After doing mystery shopping for over a year, I have just applied for my first oil change shop, while awaiting to see if I will be assigned the shop.

The questions I have is, in my pre-guidelines it states:

“Please be sure to provide detailed feedback for all yes/no answers. You can receive additional services; however one service must be an oil change. Payment Information: This assignment will pay reimbursements up to $50.00 for an oil change and any other services purchased. Remember, an oil change is required.”

Since this shop is a chain oil change shop, I have a discount coupon. So I was wondering if oil change shops in general have a requirement to pay full price for your oil change or can you use a discount coupon? Since this msc takes about 1 ½ months before they pay, I would at least rather try to save some money since I have to pay this money up front while waiting to be reimbursed. Yet I am also wanting the oil change shop, since I am long overdue for an oil change anyway.

Since the guidelines will cover the cost of both the "oil chang" and "other services" up to $50, I was thinking that I do need some new windshield wiper blades, so I figure I might as well get some while I am at it. Yet my question is, if you have done an oil change shop and have taken advantage of the other services (i.e. windshield wiper blades, air filter replacement, etc.), have you ever had any trouble getting reimbursed for them?

Lastly, since this is my first oil change shop, any idea how detailed the report might be for a shop like this? Now I have heard from various shoppers (during the past 12 months) who have shopped for various mscs, that these oil change shop reports seem to be very easy and are usually not very time consuming. Yet I just wanted to get some feedback from those of you that have done them.

Wilson

> Since this shop is a chain oil change shop, I have
> a discount coupon. So I was wondering if oil
> change shops in general have a requirement to pay
> full price for your oil change or can you use a
> discount coupon? Since this msc takes about 1 ½
> months before they pay, I would at least rather
> try to save some money since I have to pay this
> money up front while waiting to be reimbursed. Yet
> I am also wanting the oil change shop, since I am
> long overdue for an oil change anyway.

I would shoot them an email or pick up the phone and ask about using a coupon if it does not say yea or nay in the instructions. You do NOT want to have a $50 shop thrown out because you decided to use a $5 coupon!
>
> Since the guidelines will cover the cost of both
> the "oil chang" and "other services" up to $50, I
> was thinking that I do need some new windshield
> wiper blades, so I figure I might as well get some
> while I am at it. Yet my question is, if you have
> done an oil change shop and have taken advantage
> of the other services (i.e. windshield wiper
> blades, air filter replacement, etc.), have you
> ever had any trouble getting reimbursed for them?

The shops I have done have not authorized payment for any other services. When you get on site look at the cost of the oil change and figure out if you have any money left before you commit to other services. I pay about $23 for my truck's air filter at Walmart and it would be $39 at the place I do oil changes. I think they charge $11 ea for wiper blades and I use the $4.77 ea ones from Walmart. Blades go so fast in Florida sun if you leave them resting on a hot windshield that even the finest ones are trash in under 6 mos (and I'm not about to lift my wipers off the windshield every time I park the vehicle, thank you). You don't want to leave money on the table but you don't want your cost overrun to be more than replacing the stuff yourself with a quick stop at Walmart.
>
> Lastly, since this is my first oil change shop,
> any idea how detailed the report might be for a
> shop like this? Now I have heard from various
> shoppers (during the past 12 months) who have
> shopped for various mscs, that these oil change
> shop reports seem to be very easy and are usually
> not very time consuming. Yet I just wanted to get
> some feedback from those of you that have done
> them.

The ones I do are for Service Sleuth and they are quick, straightforward and easy. A little narrative is required. I am required to be near my vehicle to watch and see and hear what is going on in addition to being available for them to pitch me extra services. You obviously are not working with the Sleuth if you are being paid in 1 1/2 months. :-)

Be very, very, careful when getting an oil change from Jiffy Lube. They have been cited countless times in many media reports for not actually changing filters and oil. I even read about one customer ending up with a severley damaged engine. The posting was either on this site months back or on the V-GOD (Volition) forum.

This is not say that all Jiffy Lube franchises are like this, but they have been cited much too often. Also be sure not to leave any personal documents in the car, some Jiffy Lube's in NJ are hiring ex convicts.

