OT: Jiffy Lube ripping people off.

[Rick]

This video has been around the block a few times, but it's fascinating to watch.

http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/wmv/vod.i ... 3.200k.asx

[conversationpc]

5 out of 9 scumbags...Unbelievable.

[Lady Luck]

5 out of 9 scumbags...Unbelievable.

But they'll "investigate fully and take appropriate action"...yeah, sure.

[squirt1]

I looked on Google 6mo ago and found tons of complaints . Some franchises just have to be incompetent and in the sales business. They must be commissioned . I'll bet the BBB has info also.

[brywool]

assholes! I think I had a similar deal happen to me...

[Enigma869]

This video illustrates precisely why I never get any oil change type of service done without watching the entire procedure! Most mechanics I have met will screw you, if given a chance. Sorry for stereotyping all mechanics, but that's simply been my experience.


John from Boston

[T-Bone]

I'm not the District Manager

I had an aunt that went through something like this. A local repair shop tried to screw her big time because they figured she's a female and wouldn't know any better. WRONG ASSUMPTION! She's actually a graduate of the automotive class at the tech college, but had ZERO time and no tools to do the work needed on her car. She needed an oil change, the fuel injection checked, possibly injector/throttle body replaced, and the radiator and transmission completely flushed. They told her about 2 hours, so without other transportation, she waited.

Watching through the window, she saw that the radiator was NEVER even touched, and they never even took the air cleaner off the car. They tinkered with the transmission, and even took and messed with what looked to be the transmission pan a little but that was it. She said about half the time, the mechanics were off working on other cars or on a smoke break.

When the desk jockey came back to the front, he even tried to screw her for more repairs including a brake job and fuel pump. She declined and asked for the bill as of right now. It came to $600+. She quietly payed it, because her car was still on the lift and didn't want a face to face hassle with the guys. She immediately went to the bank and stopped the check. About a week later, the shop called her and the manager was furious. Her husband, ex-Army, went down to the shop with the car and went nose to nose with both the manager and the mechanic about the bill, and then threatened going to the local newspaper as well as court. They finally backed down and she was only charged for the oil change.


He went to the paper anyway

[journey062393]

So basically anyone can become a District Manager at Jiffy Lube. That guy was definitely not management material!

[Michigan Girl]

This video illustrates precisely why I never get any oil change type of service done without watching the entire procedure!
John from Boston

ME TOO!!!! Especially when they have LADIES DAY!!!

[Angiekay]

News stories like this make me both mad and sad. My father was a mechanic for over thirty years and men and businesses like this give hard working honest men like my dad a bad name. He had his own business on our farm and I miss so much begin able to have my car fixed and maintanced without worry.

[Red13JoePa]

Big surprise.
Moral: Change or learn how to change your own.

[FishinMagician]

ya thats why i dont let them do that extra bullshit

[StoneCold]

Good link Rick. I always suspected this kinda stuff. Especially when the sell "add ons".

That chain's goin down.

[Rick]

Good link Rick. I always suspected this kinda stuff. Especially when the sell "add ons".

That chain's goin down.

I go to this family owned place close to where I live. They let you stand right there if you want to. They've always done everything I've asked for and they do extras too. They are just a tad higher than Jiffy Lube, but the peace of mind is worth it.

[StoneCold]

Good link Rick. I always suspected this kinda stuff. Especially when the sell "add ons".

That chain's goin down.

I go to this family owned place close to where I live. They let you stand right there if you want to. They've always done everything I've asked for and they do extras too. They are just a tad higher than Jiffy Lube, but the peace of mind is worth it.

Yep, no wonder JL's always offering those "discounts". They're not doing anything so its free money.

Sad part of this is you know there's some honest workers in these places that will end up losing their jobs.

[Rockindeano]

I used to work there when I was 18. I worked in the pit, changing oil and filters. I will confess, I was easily impressionable. The guy who taught me the pit, taught me that when a car came in and it was hot, and if it had one of our filters on it, just wipe it off with a solvent soaked rag. I remember doing 90 cars daily. I had a real problem with that practice, but when we all went for beers after work, I had friends there and didn't want to jeopardize that, so I went along with it. Pretty shitty practice really.

