Anonymous
map-marker Burlingame, California

Meineke car service center liars

didn't rotate tires, treads fine so no excuse, employees with bad morale. I don't trust them, they happen to find something wrong. CV boots suspiciously torn, not much grease thrown around and grease looked clean. I have no proof so what can I do. I'll take it to my honest mechanic. Don't fall for these cheap oil change coupons. Pay extra and go to Jiffy Lube or Speedy Lube and don't have to wait. I wasted one and half hours and increased my blood pressure for liars. People pls mark your tires to make sure they'll rotate them.
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benjamin c Zym
map-marker Raleigh, North Carolina

Meineke took my car to get spark plugs and valve cover gaskets change

it is 2/21.2011 capital blvd Raleigh NC i took my car to get the spark plugs and valve cover gaskets change they told me if would take three hours well it took a day and a half to get my car back a tech was not working on my car it was the owner of the store well the day after i took the car to them i got a call from the gm of the store telling me that the owner screwed my car up and they had to redo the work finally i get my car back take it to get looked over to make sure everything was ok but come to find out that they leaved bolts out screws hoses made an exhaust leak broke part of my engine harness (wiring) and then refused to do anything but refund the money that will not even come close to covering the cost to repair my car will not even give me his insurance info so i can file a claim

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Loss:
$15
2 comments
Guest

yeah well i have never took my car to get it worked on before i just didnt feel like dealing with it and i will never make that mistake again

Guest

Tires Plus is an absolute scam. Why in the world would you go to a scam auto shop like Meineke to replace a valve cover gasket?

That's not a simple repair job by any means. First of all, they're not real mechanics at a big chain outfit like Meineke; any novice knows that! They're crooked parts changers and nothing more. They've messed up and ruined thousands of cars due to their incompetence.

You're lucky they at least they gave you a refund.

Those thieves aren't giving you anything else.

Don't take it back there again. Go to a real auto shop, such as an independent shop, have them repair the damage that Meineke caused immediately, and consider yourself fortunate if your car doesn't have permanent damage.

You've learned a costly lesson, but now you know. Big chain auto shops are a scam and cause serious harm.

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Tayvin Psi
map-marker Sardis, Tennessee

Meineke Nightmare - Tomball, TX

Went to Meineke in Tomball, TX to purchase a true dual exhaust system on my husband's truck, a $760 system. I told Meineke we had an exhaust leak and would just replace the exhaust with this true dual system. My husband had previously told me the leak was at something called a doughnut. After leaving Meineke, I ran a couple of errands. When I started the truck with the driver door open, I heard this exhaust leak noise still. I called Meineke immediately and spoke to the owners who I had dealt with the entire time I was at Meineke (4 hours) while I waited on the work being performed. The owner tells me, oh, you have a couple of bolts broken at the exhaust manifold, which by the way turned into a $2200 repair at the dealership. Why wasn't I told about this before I left???????? It got us thinking, maybe Meineke broke these bolts when they tightened the leak at the doughnut. Isn't Meineke the exhaust expert??? I mean after all, "At Meineke, we know exhaust" is what is stated on their web site. I mean what's the *** point of putting a dual system like this if it's still going to sound like ***???????? Anyway, long story short, I sent a very detailed letter return receipt to Meineke's CEO. Guess what? No response. I sent that letter in Feb. 2011. On Mar 25, 2011, I submitted an online request to their customer service and documented what I submitted. And guess what, still no response and today is Apr 21, 2011. Long story short, go somewhere else for exhaust work. I will post my story and reviews at as many places I can.
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Loss:
$2200
2 comments
Guest

i would never take a car to Pete he is a scam .If he knows that you have money he will RAPE you over the coals .i have worked for this man for a very short time when i relized i was working for a thief i parted ways .please be careful with who you take your cars to . :x

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-514280

I shopped with Pete for years at Meineke, he never had a tech named Mike. Your post sound like bs.

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ssgtjarhead
map-marker Latrobe, Pennsylvania

Meineke sold me parts for double the price

I recently visited and had work done at the Jacksonville NC Meineke. After paying for the service and doing some price research on the computer, I realzed that I was charged for the part plus 99% of it and $90 and hour labor fees.

Talk about a rip off. The gentlemans excuse was that he has to run a business. REALLY???

At $90 an hour with 4 bays at 10 hours a day for 6 days a week thats approximatly $1,116,000 a year just in labor fees for a little four bay shop. NEVER AGAIN will I return to Meineke

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6 comments
Guest

The other readers forgot to add in the fact of when we do get a car in with severe rot and it takes twice the amount of time and the customer is only billed for what they were quoted. We lose money on jobs as well.

Being in business we also lose money. However, it is a business it pays for quality help such as ASE master technicians to work on your vehicle. However, the price on the part was steep.

Everything should be done in fairness their is a difference of doing a job at a fair price vs price gouging. I am sorry for your bad experience but $90.00 an hour for labor is very fair.

Guest

I went to the Meineke on 84th Ave in Thornton Colorado and thought i was getting a good deal because i heard they treated women fair and wouldn't over charge. I had brakes replaced and rotters.

They charged me double for the parts.

