ALWAYS ask to see the part they are replacing and judge for yourself if it is worn. If you cannot get to see the part before the work is done, have them save it for you to look at when the repair is completed. One time I was told I needed a new Window Regulator (the thing that makes the window go up and down behind the door). When it was shown to me it did not come from my car, mine was electric, this one had a crank. The mechanic tried to charge me $400 as well. Needless to say, I brought it to the dealership owners attention. Not only was the guy fired, I got a shitload of incentives from them to keep my business. You know more about cars than you think, just about anyone can see something that is broken if they see a good part next to it.
Speedy muffler lies
- Thread starter mmouse
- Start date
Rules to live by
1. A friend of mine who has his own independent shop calls these muffler chains LPMs. Licenses to Print Money.
2. Location, location. Speedy, Midas and other big chains have big shops on expensive real estate, right on main boulevards. Who do you think pays for that?
3. Read rule #2, then also remember that the manager has a monthly sales target, or he goes back under a hoist. If it's a slow month, how do you think they make up for that? Easy, your oil change becomes a need for a full tuneup, plug wires, maybe a ball joint and front brake pads. Or more.
4. Some of these chains actually pay the mechanics some commission on the parts they 'sell'. Not large, but for a guy making $15 or $18/hr, it makes a difference on the pay stub.
5. Most of their warranties, most particularly the lifetime ones, are a joke. They only apply to the original purchaser, and often as not, by the time cars are getting fixed there they are a year or two away from being sold or traded. They rarely have to honour them.
6. Free inspections: yes, they are free, but do you think they give up 'shop time' for nothing? The pressure to find something wrong with your car is BIG. May have zip to do with what the inspection is for.
Bear this in mind when shopping for auto repairs:thewheelman said:
1. A friend of mine who has his own independent shop calls these muffler chains LPMs. Licenses to Print Money.
2. Location, location. Speedy, Midas and other big chains have big shops on expensive real estate, right on main boulevards. Who do you think pays for that?
3. Read rule #2, then also remember that the manager has a monthly sales target, or he goes back under a hoist. If it's a slow month, how do you think they make up for that? Easy, your oil change becomes a need for a full tuneup, plug wires, maybe a ball joint and front brake pads. Or more.
4. Some of these chains actually pay the mechanics some commission on the parts they 'sell'. Not large, but for a guy making $15 or $18/hr, it makes a difference on the pay stub.
5. Most of their warranties, most particularly the lifetime ones, are a joke. They only apply to the original purchaser, and often as not, by the time cars are getting fixed there they are a year or two away from being sold or traded. They rarely have to honour them.
6. Free inspections: yes, they are free, but do you think they give up 'shop time' for nothing? The pressure to find something wrong with your car is BIG. May have zip to do with what the inspection is for.
Took my 1985 Pontiac Parisienne to Speedy in Oshawa for minor rumble. The Mechanic wanted me to replace the entire system from the manifold to the tailpipe for about 2 grand. He refused to look at altnernae solution. I took it to an independant garage in Pickering wher I had a piece of midpipe welded into the system for 40 dollars total including parts and labour.
The chains have long been known for hustling its customers. its not the mechanics fault they are directed to sell. They do not keep their jobs for demonstrating their skill and satisfying the customer.
The chains have long been known for hustling its customers. its not the mechanics fault they are directed to sell. They do not keep their jobs for demonstrating their skill and satisfying the customer.
It's not just the muffler shops. I find the oil and lube places just as bad. Whenever they say I need this or that I tell them I have to take my car to my mechanic in a few days and I'll get a second opinion.
Also, someone I knew worked at Canadian Tire. After he quit he told me not to take my car there. They're guilty of the same thing.
Also, someone I knew worked at Canadian Tire. After he quit he told me not to take my car there. They're guilty of the same thing.
Bad experience @ Speedy Muffler
I went in for one of their “free” brake inspections. They tell me I need new brakes on the front. I said no thanks, I do my own brakes so just put my wheels back on and I’ll be on my way.