I do the oil change shop once a year that is for an oil change and another service and I always get the oil change and windshield wipers. Without knowing if it is the same shop I can say that I have never had any problem getting paid for the shop.

I have never used a coupon so I can't help you with that.

Liz


WestCoastWilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After doing mystery shopping for over a year, I
> have just applied for my first oil change shop,
> while awaiting to see if I will be assigned the
> shop.
>
> The questions I have is, in my pre-guidelines it
> states:
>
> “Please be sure to provide detailed feedback for
> all yes/no answers. You can receive additional
> services; however one service must be an oil
> change. Payment Information: This assignment will
> pay reimbursements up to $50.00 for an oil change
> and any other services purchased. Remember, an oil
> change is required.”
>
> Since this shop is a chain oil change shop, I have
> a discount coupon. So I was wondering if oil
> change shops in general have a requirement to pay
> full price for your oil change or can you use a
> discount coupon? Since this msc takes about 1 ½
> months before they pay, I would at least rather
> try to save some money since I have to pay this
> money up front while waiting to be reimbursed. Yet
> I am also wanting the oil change shop, since I am
> long overdue for an oil change anyway.
>
> Since the guidelines will cover the cost of both
> the "oil chang" and "other services" up to $50, I
> was thinking that I do need some new windshield
> wiper blades, so I figure I might as well get some
> while I am at it. Yet my question is, if you have
> done an oil change shop and have taken advantage
> of the other services (i.e. windshield wiper
> blades, air filter replacement, etc.), have you
> ever had any trouble getting reimbursed for them?
>
> Lastly, since this is my first oil change shop,
> any idea how detailed the report might be for a
> shop like this? Now I have heard from various
> shoppers (during the past 12 months) who have
> shopped for various mscs, that these oil change
> shop reports seem to be very easy and are usually
> not very time consuming. Yet I just wanted to get
> some feedback from those of you that have done
> them.
>
> Wilson

I have done oil cvange shops for 3 different MSC's. 2 of the oil change are franchises the other was a dealer that you have to have their make to do it. Never have used a coupon for any mystery shops at all.

My oil change reports at above mentioned have been very detailed and I never used my coupon. I recently started to do another MSC oil change where reports are much easier, and is a better oil change, I like client, very above board. makes me not want to do the old one...but a free oil change is a free oil change. I would not use coupon at above mentioned. You still get paid, so,
why chance it.

WOO! HOO! I just got the oil change assignment! However now that I have got a chance to see the report, it is much longer and more extensive than I thought it would be. I do not mind commenting on any of the “no” and “n/a” answers, but geesh, why do I also have to comment on the “yes” and “positive” answers? Yet I guess if I can get about $50 worth of services, then it may be worth it in the long run.

Oh well, I will see how it goes, in regards to the time it takes to do the on-site portion of the shop and the time it takes to do the report and then render my final verdict as to if it is worth doing another one . . . at least for this msc.

For sure, I WILL NOT use the discount coupon, based on the comments of not risk using the coupon. Since I have other shops to do in a few minutes, I don't have enough time to contact the scheduler via email to get an answer about the coupon, and the scheduler's phone number is not listed in the report and only gives her email address as a way to contact her about the shop:-(

Thanks again Everyone for your help, input, comments, and suggestions.

Wilson

I just finished doing my oil change shop yesterday and I have just submitted my report today. Well it took about 2 ½ hours to do the report from start to finish. Yet since this was my very first oil change shop, I made detailed notes, that will help speed things along when I do another oil change shop. Yet overall, I would happily do another one. Now with that being said, I will render my final verdict on this shop based on the rating I get on my report and the timeliness of my pay for this shop, at another time.

Incidentally, I found out that I could use a discount coupon for this shop just now, but this notation was buried in the report itself and there was no way to know this unless I would have read the entire report beforehand, yet I only scanned over it and basically made all of my notes from the guidelines in order to do the shop.

I opted to pass on those windshield wiper blade inserts, because they were, GASP!!!, $14.99 each!!! So that would have blown my $50 budget easy if I would have added $29.98 (before taxes and labor for these inserts) to my basic oil change.

