Dealership oil change/tire rotation ?

I have been tempted to try some of these shops at the dealership, but need some feedback on the reports.

They don't expect you to stand in the shop area and watch the service guy, do they? I know my dealers don't allow that.

Is the bulk of the report more about how the appointment setting, check-in and check-out is handled by the staff?

Any feedback greatly appreciated!

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More About Oil Change & Car Service Mystery Shopping

it depends on the company as almost every brand is handled my a different msc.

But the shops don't focus on what the mechanic does. They focus on what your service advisor does, the vehicle, cashier etc...most are detailed narritivies.

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There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
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When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody

That's why I prefer them to the chain stores. It's all about the check in and out again. It's great to relax in the lounge instead of wandering around watching the mechanics sweat

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
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I did one a bunch of years back. No appointments were allowed for an oil change. I got there fairly early and spent about 6 hours waiting in a cramped litte waiting room for just a freaking oil change. They were dealing with more lucrative repairs, for which they DID make appointments. The cost of the oil change came out to about $60, which of course was reimbursed. I hardly remember the report but I know I was more than a little annoyed that an oil change that should have taken 15 minutes or less took 6 hours. It was an 'excuse a minute' that techs had not shown up, that they were waiting for the oil filter (I guess a Ford F150 is so unique that it doesn't pay to keep filters in stock)[NOT], that it was in the service bay, that the tech would deal with it next (that was still 2 hours before I got the truck back), etc.

I'm spoiled by my dealership because they actually honor appointments. Always about an hour and sometimes I wish they would take just a bit longer because it's actually nice to wait in large bright area with lots of food and beverages and even some entertainment. It makes the time fly and my car is so clean when it's returned. The price for all this? Without a coupon from the manufacturer it's about $35 to $38, with a coupon it's only $25. I tease my family members who drive Acuras and the like, that I'm being treated like a luxury car owner for the price of a Sentra, LOL!

The ones I have done are by a chain, my Honda dealership doesn't offer them through msing (wish they did). You have to time when you approached, what they offered you, did they smile, get name, watch for a bit, be sure you get only a standard change, are allowed to bring in a coupon this month, of which the mail in are 26.99, as opposed to the 34.99 they charge, and the coupon sentby MSC is only 5.00, then check out restroom and then do carwash. There is a 5.00 report fee, and detailed report.....I'm not a lover of these, but you get an oil change. The other MSC that does these has better higher paying ones, but haven't seen them for 3 months, hoping I'm on rotation, not that they've stopped. Try one and see for yourself is my best advice.

Live consciously....

I have done the dealerships. Appointment, cushy waiting room with decent refreshments, big screen TV, oil change and maybe a tire rotation, plus recommendations. The dealership shops generally pay more reimbursement, as the dealership charges more than a chain. The chains I've done generally don't take appointments and instead of a cushy waiting room, have Naugahyde chairs with gum stuck underneath. Refreshments are scary.

Yet, historically, my preference is one particular chain. It boils down to trust and competence.

I have a preferred chain. I am doing the timings but need to watch the process so I pull out a cigarette and stroll to the exit end of the drive through bay and listen and chat with the tech. 'Having a smoke' keeps me from being invited into the waiting room and discovering gum under the chairs or missing the floor show in the service bay. I'm usually in and out in 15 minutes with no appointment and rarely any BS.

If it's the bowtie dealers, it's pretty easy. I had one dealer that did not do walkins (I could come back later that afternoon with an appt). I emailed the MSC and told them, and they said to go ahead and make an appt. I then did another shop for a different dealer, and this time part of the shop was to set an online appointment and see if the followed up on it.

I find them pretty easy, and for $20 plus reimbursement, it's a damn good deal.

Thnks for the feedback, everyone! I'll have to noodle on this some more.

Right, I have a "bowtie" car and I love these shops! They do pay well, and the forms are not bad at all.

I have a brand new car, and I like being able to bring it back to the dealer I bought if from.

I have gotten the oil changed in both of my cars this month, and scheduled the third one for next week. I love these shops! They are easy and pay well. And you don't have to do anything out of the ordinary that would tip you off as a shopper.

I love these shops too! I once only had put only 700 miles on my car from the last oil change and they had one bonused $20. So, I just had to get another oil change. It's nice to get paid to get an oil change!

josey122 Wrote:
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> I have gotten the oil changed in both of my cars
> this month, and scheduled the third one for next
> week. I love these shops! They are easy and pay
> well. And you don't have to do anything out of the
> ordinary that would tip you off as a shopper.

I've never done one at a dealership. Unfortunately, my car brand is one that's been dumped by the manufacturer. I have done several at service chain stores. I remember when I first started MSing. Husb. thought I was crazy until I got my first oil change shop. Since then, he reminds me when it's time to start looking for another shop when the mileage is getting close and expects never to have to pay for another one.

Anyone know of a mystery shop company that accepts Ford? I could really use an oil change.

We're not allowed to reveal the clients of mystery shopping companies. It violates most Independent Contractor Agreements and the Posting Guidelines of the forum. If you keep signing up for new MSCs, you will usually find what you're looking for easily.

candy02780 Wrote:
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> Anyone know of a mystery shop company that accepts
> Ford? I could really use an oil change.

I have a Ford, found one once. It went terribly wrong. Got paid, but so far they are scarce. Can't tell you MSC, that's bad, bad, bad.

I almost backdoored my way into doing a Nissan service shop with a Hyundai. My local Hyundai and Nissan dealerships are both owned by the same group, and are basically one continuous lot. The way they operate both service departments is also somewhat continuous. They perform all (Nissan and Hyundai) oil changes, tire replacements and scheduled maintenance in the Hyundai service department, and repairs in the Nissan service department. Interestingly enough, when I purchased my Hyundai, the dealership gave me the little "Nissan Rewards" keytag.

Since the Nissan service departments are regularly shopped, I posed the question to the MSC that since the departments are conjoined and I had the Nissan Rewards keytag, could I use my Hyundai. They were genuinely surprised and actually considered my proposal, but ultimately their client said that there was a chance I wouldn't deal with a service advisor in their system and couldn't do it.

So close. It would have been such a sweet deal getting paid to go get no-charge warranty work done.

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Dealership oil change/tire rotation ?

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