One more reason not go to Jiffy lube - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blueeagle289 · #16 07-10-2006, 07:38 AM

My Kwik Kar franchise, a block away from my home, does excellent work on all my five cars -- and has well trained mechanics, not "minumum wage" teenagers doing the work. They do a lot of Mercedes oil changes, and mechanical work on any car that they feel qualified to do. If they think you need to go to a Mercedes specialist -- they tell you that (front end work and heavier mechanical stuff). On the contrary, I have not had good experiences with my local Mercedes dealer, who charges $150 just to look at a car and then doesn't even find the real problem quite often. I will not take my Mercedes to them, unless it is a recall/warranty item they are doing.

Like anything else, there are a variety of experiences out there and you should check the capability of any local garage -- whether it be a franchise or regular private owner or a Mercedes dealership. I can take my cars to Kwik Kar and rest assured that everything will be done properly. BC

kramlavud · #17 07-10-2006, 08:31 AM

I should add that I live about a mile from the Jiffy Lube, and immediately after arrivng home I check the oil level and under the car for leaks. Never had any problems.
regards,
Mark

lee polowczuk · #18 07-10-2006, 09:03 AM

i really wouldn't have a problem with Jiffy Lube or Wal-mart if i can watch them...

however with the time it takes me to drive to one of those places and wait...

...i can use the topsider and change the oil. I have done this in my work clothes...although that is not the practice.

typical practice... warm engine up.... start sucking out oil (takes 20 mintues or so) ...get a cup of coffee, read paper... change filter... add oil

yes, taking the old oil to a disposal place is a pain... but we store it for a bit then move 3-4 gallons at a time.

yosshimura · #19 07-10-2006, 12:10 PM

At times I change it with the toploader thing I bought, but after buying the oil and filter, and totalling it up, its just $10-$15 shy of the $44 the local indi charges me... so sometimes he changes it and sometimes I do.

I have entertained a jiffy lube... but they have to charge more since our cars take so much oil, than other cars, no? Plus you have to bring them another filter...

Mistress · #20 07-10-2006, 12:13 PM

Many moons ago, I took my Honda to the Jiffy Lube and by the time I got home there was this aweful (sp)burning oil smell. I opened the hood and found out they didn't put the oil cap back on...never again....

Mike Murrell · #21 07-10-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davestlouis

I used to work for an adjusting company that did warranty claim work for a local Jiffy Lube franchisee. They did some huge number of oil changes in Metro St. Louis, 40,000 a month as I recall. They also allowed roughly $1 per oil change for screw-ups. Statistically, they did very well, but $40K a month would buy roughly 8-10 engines or transmissions, and 1-2 "oops" where they drove a customer car through the glass doors.

Let's not forget the guy with the Ford Expedition. He had a 4 year lease, it was coming due that day, he had never changed the oil, so he ran it through J-Lube. They should have shooed him away, but they went ahead, changed the oil, and sent him on his way. The thing blew up and he wanted them to pay for an engine.

People also get a trans service only after 70k miles, when it starts acting up and shifting funny. The Lube place changes the fluid and the thing goes kaboom several days later...whose fault was it? I'm not condoning the lack of training, but the customer bears some responsibility for maintaining his vehicle too.

You missed the point of the first post. You apparently didn't watch the NBC video.

This isn't about the 1 in 4000, dropped-the-ball-and-under-filled-the-unit scenario. That can and does happen everywhere. The video was about blatant dishonesty. 5 of 9 Jiffy Lubes in a given area of L. A. all cheated the customer. Charges were made for work that was never performed. Hidden cameras and marked parts told the story.

Bob G · #22 07-10-2006, 04:29 PM

These snot nose kits still wet behine the ears are the reason why good shops chargeso much money even forthe simple services $100.00 to change the oil & filter on a 280SL & 300-E.

Thank God I have a shop and tools and spare time to learn to do the work my self.
I just had the 300-E in for a transmission filter & fluid change wiith a power steering flush & filter.
got it back the young kid who did the work messed up so I have to redue what I paid this kid to do. not fun.
there should be a law against hiring brain dead people to service your car.
As fare as jiffy kaboom lube would lnot let them work on my beater toyota.

Bob Geco

yosshimura · #23 07-10-2006, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob G

there should be a law against hiring brain dead people to service your car.
As fare as jiffy kaboom lube would lnot let them work on my beater toyota.