Wilson

WestCoastWilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I opted to pass on those windshield wiper blade
> inserts, because they were, GASP!!!, $14.99
> each!!! So that would have blown my $50 budget
> easy if I would have added $29.98 (before taxes
> and labor for these inserts) to my basic oil
> change.

Wow! They really sock it to ya! Walmart cheapies are not the inserts but the whole blade assembly. Not tough to install if you are the least bit mechanically inclined. And by the way, you know those little alcohol hand wipes they provide sometimes at restaurants? Take a spare one home. They are great for taking the oxidation off the rubber on your blades and lubing them just a little bit. Blades give good performance longer whether they are cheapies or the gold standard.

Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WestCoastWilson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > I opted to pass on those windshield wiper blade
> > inserts, because they were, GASP!!!, $14.99
> > each!!! So that would have blown my $50 budget
> > easy if I would have added $29.98 (before taxes
> > and labor for these inserts) to my basic oil
> > change.
>
> Wow! They really sock it to ya! Walmart cheapies
> are not the inserts but the whole blade assembly.
> Not tough to install if you are the least bit
> mechanically inclined. And by the way, you know
> those little alcohol hand wipes they provide
> sometimes at restaurants? Take a spare one home.
> They are great for taking the oxidation off the
> rubber on your blades and lubing them just a
> little bit. Blades give good performance longer
> whether they are cheapies or the gold standard.


Flash, yes they do sock it to ya! LOL!!! Walmart, here I come! :-)

Well believe it or not, I just got my rating from the editor. I guess she works on Sundays. I ended up getting a “9", with a note that said “Some minor changes were required to the narrative in regard to rephrasing.”

So I just sent a polite email back asking could she please send me a copy of the revised narrative, so I can see the mistakes I made, then try to learn to avoid making those mistakes in my reports for her company in the future. Now I’m wondering if I will hear from her again. Thus far, every time I have written an editor (for various mscs) wanting to know what mistakes I made and how they corrected them, they have never extended this courtesy of replying back with this information. GRRRRR!!!

I have found that the inserts for my blades go in pretty easy, but take a little time to do though. Since I had an option to purchase other services and I was trying to be lazy, so I thought I would try my luck at the oil change shop to see if I could score 2 wiper blade inserts (since I need new blade inserts) while staying under my $50 budget. NOT! Thanks for the tip on the alcohol hand wipes, I did not know that. “Live and learn as they say.” :-)

Wilson

I just finished my first two oil change shops this weekend. While it is tempting to purchase other services, I would follow the guidelines listed in the shop details in order to get your full reimbursement as well as not have the shop being rejected.

Probably one of the easiest reimbursement shops that I've ever done. Highly recommend it.

UGH!!! I think that I may have made a mistake that I can now learn from, in regards to the oil change shops.

It seemed that in my area of Los Angeles, they had tons of oil change shops in November and December of last year, however I was keeping very busy with my other shops and doing holiday stuff, even though I was long overdue for an oil change. Yet I had hoped that with the normal January lull in shops, that I would be able to easily pickup an oil change shop, but I never saw one shop in my area last month. So when this one shop came up a few days ago (mind you this was a reimbursement only shop), I JUMPED on it and got it. Now today, I see that there is one msc that has 6 oil change shops in my area that pay $15 + up to $30 in reimbursement. In my haste, I forgot that some mscs pay you for an oil change shop + “X” amount of dollars in a reimbursement.

Yet I guess on the flip side, I would have to do a little homework on the shop to see how much they charge for an oil change, because here in my area, it seems impossible to get an oil change for less than $30 (at a chain oil change shop), plus I have a vehicle that requires 6 quarts of oil vs. the standard oil change offer of “up to 5 quarts of oil). So once I would add the total cost of the basic oil change, the extra oil, the normal fees and taxes, I would well be over the $30 reimbursement fee. As it was, the total for my oil change on Saturday was $39.15 . . . it would have been around $51 if the shop did not have a $10 off (a promotional discount) on their cheapest oil change.

So maybe in my case, ultimately getting a totally free oil change is the better way to go, if I don’t at least get a shop fee + up to $50 in a reimbursement.

