Mr. Lube: Scam Artists

[stinkynuts]

Took my car in the other day. Guy tells me I need a new air filter. I had just replaced it a couple months ago, and I can see that is bright white except for some very light grey in the middle. Bullshit.

Tells me I need to clean the fuel injection. I also need new engine coolant. The coolant was flushed and drained within a year. Tells me my battery is fine, but I'm sure he didn't even test it.

They send me under the car and try to scare me, saying that it's rusted and if I don't do anything the fuel tank will fall off. Tell me I need rustproofing.

I also have goine to a Chinese oil change place in the past, but it was even worse. They recommended that my brand new wipers be replaced!

Can't I get an oil change without all this BS? I don't mind being recommended service for things I really need, but I know when I'm being had. The thing is, these places try to make more money by pushing these services, but I end up leaving for good. Good thing about Mr. Lube is their great service. But if they're going to try to scam me, I will take my business elsewhere.

 

[notthemama]

I change my own for just that reason.
If you don't have the facilities go to your local dealership. I've found them to be even cheaper sometimes.
I wouldn't trust them all but chances are better of getting proper service.

 

[jimmylikes]

They are the worst and its usually a bunch of kids who are in training telling you all this bullshit. Owned by that clown that also owns boston pizza and they're garbage overpriced food.

Took my car in the other day. Guy tells me I need a new air filter. I had just replaced it a couple months ago, and I can see that is bright white except for some very light grey in the middle. Bullshit.

Tells me I need to clean the fuel injection. I also need new engine coolant. The coolant was flushed and drained within a year. Tells me my battery is fine, but I'm sure he didn't even test it.

They send me under the car and try to scare me, saying that it's rusted and if I don't do anything the fuel tank will fall off. Tell me I need rustproofing.

I also have goine to a Chinese oil change place in the past, but it was even worse. They recommended that my brand new wipers be replaced!

Can't I get an oil change without all this BS? I don't mind being recommended service for things I really need, but I know when I'm being had. The thing is, these places try to make more money by pushing these services, but I end up leaving for good. Good thing about Mr. Lube is their great service. But if they're going to try to scam me, I will take my business elsewhere.

 

[james t kirk]

Took my car in the other day. Guy tells me I need a new air filter. I had just replaced it a couple months ago, and I can see that is bright white except for some very light grey in the middle. Bullshit.

Tells me I need to clean the fuel injection. I also need new engine coolant. The coolant was flushed and drained within a year. Tells me my battery is fine, but I'm sure he didn't even test it.

They send me under the car and try to scare me, saying that it's rusted and if I don't do anything the fuel tank will fall off. Tell me I need rustproofing.

I also have goine to a Chinese oil change place in the past, but it was even worse. They recommended that my brand new wipers be replaced!

Can't I get an oil change without all this BS? I don't mind being recommended service for things I really need, but I know when I'm being had. The thing is, these places try to make more money by pushing these services, but I end up leaving for good. Good thing about Mr. Lube is their great service. But if they're going to try to scam me, I will take my business elsewhere.

It's funny, but it's hit and miss. I took my toy car to Jiffy Lube on Dundas and Royal York to get an oil change. I usually do it myself, but I was without a garage (long story), so for the first time in forever, I took my toy car in to have the oil changed. I gave the kid working there the oil and the filter because he would have neither in stock. The kid was GREAT. Totally into cars, chatted me up, was very thorough, didn't try to upsell me a thing. I was IMPRESSED.

Now usually I take my Day to Day diver into the dealer for oil changes (because it's a company car and I don't want to do it). But I was getting sick of the drive to the dealer and it's now out of warrantee so I figured, "what the fuck, I'll take it back to that Jiffy Lube on Dundas". I couldn't believe the difference. Different guy, a week day, but I was with my pickup truck. The guy tried to sell me an air filter, (didn't need it) and then tried to sell me a flush and fill on the tranny, diff, and rad (all of which I had done at the dealer at 100k). All of which I declined and he recorded in the computer that I had had it all of the flushes done at 100k.

I was pretty cheesed with the Bullshit.

To add insult to injury, the price for the lube oil filter was MORE than at the Dealership where I always used to take the damn thing.

I couldn't believe it was the same shop.

The only thing I could figure is that with my toy car, they knew I was a gear head since I had done a frame off on the car myself (I was talking to the kid there about it) so he knew that I was not going to be duped because I know my shit when it comes to cars. But with my pickup truck, they figured I was just another dummy when it came to cars and tried to sell me everything under the sun.

