price. The nice lady said she would tell the service manager of
the problem and I gave her the employee ID at the time of service and
I said that was why in three separate occasions this dealships service
department was the worst. We had two other nightmares for warranty
work done in the past. Very shoddy repairs.

The next business day the assistant manager calls and states "You were
right the mechanic was supposed to do the service and he forgot, and
would I please bring the car back to them and they would top off the
fluids and place air in the tires etc." I said I already did that
myself and I was not going to drive out of my way to have something
done that should have been done two days ago. He then went on to say
that he would also like to give us a free LOF on the next occasion the
service should be done. I said that was a nice gesture but three
occasions now the service has been lousy and that is why as an
emergency we had the 51,000 mile oil change done there. (Mobil was so
packed that he wanted us to come back a day or so later or more. And
this service station has fixed this car like all the others we own for
many years)

He again was apologizing for the mishap but let me tell you, how many
screw ups should a customer take? Then the dealership has the nerve to
keep asking us to purchase another vehicle from them. They have got to
be crazy!

Don't get me wrong the Saturn vehicle we own so far is the lowest cost
to us in repairs and maintenance of any other car outside of the 2000
Impala, but the dealership should be carefully looked at from its
past actions and that the customers should look at any or all work
performed at this facility since I don't think they actually know how
to service what they sell.

Well Happy Holidays to all and be safe out there!

Elector

 

[snip]

One of the nice things about quickie oil change places is that you
stand their and keep an eye on what is going out. I always say a good
word to the man in the pit since he is likely doing the worst job.
Think rain and winter.

An arguement could be made that at the dealership, a trained mech is
looking your car over, something you don't get at a quickie but I have
a feeling that the 'A' staff isn't changing the oil unless it is
really slow. Likely they have a kid at minimum wage doing it.

Wes

 

It's like if you make a critical comment for the better of the customer &
dealer,they take that as your a mean guy,you just 'assume' everythings being
done.

 

<story about oil change deleted>

Funny you should post this today. I did an oil change this AM on my Saturn
out in the driveway before I went to the dump. I've got it down to a
science, takes me maybe 10 minutes. A friend of mine asked why I do it
myself, asked me: "Don't I value my time?". Well, yeah I do, that's why I
do it myself in 10 minutes rather than drive to the place, wait, drive back.

-David

 

A friend of mine asked why I do it

Very wise man you are!

Plus, you know it was done correctly!

 

That is very true, but I brought up the fact that the Depaula Chevy
dealership was having another one of them $9.95 10 minute oil changes
and the service manager said you get what you pay for. Lets see down
at Depaula they give the oil change and filter, top off the fluids and
check the air in the tires. No car wash since who would have it done
in a snow storm anyway? Advertised in 10 Minutes.

Saturn of Albany, $26.97 for waiting 35-40 minutes, oil and filter was
changed, no top off of any fluids and no air in the tires, left a
dirty plastic sheet on the drivers seat, a wet paper on my car mat and
I got what I paid for? Yep I think Saturn of Albany must have a screw
loose. Oh a plus is that since they did not do the job right this time
I get a free LOF next time, even at free I am still over paying for
what DePaula is charging and doing 6 miles down the road. Strange huh?

Elector

 

I usually go to Madison Mobil a few blocks away for everything on all
our cars. We have had great service from them and the mechanics know
us and like us. Around this time of year we understand they are busy
so we thought we would be helpful and just have the LOF done
elsewhere. In my neck of the woods the Quick Lube places are rip off
joints. They strip the oil pan plug to sell you another one, try and
screw with the car to get you to get another type of service etc. And
even with a free car wash it is best to avoid them.

In the summer months I don't mind doing my own service for both oil an
transmission fluid and filter changes. I have the proper tools and a
clean garage but in the winter I don't like lying in the garage on a
cold floor. And yes it takes me around 10-15 minutes to change the oil
and top things off, including placing the air in the tires. But I just
did not want to do it this time.

Elector

 

Plus, you know it was done correctly!

Correctly? Heck, you know it was DONE!!!
I've taken my car to a quickie lube place and I really don't think
they changed the oil. I know they didn't top off the fluids like they
check out form said.

I do it myself now. Quicker, Cheaper and I look at whats happening
under the car. I know my car better than any mechanic.