Bestmark Oil Shops?

I've seen these several times, but they are usually looking for makes of cars that I don't have. This time, though, it said "any automobile." I've never done oil change shops before. How many questions do they ask and how much narrative is required? Thank you for any feedback!

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I have never seen a BestMark shop that says, "any automobile.' If they are sending you to a auto dealer, then I am pretty sure that "any automobile" means the brand of car sold by the dealership (although there is some crossing of brands at the large US automaker, particularly for orphan brands which they no longer make). They have been sending me emails for another large US automaker which implies that you can take any of their brands to the luxury dealer, but when you go online, the details require that it be the luxury brand only.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

I will not EVER do another oil change shop. The garage being shopped "miraculously" found 'serious' things wrong with the car, held me there for 5 hours because they had the car taken apart by the time they'd told me anything. They'd also ransacked the vehicle and stolen things. The overall behavior was reprehensible and to top things off the MS company then said the report was "no longer objective" and they would not pay me for the shop. My state's attorney general's office found my story rather fascinating.

Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain

My last two ms oil changes resulted in needless recommended repairs, the same issue was "found" on both shops with two different family cars--cracked and broken idler arms which of course my regular, honest mechanic determined was bogus in both instances. Regardless, I am thrilled getting free oil changes via ms...believe it or not, Jiffy Lube was the only honest chain on a third oil change. Don't miss reading this book: "What auto mechanics don't want you to know" even if you have a basic understanding
of auto stuff.,

It depends where you go.
In my honest opinion they're great shops. The people who have complaints may very well be valid but they are of the shop and not Bestmark. Calling ahead and asking what and how long it takes is the way to go. Your revenge is if you they do what the other people claim and you write it in your report.

If you have an oil change you need anyway and the place you would go to anyway or one like it is on the list..go to it, you'll have the same experience regardless but with BestMark you'll get paid.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2015 12:30AM by rasky.

Thanks for the feedback. For those who have done oil change shops for Bestmark, how long is the report? What is included? Thanks.

I do the oil change shops and I never have anything repaired on their recommendations. If it seems serious I run it by my repair people, who most of the time don't even take a look.
They usually tell me something like, "No, Mary, they're just trying to sell you something. Your car is in good shape. Drive it."

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.

@dianak wrote:

Thanks for the feedback. For those who have done oil change shops for Bestmark, how long is the report? What is included? Thanks.

The reports are a little long, but not terribly so. There's some but not much narrative involved. Really, the worst part of the shop is waiting for the oil change to be finished. I find that the location I go to for these shops is much slower than the "Quick Lube"-type places. On the other hand, I also get most of the report finished on my phone while I'm waiting for my car to be done. I have two cars that qualify for these shops and I take one every time they are due for an oil change.

Edited to add:
You should always be a little wary when taking your car in for service. No matter where you go. While it is certainly not Bestmark's fault, and was probably not intentional on the part of the client, the last time my oil was changed the dealership forgot to put the oil cap back on tightly. After a few weeks it wiggled it's way off and disappeared. My God! The stink! I thought my car was on fire!!

Luckily it was an easy fix and no damage was done, but it did cause me to have to reschedule a whole day's worth of shopping to take my car into the mechanic. From now on, I'll be sure to open the hood and check the cap

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/2015 12:55AM by meghan9262.

I mentioned this before, but after an experience where the "quick lube" type place forgot to put the oil cap back on (I found it on top of the radiator), I began taking a photo of my engine with my cell phone just before I leave home. All of the user serviceable parts are color coded yellow. After the oil change (it can happen anywhere), I open the hood and compare the yellow spots of color. I have encountered people who have had this happen at dealers, at independent garages, etc. All if takes if for a moment lapse of concentration. I do an "upscale" oil change shop at a local chain which I really like. The reimbursement just misses covering the total cost, but it is a 90% discount and I like the way the work on my car. I have decided not to go back the the "quick lube" type place even when it is bonused.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Easy peasy. Did most of the report on my iPad while I was waiting. Got a check in the mail 10 days later!

I went to the quick lube place about a year ago and they told me I needed Synthetic Oil. They did give me a discount even though none of the regular coupons worked with synthetic but still the cost was beyond the reimbursement and I had forgotten how much. This year I have seen bonuses being offered and thought about taking one. I called the quick lube place and was told the fee for my car is $89.99 plus extra for the extra half quart I need...I have a small car so it is amazing to me (not knowing anything about car engines)I need extra oil..that extra quart is $10 there. My Volvo dealer charges me $29.99 including the oil. Why do the mystery shop job and pay $40+ out of pocket for it? So I too am forgetting about the quick lube place. (Not a Bestmark shop)

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