The guy got really agitated by that. He would let my car go. He started arguing with me, saying the car is unsafe and he can’t let it go. I started to get angry with him. I say, “Put my wheels back on now!”
He put my wheels back on alright. He must’ve set the speed gun to the maximum torque cuz I couldn’t get the wheels off with my wheel wrench. I had to use a pipe. I ended up bending the pipe just to get the wheels off.
That ahole did that on purpose, cuz he knew I didn’t have one of those guns.
It’s just one ahole in thousands but I’ll never go back there for anything.
I went in for one of their “free” brake inspections. They tell me I need new brakes on the front. I said no thanks, I do my own brakes so just put my wheels back on and I’ll be on my way.
The guy got really agitated by that. He would let my car go. He started arguing with me, saying the car is unsafe and he can’t let it go. I started to get angry with him. I say, “Put my wheels back on now!”
He put my wheels back on alright. He must’ve set the speed gun to the maximum torque cuz I couldn’t get the wheels off with my wheel wrench. I had to use a pipe. I ended up bending the pipe just to get the wheels off.
That ahole did that on purpose, cuz he knew I didn’t have one of those guns.
It’s just one ahole in thousands but I’ll never go back there for anything.
2 thousand dollars?????WhaWhaWha said:
For the exhaust system from the exhaust manifold on back?
This is nuts.
Even if the cat was gone (which I doubt it would have been) I can't understand how it could add up to 2 grand. You have the pipe from the maninfolds to the cat, the pipe from the cat to the muffler, the muffler, and the tail pipe.
Everytime I hear stories like this, I am happy that I have been laying under cars since I was 8 years old and can fix just about anything myself (other than front struts, I don't fuck with those.)
I used to work at Woolco in their automotive dept when I was a kid in Hamilton. We had a great mechanic there who had free reign to do whatever kind of work he wanted. He would even do heavy motor work cause he knew how. The customers loved him and they came from far and wide.
I can honestly say, we never ever ripped off anyone. Never upsold anyone who didn't truly need it.
Anyway, if you want an honest mechanic in Mississauga, take your car to Lorne Park Automotive. I used to know the 2 guys who owned the place in another life - Ralph and Donny. (Ralph was the owner, but I am sure that if Donny is still around, he is a part owner now.)
They are:
Lorne Park Car Centre Ltd
2133 Royal Windsor Drive,
Mississauga, ON L5J 1K5
Tel. : 905-823-8787
They are right behind the Clarkson GO Station, you can actually access their shop from the parking lot of the GO Station.
Anyway, I don't work there, haven't been there in a while (I do 95% of all my own auto maintenance myself). Met those guys through a job working in the area and since I am a car hound, I got to know both of them. They are both very decent honest guys. They specialize in German (Ralph is off the boat German and loves VW) and Japanese, but they will work on anything. I used to see the benzes flying in there all the time and the Chinese guy I was working with was getting all horny and kept telling me that these guys were both rich cause they were working on benzes and "minimum charge 500 dollar" Seriously.
When I told Ralph that he just rolled his eyes and said, "uh huh, that car over there need a flasher for 12 dollars. If I operated like that, I wouldn't be in business too long"
Not shilling, just hung around that place long enough to see how they operated and they were both very honest decent guys.
I can honestly say, we never ever ripped off anyone. Never upsold anyone who didn't truly need it.
Anyway, if you want an honest mechanic in Mississauga, take your car to Lorne Park Automotive. I used to know the 2 guys who owned the place in another life - Ralph and Donny. (Ralph was the owner, but I am sure that if Donny is still around, he is a part owner now.)
They are:
Lorne Park Car Centre Ltd
2133 Royal Windsor Drive,
Mississauga, ON L5J 1K5
Tel. : 905-823-8787
They are right behind the Clarkson GO Station, you can actually access their shop from the parking lot of the GO Station.
Anyway, I don't work there, haven't been there in a while (I do 95% of all my own auto maintenance myself). Met those guys through a job working in the area and since I am a car hound, I got to know both of them. They are both very decent honest guys. They specialize in German (Ralph is off the boat German and loves VW) and Japanese, but they will work on anything. I used to see the benzes flying in there all the time and the Chinese guy I was working with was getting all horny and kept telling me that these guys were both rich cause they were working on benzes and "minimum charge 500 dollar" Seriously.
