Friday Rant - Oil Changes do not cut it

Well today has been one of those Fridays I would care not to relive. My blood pressure I am sure is a good bit higher then it should be and I am about at wits end and ready for 5:00pm.

Let me start by saying this I work in a "Automotive Service & Repair Shop" we are NOT a "Quick Lube Center" If all you are going to let me do to your vehicle is oil changes please go to a quick lube center don't do me any favors.

Oil changes alone DO NOT pay our bills nor do they pay mine as an employee of our shop. As a matter of fact with the ever rising cost of oil and other supplies our shop takes a loss on oil changes.

We do oil changes as a vehicle maintenance and a service to our regular customers that spend thier money here on other things like Brake Repairs, Exhaust Repairs, Suspension, repairs, & other vehicle break down repairs. the list goes on and on. The only thing I do not really push here as a service manger is tires. We are not a tire dealer there for our tire prices are not in line with the big tire stores so I do recommend to people that they shop else where for tires in some cases.

The stories that caused this:

#1. Customer called wanted to drop his car off for an oil change fine I said bring it in.....

So the customer brings in the vehicle >I pull up the information and I see the last time it was in was 10,000 miles ago & we had 5 yes 5 recommendations of needed repairs that at the time they told me they could not do. ok fine. >So we pull the vehicle in they are 7,000 miles over due on the oil change. >And it still needs the 5 recommendations plus two more!! DO you think they elected to do any of the needed maintenance? NO! Sorry if I sound harsh I don't want your business if all I am getting is a $30 or $40 oil changes everytime you come in. Again go to the Quick Lube place across the street!

#2
This customer flat out lied to me.......

This customers car broke down and would not start so they had it towed in. When this vehicle got here I pulled up the information and saw the last time it was in that it had a coolant leak. What is called the intake manifold was leaking coolant. My note at that time was the customer said they were going to bring it back to have it fixed. YES I have notes on my recemmendations as to what the reason the repairs were declined.

The tech was looking at things and low and behold the coolant is/was low and the intake is still leaking. I called the customer about the other issues they were having and I also told them that the intake was still leaking. Reply "I had that fixed" I said "Well if you did you need to bring me the recipt so I can see what they did cause you are still having issues." I said "Who did it?" They said "Ah..... I don't remember" Hello and intake repair is at least $1,000.00 You don't remember where you spent the $1,000.00???????? It flat out has not been done its like telling a dentist you brush when you don't. He can tell you haven't

The only other answer here is that another shop charged for work they didn't do but that's why I asked to see the invoice from the other repair shop so I could confirm the work they were charged for is done.

Bottom line is here profit is not a dirty word we are here to make money and pay our bills and in turn we provide you the customer with a safe dependable vehicle. Now I will agree there are shops out there that like to take you for a ride. I assure you if I tell you you need something you need it. It does me no good to lie about what your vehicle needs. It will come back and bite me in the ass if I do that.

It just blows my mind that people would sooner go out and drop $3,000.00 on a new LCD TV or $100.00 for dinner out then put $300 or $400 into their car at anyone time.

Edit: fixing a car that is paid for is cheaper then buying a new one ever 4 -5 years even if the repairs are starting to cost you some money. $1,000.00 every 6 months is cheaper then a car loan at $300.00 - $500.00 a month