Wilson

Hey Everyone,

I just received the following feedback from the Editor that gave me a score of “9" on my shop. I was surprised to get a reply for an Editor, since I think that most of them are notorious for not replying back to answer questions “after” your report is done AND if they do not have questions about your report before they finalize it. However in this case, unfortunately, the feedback I received from this Editor is not any type of feedback that can help me get a score of “10" . . . so for this “msc” . . . so I’ll just be happy that my score was not lower.

Yet I guess the bottom line is, it just depends on what msc you work with AND the Editor that edits your report, because one time I had 2 bank shops on the same day for the same bank (just different branches), basically I wrote almost the identical report . . . really just changing a few minor things (that were bank branch specific), and one Editor gave me a “10" and the other Editor gave me a “8"!

Here is what the Editor said about my oil change shop:

“Thank you for your e-mail. With regard to the grading system used in editing reports, a grade of 10 means that no editing, or very little, was required. The report was perfect. A grade of 9 usually indicates that very little editing was required and did not include correcting typing or spelling errors. Generally it involves some tweaking of phrases, nothing major. In these situations, I do not keep any records of the minor changes that have been made. It is not that the narrative was incorrect but rather a certain portion was changed to make it more understandable. As you can probably understand, this process is very subjective. Another editor would probably have made different changes.”

Wilson

I had a shop one time where I had to find a car place that would agree to check my vehicle out before I went to Jiffy Lube for an oil change and then check it out after I went to Jiffy Lube.

They did not know where I was going or where I had been when they checked it out before and after. But they understood that I was doing a mystery shop on another location.

Now I understand why this shop was performed. ;-o

Arch Stanton Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Be very, very, careful when getting an oil change
> from Jiffy Lube. They have been cited countless
> times in many media reports for not actually
> changing filters and oil. I even read about one
> customer ending up with a severley damaged engine.
> The posting was either on this site months back or
> on the V-GOD (Volition) forum.
>
> This is not say that all Jiffy Lube franchises are
> like this, but they have been cited much too
> often. Also be sure not to leave any personal
> documents in the car, some Jiffy Lube's in NJ are
> hiring ex convicts.

That's why my oil changes are at the dealer. I've been able to get a few as shops, but even when I don't it is worth it to know my vehicle is safe.

The guys I found doing oil change shops I have found overall to be good, competent and honest. Even if they were not shops I would probably take my vehicle there. The dealership, however, I will not go near. When I had owned my new truck for about six months I went in and told them I had an X that had gone bad and gave them the symptoms, which were repeatable events. Six days later I got the vehicle back. Their diagnostic tree had them replace the A, B, C, D and a few other things that didn't solve the problem. In despair they replaced the X and the truck worked fine. Luckily it was all covered under warranty, but the X could have/should have been fixed while I waited. They did provide me a loaner for the duration because, after all, that they could charge back to Ford as well. I am not a mechanic but I can google vehicle symptoms and cures as fast as the next guy.

I guess that I have to say then that I have been really lucky with the oil changes. Usually there has always been one available when I needed to have my oil changed and all of them have been competent while providing great service.

I tried a new one a few weeks ago which came with a high fee in addition to the reimbursement at one of the dealerships in the area for my truck and had pretty decent service but when I looked at the bill, it was ten times the price that it should have been.

Yes that is correct, the bill said that I owed over 350.00 for an oil change. Hello! ;-o

When I pointed it out, they quickly adjusted the excessive amounts of oil, handed me the bill with the correct price, and gave me a smile with an apology.

All good stuff to write about on the report right? ;-)

Flash, when it come to vehicles you really can get that BS anywhere. For me this dealer works well and is extremely trustworthy. They know I travel a lot and never recommend anything that isn't absolutely necessary. In fact, when I thought I needed new tires in the spring they told me it would be just fine to wait until the fall which bought me an extra six months. The key seems to be finding one that looks at the big picture rather than a quick buck. They know I'll keep returning and that this is also my 2nd Nissan and that even though this one wasn't purchased from them, the next probably will be. It doesn't hurt that one of their employees is an old family friend of over 30 years either!