[scarygirl]

I haven't watched the video, but my mother had her paid off Honda ruined by one of those places. When they drained the oil they "accidently" forgot to put fresh oil back in. She didn't realize this until her motor blew. She only had about 200,000 miles on the car. Since she kept it pristine she could have easily made it to 400,000. I don't know why she didn't try to sue.

I take my car to Walmart. I've never had problems, so far.

[StoneCold]

Here's a link for it on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTJjqr0QbIk

[scarygirl]

Here's a link for it on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTJjqr0QbIk

I'm watching it now. Thanks.

[cudaclan]

I used to work there when I was 18. I worked in the pit, changing oil and filters. I will confess, I was easily impressionable. The guy who taught me the pit, taught me that when a car came in and it was hot, and if it had one of our filters on it, just wipe it off with a solvent soaked rag. I remember doing 90 cars daily. I had a real problem with that practice, but when we all went for beers after work, I had friends there and didn't want to jeopardize that, so I went along with it. Pretty shitty practice really.

Dean, am I to understand that if the vehicle came in “hot” that you had the potential to be burned with hot oil? If so, all vehicles are hot when driven. Most of these fast-lube franchises have equipment that will drain /recover fluids without removing a single fastener. The filters are left intact and fluids changed only. This limits technician’s time and expertise in service. This is not the case for oil filters. I do not condone this practice. To me, it is a compromise to a complete service. Some filters are no longer accessible for routine maintenance (fuel filters). As in any franchise, there are incentives. I would not consider a fast-lube franchise as having technical adept personnel. Most are apprentice level technicians who have very little knowledge in the automotive industry. Some opponents may argue this.

[Rockindeano]

I used to work there when I was 18. I worked in the pit, changing oil and filters. I will confess, I was easily impressionable. The guy who taught me the pit, taught me that when a car came in and it was hot, and if it had one of our filters on it, just wipe it off with a solvent soaked rag. I remember doing 90 cars daily. I had a real problem with that practice, but when we all went for beers after work, I had friends there and didn't want to jeopardize that, so I went along with it. Pretty shitty practice really.

Dean, am I to understand that if the vehicle came in “hot” that you had the potential to be burned with hot oil? If so, all vehicles are hot when driven. Most of these fast-lube franchises have equipment that will drain /recover fluids without removing a single fastener. The filters are left intact and fluids changed only. This limits technician’s time and expertise in service. This is not the case for oil filters. I do not condone this practice. To me, it is a compromise to a complete service. Some filters are no longer accessible for routine maintenance (fuel filters). As in any franchise, there are incentives. I would not consider a fast-lube franchise as having technical adept personnel. Most are apprentice level technicians who have very little knowledge in the automotive industry. Some opponents may argue this.

Oil being hot was never a problem. The main injury I got, were burn scars on the arms from exhaust pipes and mufflers. The oil wasn't a problem because once you get the drain plug off, you simply move your hand away and let it drain. On many cars, mostly foreign cars, the filters were in impossible locales. Again, I changed every damned one when I was in the pit myself. It was when the manager was there he wanted to "clean em and call em out" as in the work down here is done. Pretty sad eh?

The machine you are talking about where you replaces the fluid without removing the plug is for transmissions, not engine oil. However, I also worked as a boat mechanic, and you do change oil by sucking it out, rather than a drain plug drop.

[cudaclan]

Those “fluid exchangers” are not limited to automatic transmissions. Engine coolants were recycled and filtered at one time. It was a marketing tool to diminish waste antifreeze disposal (hazardous material). Problem was a vehicle that had severe sludge and rust would clog the filter of the recycler. Any profit generated was lost due to costly filter replacements. With the advent of numerous types of coolant, it became difficult to prevent cross contamination. There is equipment that has the ability to recover oil. The suction tool fits in the “dip stick” tube and evacuates the waste oil to the containment tank. Primarily used for potentially “stripped” pan bolts. Most of this equipment mimics kidney dialysis machines. That You Tube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTJjqr0QbIk incorrectly shows the fuel pump/level (module) assembly being marked. The actual fuel filter can be replaced by not replacing that marked component.