As much as I'm not a fan of the Dealer (401 Dixie Nissan Infiniti), I have to admit, they have never tried to upsell me anything (other than their stupid maintenance A, B, or C - none of which I bother with as I just stick to what is in the maintenance schedule that the manufacturer includes with the vehicle when you buy it.)

Moral of the story - it was cheaper to take my truck for an oil change to the dealer.

 

[Rank5]

They're all like that

 

[Mr. Piggy]

Took my car in the other day. Guy tells me I need a new air filter. I had just replaced it a couple months ago, and I can see that is bright white except for some very light grey in the middle. Bullshit.

Tells me I need to clean the fuel injection. I also need new engine coolant. The coolant was flushed and drained within a year. Tells me my battery is fine, but I'm sure he didn't even test it.

They send me under the car and try to scare me, saying that it's rusted and if I don't do anything the fuel tank will fall off. Tell me I need rustproofing.

I also have goine to a Chinese oil change place in the past, but it was even worse. They recommended that my brand new wipers be replaced!

Can't I get an oil change without all this BS? I don't mind being recommended service for things I really need, but I know when I'm being had. The thing is, these places try to make more money by pushing these services, but I end up leaving for good. Good thing about Mr. Lube is their great service. But if they're going to try to scam me, I will take my business elsewhere.

I hate places like this and hopefully you didn't get sucked into any of their upsells. I use a little shop in Oshawa and get great service. If you live in Oshawa Stinkynuts and want the name and address, send me a pm. Downside to this place is you have to make an appointment, only open from 8 till 5, and they're not open on Saturday or Sunday. Good honest place to get repair work done too.

 

[james t kirk]

The one thing I wish is that they would let you watch when they did the work on your car so you could actually tell if they really did that transmission service or not. This includes the dealer.

That said, if you do your maintenance regularly at the dealer, and if something major dies just outside the warranty period, they are more likely to extend you the benefit of the doubt and fix your issue for you for free (This has happened to me when I needed a new transmission about 10k outside of the warranty period and dealer / manufacturer covered it on their dime. I had done my transmission service at 50k and 100 k and it died at 120k (the warranty being 110k on the drive train.)

So don't underestimate the benefits to doing your work at the dealer.

 

[danmand]

Living in the country, I used to do oil changes myself, because it was faster than bringing the car somewhere and wait for the service, but with my newest car it is only every 15, 000 km, so I take it to the dealer and get thei oil and filter.

 

[out4fun]

I stopped going to Mr Lube. It always felt like a shake-down. I use "oil changers" -and although they are still out to make a buck, they seem to have a higher degree of integrity with their recommendations.

 

[Terminator2000]

It's funny, but it's hit and miss. I took my toy car to Jiffy Lube on Dundas and Royal York to get an oil change. I usually do it myself, but I was without a garage (long story), so for the first time in forever, I took my toy car in to have the oil changed. I gave the kid working there the oil and the filter because he would have neither in stock. The kid was GREAT. Totally into cars, chatted me up, was very thorough, didn't try to upsell me a thing. I was IMPRESSED.

Now usually I take my Day to Day diver into the dealer for oil changes (because it's a company car and I don't want to do it). But I was getting sick of the drive to the dealer and it's now out of warrantee so I figured, "what the fuck, I'll take it back to that Jiffy Lube on Dundas". I couldn't believe the difference. Different guy, a week day, but I was with my pickup truck. The guy tried to sell me an air filter, (didn't need it) and then tried to sell me a flush and fill on the tranny, diff, and rad (all of which I had done at the dealer at 100k). All of which I declined and he recorded in the computer that I had had it all of the flushes done at 100k.

I was pretty cheesed with the Bullshit.

To add insult to injury, the price for the lube oil filter was MORE than at the Dealership where I always used to take the damn thing.

I couldn't believe it was the same shop.

The only thing I could figure is that with my toy car, they knew I was a gear head since I had done a frame off on the car myself (I was talking to the kid there about it) so he knew that I was not going to be duped because I know my shit when it comes to cars. But with my pickup truck, they figured I was just another dummy when it came to cars and tried to sell me everything under the sun.

As much as I'm not a fan of the Dealer (401 Dixie Nissan Infiniti), I have to admit, they have never tried to upsell me anything (other than their stupid maintenance A, B, or C - none of which I bother with as I just stick to what is in the maintenance schedule that the manufacturer includes with the vehicle when you buy it.)

Moral of the story - it was cheaper to take my truck for an oil change to the dealer.

if only there was a way to stick a shaft up their asses for all this insulting bullsh*t they try on it. like serious fucking jailtime. like pressing charges.

but there is no policing for this bullsh*t.