When I told Ralph that he just rolled his eyes and said, "uh huh, that car over there need a flasher for 12 dollars. If I operated like that, I wouldn't be in business too long"
Not shilling, just hung around that place long enough to see how they operated and they were both very honest decent guys.
No, that's a bit over-priced. I'll change your blinker fluid for $39.95 ....
Speedy is my usual place for brakes/tires/exhaust. I usually go to the same place, and haven't had these types of problems. If they suggest some work and I don't think it's necessary, I just say no thanks. Even if I do think it's necessary but their price is too high, I go elsewhere. I've always had competent and efficient service at Speedy - but I only go there for certain types of service (not oil changes!). If I need other work done, I go to a trusted independent garage instead.
Speedy is my usual place for brakes/tires/exhaust. I usually go to the same place, and haven't had these types of problems. If they suggest some work and I don't think it's necessary, I just say no thanks. Even if I do think it's necessary but their price is too high, I go elsewhere. I've always had competent and efficient service at Speedy - but I only go there for certain types of service (not oil changes!). If I need other work done, I go to a trusted independent garage instead.
So heres an update. I make an appointment with Honda because it is nearing the end of my 3 yr warranty. My shocks are leaking and an allignment is in order. I inquire about extending my warranty to the service guy. He sends me to the money guy and while I am waiting outside his office, sales associates are coming by asking if everything is fine etc.
I enter money guys office and a salesman with doller signs in his eyes decides to follow me in. For 45 minutes straight I am being pressured not to purchase additional services for my 3 year old vehicle, but instead being pressured to but a new car!!!! Not even to buy one but to lease one (considering I am a student, my monthly payment will be lower and I will never have to worry about a warranty again...blah blah blah)
They offered me a ridiculously low trade in price, thousands less then the used cars on the lot of the same year and of similar km, which is currently at 50,000 km. They placed papers in front of me and said "all you have to do is sign" I barely made it out of there alive lol.
There you go boys, what you have to deal with when you are a girl going for car repairs. And to top it off, I still do not know how much the extended warranty will cost. But I did get a great quote for my breaks from the service guy who was extremely nice.
I enter money guys office and a salesman with doller signs in his eyes decides to follow me in. For 45 minutes straight I am being pressured not to purchase additional services for my 3 year old vehicle, but instead being pressured to but a new car!!!! Not even to buy one but to lease one (considering I am a student, my monthly payment will be lower and I will never have to worry about a warranty again...blah blah blah)
They offered me a ridiculously low trade in price, thousands less then the used cars on the lot of the same year and of similar km, which is currently at 50,000 km. They placed papers in front of me and said "all you have to do is sign" I barely made it out of there alive lol.
There you go boys, what you have to deal with when you are a girl going for car repairs. And to top it off, I still do not know how much the extended warranty will cost. But I did get a great quote for my breaks from the service guy who was extremely nice.
auto doctor said:Hey Gooby maybe someone there can blow your tires for 50 bucks?
Last time Goober borrowed his mothers car and came into town for a TERB party I went out in the parking lot and watered his tires for free. And the old gumshoe didn't even notice. I say make him pay full pop. No more freebies
Besides he is not a mod anymore.
Does Goober still suck start Shiek's bike after the party still? Nitehawk when goobey went to IKEA the same thing happened to his mom's car. That's sweedish for piss on you cheap asshat.
friend works for speedy, and i spent a few days with them at their work.
these guys, definitely dont screw people around...rexdale location...and they really know their shit...they dont receive bonuses but rather, the bigger the bill, the better their share is, because it's based on percentage, somewhere between 5-10% of the bill they get.
these guys, definitely dont screw people around...rexdale location...and they really know their shit...they dont receive bonuses but rather, the bigger the bill, the better their share is, because it's based on percentage, somewhere between 5-10% of the bill they get.
