I had the coupon to do several tire rotation/safety inspections for CRI and all went well until last Friday. The four that I did previously all told me (and including an oil change that I had done earlier that morning that did a check out) that my car was tip top, my brakes were fine, my tire pressure good, etc.

So I was surprised at the last one I did that I got called in and told that my rear brakes were about to fail and I needed an $800.00 brake job asap. Also my tires were kind of "bad". Now my tires are a year old that I bought on my own from Town Fair Tire and are good tires - not cheap. Also, my neighbor who had done my brakes a few months ago is also the head mechanic for our local police department - he knows his stuff and I trust him implicitly. the shop had shown me (literally said COME ON IN THE GARAGE meanwhile there are signs that say no customers in garage) and showed me how "thin" my drums were in places and how bad it was and "wanted to get me in there right away". I said I had to check it with my husband first and then was immediately told about financing. I lied and said my credit was in the toilet. They kind of backed down afterwards.

I had my neighbor check my brakes when I got home after frantically calling my husband - they don't need anything.

The gist of this is that when I went to report it all to the MSC there was no room for it. I really think that it is something that they should know about but after accepting my initial report told me "we already filed it" too late. I was wondering if it was worth contacting the place directly? It really was someone trying to "take advantage" of unfortunately I think a woman who they thought didn't know too much about cars. I could also tell by where this place was they desperately needed business.

thoughts?

No, the appropriate place for the information was with your scheduler and with the report. The report needs to be a factual and objective response to the questions asked. The scheduler comments could be more irate and factual about what the mechanic told you. It really wouldn't atter that they already filed the report if they gave a rat's a$$. It is this kind of garbage that gives places a bad name. I once had similar with Sears when I took my car there and I once had similar with Goodyear. Both of those brands lost a customer forever when they pulled that trash.

The flip side of that is that where I normally get my oil change is on a shop. One of the requirements is that they suggest additional services. The mechanic is likely to tell me something like 'your transmission fluid looks great, clear and good color. When it gets gunky we can change it for you for $X and we do run specials on it.' With clear conscience I can report he mentioned other services, but he did not cram them down my pocketbook. When he tells me something is getting 'near' to doing, he has made me comfortable enough that I am likely to have him do it when it needs doing.

Be happy that this shop generated a second opinion with a positive confirmation of your car's excellent condition and your ability to think quickly on your feet. Excellent comeback!

I always suspect that the reason no room or prod to make suggestions is given is because there is no interest or need to know. Unless you're asked, don't tell, can be a noteworthy motto.

" Whatcha saying, sweetie, we ain't no crooks? " would pretty much be their counter to your accusation.

Since you were there to perform a mystery shop, you should not be even considering contacting the place directly. Your job was to report what happened back to the MSC period.

Peach = I would never contact the place directly; however their corporate office sent me an email follow up questionannaire. I despise the fact that these places try to take advantage of people.

And Flash - when I told my mechanic what happened, Sears and Goodyear were the first places he guessed where it happened.

I had a similar thing happen on a recent brake inspection shop. I let my scheduler know and she immediately said that they were getting a ton of "suspicious" repair "suggestions" and that the client was VERY interested. I was asked to forward the cost estimate for the "needed" repairs. BTW, experiences such as this have turned that client into a confirmed user of video shopping. The round of shops on which the client "discovered" this problem was actually a trial of video shopping for that company. Many of the "urgent repair" statements were not accompanied by written estimates, so they realized immediately the value of the recordings.

This is one of my primary reasons for not wanting to do these shops. I also worry about how they are putting my car back together.

Before purchasing my new car I was driving a car that was old, but had extremely low mileage. After a couple of dozen shops like these I was told everything from "the car is fine" to my left rear shock was going out, my left was fine and the right was going out, my shocks were fine and I needed new struts, I needed all new brakes, I needed just brake pads, etc., etc. Not one "diagnosis" was the same as the one before.

This year I've had 4 of these on video and basically the exact same thing has been happening, including one store preparing to do the work without even providing me an estimate or getting my permission.

My all time favorite was when I brought in the coupon for the tire rotation, they didn't bother asking my name, do any paperwork or anything and then said "we did it, you're fine". I asked for paperwork and was told that they don't give it for free coupons that customers bring in. The editor called me about that one absolutely mortified and said I might want to have someone check out my car just to make sure it was put back together OK. Seriously, if I had been driving home and say A WHEEL FLEW OFF, whose fault would it be? Not these schmoes who don't give paperwork and I guarantee you would never know who I was.

To prove I was there that day I took pix of the place and also a little trick I picked up was to check in at all these places on "Four Square" and then take a picture of it to attach to the report as some sort of verification in case they "don't give receipts".