I fully understand. My worst BS comes from the dealership in town for my make and that group also owns the dealerships for a lot of other makes in my market. I did a dealership oil change on the significant other's car at one of the other dealerships owned by this group of clowns. It took 5 hours and cost $55. Heck, I can get a Wallyworld one in 2 hours for only about $25 or a shop one in 20 min paid for.

You make a good point that didn't cross my mind. For a shop I once had the oil change at another Nissan dealer which is part of a group that owns dozens and didn't enjoy the experience or the attitude. Mine is all by it's lonesome and not affiliated with a conglomerate Another example of biggest not always being best!

My question is if a car hasn't had an oil change for 5 months but is still under 3000 miles since that oil change, does it qualify for taking to do an oil change shop? I have a car that isn't driven much so it's under 3000 miles but it has been several months since the last oil change. I would normally have the oil change done now and would like to use it for one of the oil change shops that has been posted recently.

The instructions state "Do not accept this shop if your car is not in need of an oil change or if it has been less than 3,000 miles since your last oil change."

I have emailed the scheduler but I never seem to have much luck in getting responses to my questions that way.

It depends on the company. Most of the ones I see state clearly 3 months or 3000 miles. Routinely I do an oil change every 3 months regardless of mileage. IMHO it is why my vehicle has no engine issues and it is a 1999. I will let it go 4 months if I don't find a convenient oil shop but I'm not happy about going beyond that.

If there is not a '3 month' comment, contact the scheduler because most vehicle manuals (other than hybrids) indicate 3 months. Mine actually gives 7000 miles highway, 3000 miles city or 3 months if I recall correctly.

Flash - This is my daughter's car and she only uses her car for going places that are fairly close to home. Even her job is close and she only works weekends. I'm always amazed at how little mileage she has on her vehicle. Her car is a 97 and mine a 2004 and I have more miles on my car than she does!

Yup. The months thing, if I understand correctly, is because there are volatiles in the oil that evaporate off over time and make the oil less efficient. So you are dealing here with different issues: breakdown and dirt due to mileage and lowered efficiency due to time.

Schedulers NEVER seem to want to answer these questions and I know they get a lot of emails but then they should word the instructions so there is no question as to what they mean. The verbiage I posted above leaves me wondering . . ..

I am doing the popular slow paying MSC oil change, and this month they sent you
a coupon that you must print out and use, it is for $5.00. I think your speaking of a different MSC as my fee is 35.00 for the oil change, not 50.00.
You need to ask if you can use a coupon, many say no, unless they specially tell you too.

I have had oil change shops at my dealer that were great and paid $100. The oil change only cost about $69. I haven't seen them in awhile so I took one to be done at a tire place. Never again..they charged me over $100 just for the oil change and the max reimburse was $50. Plus, they did not use the correct filter for the car. They used one that was compatible, but wasn't the brand of my vehicle that would last until the next change which could be up to 10,000 miles. I can only use synthetic oil, so I know it's more than a regular oil change, but I felt pretty ripped off and dumb for doing it and then having to do a report about the whole thing. I'll be sticking to my dealer for the next one. They have a special now for $59.99. It's a foreign car and service is expensive,. I'm worried about the filter the other place installed. They just weren't up on their stuff and told me I would need the oil changed in 3-4000 miles anyway so the filter would be fine until then. The dumb things I do for mystery shopping are never ending!!!

Irene - Mine is the one that requires me to print out a coupon and the commission is $5/reimbursement is up to $45. As it turned out the particular oil change they specified cost $39.95 but I ended up paying $39.99 for cabin air filter (which I did need) and having the anifreeze topped off for $4.99.

Am doing a pizza shop that I'm taking over to my daughter's and my son-in-law probably will tell me he could have replaced the air filer and topped off the antifreeze for a lot less.

MsJudi - I drive a Camry and I sincerely doubt that the filters are Toyota brand.

Your right, the oil change is 45.00, fee 5.00. You are to ask about the filter. I just won an oil change from a place I like better, so just cancelled. I had 4 days till due, so, hope they take it in good spirit.
Free is always better than waiting forever for reimbursement. My Honda
dealer charges 29.00 for oil change (no interior car wash,just exterior).
they do a great job, no complaints with my dealer so far.