Bob Geco

Trained or not trained, at the end of the day they are mechanics, not college educated mba's..........

satyr · #24 07-10-2006, 05:59 PM

I used to stock for a western auto in college- years ago. People would bring in their cars, (and receipts from other shops) and tell us they couldn't understand why the "check oil" light was on since they just had it changed down the street. We would find oil everywhere because the filler cap was missing, or the fill plug half-out. We found tools lying around under the hood, and people driving V8s with only 7 plugs in it after a "tune up." It really was shocking. The worst though- was when my girlfriend (now wife) took her car to the dealer for a 60,000 mile check-up (no longer in warranty). I explicitly told her DO NOT LET THEM REPAIR ANYTHING WITHOUT TALKING TO ME. She drove the car home and said they told her she needed a new radiator as it was leaking. I popped the hood and found her lower hose leaking. I ALSO FOUND A SHARPENED SCREWDRIVER LYING ON THE PLASTIC FLOORPAN! Now- I only goto a mechanic by referral. Good advice for anyone. -J

Strife · #25 07-10-2006, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yosshimura

Trained or not trained, at the end of the day they are mechanics, not college educated mba's..........

Being a professional person, but also a person who has a respect and admiration for things mechanical, I beg to differ with this statement. A top-level mechanic at a new car dealership probably has more general engineering know-how and certainly as much or more continuing training than do most college graduates. There are a lot of degrees from a lot of places that I wouldn't use for bird cage liner, particularly these days.

davestlouis · #26 07-10-2006, 10:53 PM

I work with a guy who used to work in a tranny shop...their fluid change consisted of dumping some bright red dye in the gearbox so the fluid looked fresh. An uninformed consumer is the easiest victim, and I'm sure there are some mechanics who delight in sticking it to "rich guys" in fancy cars. I didn't watch the video, and the thread was turning into a ***** session about incompetence, not flat-out thievery, so I assumed that the video dealt with the incompetence issue.

As an aside, in the dealership where I work, the most dangerous people are the $8/hour porters who drive high-end cars in a fashion that would not amuse their owners. It's like valets...amazing how much rubber they can burn in 1/2 block.

Mike Murrell · #27 07-10-2006, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davestlouis

I didn't watch the video, and the thread was turning into a ***** session about incompetence, not flat-out thievery, so I assumed that the video dealt with the incompetence issue.

Dave:

I suspected as much and you've clarified that. Your thoughts on the neglectful owner in your first post are well taken. A once frequent poster here(Steve Brotherton - pro tech) once said the worst thing that ever happened to a car was it's owner. I remember reading that here.

The Jiffy Lube thing got me twisted up because a co-worker recently went through an experience with them that cost him the better part of $300.00. Considering all that's been published on the WEB, he was lucky.

What's harder to find electronically these days is a WEB story published a few months ago that showed Jiffy Lube participating in an employment program for early release prisoners. Not the axe murdering types of course, but ex-criminals. One day behind bars; the next changing John Q. Citizens motor oil.

This is beginning to bother me as I approach an age that doesn't lend itself to crawling around horizontally on concrete. My wife, a person of better sense, has informed me more than once that the "approach" has long since passed.

davestlouis · #28 07-10-2006, 11:26 PM

Mike, my blushing bride is prone to making pointed statements that deflate my fragile ego as well...guess it's part of the job description. She keeps me grounded, whatever that means.

stephenson · #29 07-10-2006, 11:27 PM

The not so fine lines between honest mistakes at a "factory" (acting like a factory with large volume) service facility and purposeful, widespread illegal activity - the video was about theft, not incompetence. It even looked like most of the employees were embarrassed, but did not deny - means they were likely operating under some direction from twits like the guy who denied who he was ... of all of them, that would be the one I would go after!

I bought a new inboard outboard boat about 10 years ago - 4.3L V-6 engine. Trailered it back after first 10 hours of use for initial oil and filter change. Picked back up a couple of days later, parked it for a week and then launched it locally for a day of boating. Fired right up - with squealing horn sounding LOUD. I didn't even consider checking the oil - screaming kids, trying to get the boat our of everyone else's way, etc. Shut it down immediately, pulled dipstick - zip oil - new filter, though. Put in five quarts - worked fine.

Called dealer - very apologetic - "these things do happen."

Yep, they do, unfortunately - it is poor quality control, but predictable.

I have had my oil changed by quicky places before - only on beaters I was driving back and forth to work (when Mobil 1 just didn't seem right ... :-)) ... I always checked it prior to starting it up. Never an issue - the first time I don't - on a boat, no less ... and .... well ...

davestlouis · #30 07-10-2006, 11:37 PM

Statistically, the quick lube places are probably the best in the business, just because they do so many oil changes. They can boast of a 99.9 success rate on simple things like oil changes. You just hate to be the .1 part of that statistic.

I don't trust any service provider, be it automotive or the guy who services my home A/C unit. All of these guys get out of bed and go to work in order to make a buck...I'm a potential victim with all of them. I saw a TV exposee locally several years ago of A/C repairmen doing their scams..one even was on video urinating in the shrubbery of a home instead of inspecting the outside unit. If you as the consumer can't fix something yourself, you place yourself at the mercy of people who may be dishonest.