That FourSquare tip is a good one! I always turn that location feature off, but I would consider enabling it as additional proof for any shop (personal or paid) that set off that many red flags.

Also if they don't do the paperwork, then dimes to dollars they're not reporting the income they made on your repair.

This is an interesting thread. I have not done one of these shops, but the location I pass on the way home from work was there one day.....then completely closed the next. A few days later it had a "for sale" sign on it.

They always seemed to have business. Now it makes me wonder what happened.

Ive done shops in past where I would bring my car to my regular mechanic, have him make certain things bad, bring to the test shop, see if they fix/notice etc, then bring back to my mechanic make sure they did the work they charged for.


auto industry always need to use a trusted mechanic as so many try to take advantage of people that they think dont know any better.

I refuse the do this "Quicky Lube" places based on what happened years ago.

I went in for an oil change and the mechanic (whack) checked my air and noted it was running warm. He told me for $800 he could fix it. I said, "No Thanks, I have to talk to my hubby first." (I could not WAIT to get out of there!)

The next day, a co-worker of mine said her husband was a Christian mechanic and would look at it for free. She said he was honest and boy was he....

I took it in, he fiddled around for a second, grabbed a tool and then said to me, "Okay, you're done." I said, "What do you mean I am done?" He said, "You just had a loose belt, I tightened it. Your car is fine now."

I was shocked! I was so happy, I wanted to give him some money. He REFUSED. After arguing with him to take the money...I forced him to take the $20 dollar bill by laying it on his rolling tool box and I walked out...

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/2012 12:49AM by SunnyDays2.

Suzie, They are supposed to take you into the shop to show you what work they recommend be done. Although I never had them actually do it. Customers are only allowed in the garage if accompanied by an employee.

I did three of these shops in one week. First place said I needed brake pads only, the second said I absolutely needed both pads and rotors, and the third said I needed pads and optionally rotors. I opted for the pads only. Seems to be running fine so far.

Really? they had a sign that said due to insurance reasons no non employees were to enter the garage. And believe me, this guy didn't even say "hey come outside with me to the bay", we went tripping over junk all over the place.

the other thing that turned me off is when I said to the guy to have a great weekend and enjoy the holiday his response was "what weekend? XYZ corporate makes us be open on Monday, bastards that they are". OK then. Nothing like company loyalty, pride and MANNERS!

walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had a similar thing happen on a recent brake
> inspection shop. I let my scheduler know and she
> immediately said that they were getting a ton of
> "suspicious" repair "suggestions" and that the
> client was VERY interested. I was asked to
> forward the cost estimate for the "needed"
> repairs. BTW, experiences such as this have
> turned that client into a confirmed user of video
> shopping. The round of shops on which the client
> "discovered" this problem was actually a trial of
> video shopping for that company. Many of the
> "urgent repair" statements were not accompanied by
> written estimates, so they realized immediately
> the value of the recordings.

Were they VERY interested in suspected customer fraud would not a direct yes/no question followed by a corroborative narrative demonstrate this ?

They were very, very interested in suspected fraud! If possible, the shopper was to video both the technician who had serviced the vehicle, to see what she/he said, and the service manager who prepared the estimate of costs for the needed repairs. Sometimes the manager did not want to show a written estimate (illegal) before starting the work! All on video.

Since the stakes are so high for any major company that may already be operating under a consent drvree because of an established pattern of violations, you bet they want a recording!

As we all know shopped locations will often argue the reports and it does come down to your word against theirs. When they have these types of violations on film there is no way for the store to contest the results. While a narrative does thoroughly explain the situation, the video leaves no room for error.

marijaldm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> walesmaven Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I had a similar thing happen on a recent brake
> > inspection shop. I let my scheduler know and
> she
> > immediately said that they were getting a ton
> of
> > "suspicious" repair "suggestions" and that the
> > client was VERY interested. I was asked to
> > forward the cost estimate for the "needed"
> > repairs. BTW, experiences such as this have
> > turned that client into a confirmed user of
> video
> > shopping. The round of shops on which the
> client
> > "discovered" this problem was actually a trial
> of
> > video shopping for that company. Many of the
> > "urgent repair" statements were not accompanied
> by
> > written estimates, so they realized immediately
> > the value of the recordings.
>
> Were they VERY interested in suspected customer
> fraud would not a direct yes/no question followed
> by a corroborative narrative demonstrate this ?

Update: Scheduler called me to please go to another location as the client is requesting it and they would pay me for it but I need to go today. First I can't. Second I told her that the same shop the day before did a thorough inspection (different location) and it was not noted. And third I offered for her to give to the client an inspection report from my mechanic with pictures.

Crickets.