 

[Celticman]

I much prefer dealer only. On the rare occasion that I go to Mr. Lube with my autos I refuse all attempts at upsell and stick to oil and filter only. Whatever the suggested "needed" upsell was, I ask the dealer about it the next time.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

These places make their money on up sell, bringing it to a dealer is not much cheaper, but chances are they are better trained. Still, dealers are not cheap. How do you think they are able to knock down their dealerships every 10-15 years and rebuild the whole thing in a different style. I do my own brakes and fluid/oil changes. there are other simple things like bulb and wiper blade changes that can easily be done by the home mechanic. If you do not know how to do these things, look it up on youtube or the internet.

IMO Almost all mechanics will cheat you, I even know a fire and brimstone/the end of the world is coming born again christian that cheats his customers.

 

[james t kirk]

[

IMO Almost all mechanics will cheat you, I even know a fire and brimstone/the end of the world is coming born again christian that cheats his customers.

Being a neighbourhood mechanic is a tough way to make a living. My buddy used to have his own shop and he worked his ass off for less than average money at best. People are always on the defensive and everyone thinks you're trying to fuck them. They think he's making $85.00 per hour or whatever and that's simply not the case. There's a pile of overhead, and slow times, and dead beat customers galore. Plus, a neighbourhood mechanic is usually working on shitty cars, as people with newer cars take them to the dealer, and people driving shit boxes are driving shit boxes because they are broke. And broke people can't afford to fix their cars.

It's not an easy life by any means.

It's like being a contractor doing residential work. Everyone thinks that you're ripping them off because, "it's JUST a door, or it's JUST a new set of taps" Fine, then you do it if it's JUST a set of taps.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

This particular guy was actually ripping people off, by charging them more than the time he spent on the car. He would use his pneumatic tools when the client was not around and undo bolts with his ratchet by hand when they were watching. He would not do repairs the usual way and cut corners.

 

[ogibowt]

i have been going to the same Oil Changers in Scarborough for years....never ever have a problem with any kind of service.............every other oil change he just shows me the air filter, and lets me make my own decision, of whether i want a new one................im not a shill.but they are honest, quick and efficient

 

[Mr. Piggy]

Being a neighbourhood mechanic is a tough way to make a living. My buddy used to have his own shop and he worked his ass off for less than average money at best. People are always on the defensive and everyone thinks you're trying to fuck them. They think he's making $85.00 per hour or whatever and that's simply not the case. There's a pile of overhead, and slow times, and dead beat customers galore. Plus, a neighbourhood mechanic is usually working on shitty cars, as people with newer cars take them to the dealer, and people driving shit boxes are driving shit boxes because they are broke. And broke people can't afford to fix their cars.

It's not an easy life by any means.

It's like being a contractor doing residential work. Everyone thinks that you're ripping them off because, "it's JUST a door, or it's JUST a new set of taps" Fine, then you do it if it's JUST a set of taps.

A friend of mine was a mechanic and had his own shop for 40 years. He retired 2 years ago at age 62. His house is paid for and he holds the mortgage on the shop he once owned which was also paid for. Selling price was 1.8 million. His house is worth approximately $800,000. Not bad for what you call average money at best.

 

[AK-47]

I've had good experiences with Canadian Tire. I just leave my car there, go shopping or run some errands, then I pick up my car a few hours later. Cdn tire never tries to upsell me, they just do the oil change and thats it.

I can also feel the difference between their oil changes and one of those Jiffy lube places. Car just runs a lot smoother

 

[nobody123]

Any time I go to an oil change place, the first words out of my mouth are "I'm a cheap bastard and I just want an oil change. Don't even bother checking all that other crap." It's not really true (the distinction between "cheap" and "Broke" gives me no end of comfort it does!) and I'm actually a sucker for all these upsells. Which is why I nip it off at the bud. It helps that I drive a beater (lookit this cheap bastard and his cheap car, we won't be able to sell him on anything I bet!).

 

[basketcase]

Or just say no.

Do people let SP's charge them extra for shampoo upgrades or fluffier towels in the shower or designer condoms?

 

[DanJ]

The biggest scam I think is that stupid guide book that shops look at for the hours a job is worth. And then they charge those hours even if they do it quicker. But if they take longer, they charge for the extra time. I like Mr Lube for the convenience. Just like a haircut, I hate making advance plans for an oil change. I drive by, if there is a line, I carry on and do something else. If no line, I pull in and I'm done in half an hour or less. I almost never take them up on the upsell, I get that they are an expensive franchise and need to make money off those things. It's nice that they show me the air filter or cabin filter, but I can buy those things for dirt cheap from Napa through my employer discount. Hell, I just bought front brake pads and rotors for about 40% off. For more specialized things like tranny service, I would rather deal with a place with certified technicians.