Cant believe i was taken anyway. also charged 149.00 for 1hr work

Guest

I called around for prices to have a new oil pan put on my car meinake said close to 600 dollars when I told my step dad he got angery and told me they were taking me for a ride and he is going to have a chat with them cause a new aluminum oil pan is around 70 and 4 quarts of oil around 20 never again will I or my family use meinake

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-442319

I guess they are just supposed to do it for u and not charge labor. most times u have to pull the motor

Guest

As an automolive service tech. I work in a truck shop where hour labour is $124.

The regular shop is $95. Regular maintenance including trans oil, motor oil, oil filter, fuel filter are all at cost, everything else has between 20% and 45% mark up. We have probably the lowest mark up in the city because we have 12 truck bays and 20 regular bays and 3 lube bays. This seems like good business but I'm paid $4 an hour lower then average and I don't make $120 an hour.

The costs also pay for the rental vehicles, the free coffee, the shop supplies like shovels, appropriate environmental disposal bins, a plow to clear the lot, and when something goes wrong and we have to pay for the damage.

Then the bills, do you know how much electricty we need to use or what shop insurance costs. I've never heard anything good about meineke but they're not bad in price for their *** service.

Guest

I guess you felt the same way when you went to McDonalds and they charged you $1.95 for a soda that cost them .26. Most professional automotive facilities have labor rates in excess of $90 per hour and your financial analysis of his business is laughable.

The fact is that most repair facilities operate on razor thin margins which explains why the number of service bays has been dwindling over the last decade. Between equipment, training, taxes, insurance, uniforms, etc.

the costs of doing business keep escalating, and the number of qualified technicians has also declined. Try comparing what the same job would have cost at a dealership or other facility with a nationwide warranty and I bet you will find the price was more than competitive for the services rendered.

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Anonymous
map-marker Sedona, Arizona

Meineke oil change & brake job. Bad service

Had my oil change & brake job done at the Speedway shop in Tucson. Check gauge light kept coming on & oil pressure going to 0. I checked my oil & found my dip stick dry.Bought 2 quarts & light hasn't come on yet. Brakes squeal more now than when I took it in. Had to have my truck towed & missed a day of work in order to get my truck serviced. Brakes still squeal & oil reading is low. I put new tires on my truck yesterday & found 1 rim was different than the others. I called the Meineke manager & he stated that there was no way they could've put the wrong rim. They didn't put oil in my truck after the oil change, so what makes me believe that they didn't switch my rim? I will never go to any Meineke shop again!
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Anonymous
map-marker Los Angeles, California

Meineke - BAD Service

I took my Toyota Sienna for an premium oil change to Meineke @ Lincoln Ave, Anaheim, CA. The owner(Dave)said they don't do tire balance so I can pay less. I also wanted them to check my Brakes (Rear) and do a SMOG check. He told me the brakes(Ceramic kind) would coast me $150 including parts and labor over the phone earlier. He quoted me $190 for th brakes when I went there and I was not happy so I didn't want the brakes done. SMOG check was pretty expensive too $50 compared to other places. I believe they were short staffed too. One guy was relatively new. The SMOG check guy didn't know what he was doing and had to do the test twice. I had asked them to top off all fluids but I came home a checked the power steering liquid was below min. These guys are not trust worthy. I waited 2.5hrs for a 1hr job.
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Jerry M Rrt
map-marker Greenville, South Carolina

Easley, SC Meineke tried to scam me!

In March 2011, I went to Meineke to have them do a brake inspection because I had a Ford Taurus that had been sitting idle for 18 mos. and wanted them to replace the brake fluid and check for rust. About 4 hours after getting started, I was called and told I needed new front brake pads(which was true), but also needed new front rotors, and "oh...by the way, you need a new master cylinder, sir..." Total bill will be $575.00. I had put BRAND NEW rotors on just before I put the car up in storage, so that was a lie, and I took the car home, disassembled the master cylinder myself, changed the fluid, and never needed to replace ANYTHING. I had brought my car to them as a convenience to myself because I am really busy, but I ended up doing it all myself for about $35.00. The car runs great, brakes are perfect, NO THANKS to Meineke. DO NOT GO THERE!! Calhoun Highway, Easley, SC.
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2 comments
Guest

i would never trust these pretend mechanics with my car, never, they broke my lug on my car, and then wanted to charge me 34 dollars to fix it,,,,they did not tighten oil plug and refused to tighten and refiill when the oil light came on, i return, these people are liars and thieves, new management means nothing, still kin, still same crooks in family,,,,

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1111360

I also had a bad experience with Firestone in Anderson, out in front of the mall. They were going to charge me $678.00 to fix a burst hose leading to my heater core.

I told them to give my car back, and they charged me $25 for their time. (not unreasonable) I took my car off their property to the mall parking lot, went to Tractor Supply a few blocks away and bout the connector I needed and some hose clamps for a total of $7.36. Had my car running 20 minutes later.

Firestone... kiss my grits!

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Sylvester C Ugo
map-marker Charlotte, North Carolina

Wrong muffler exhaust blew engine during repair no longer driveable.

March 03, 2011 - Wrong muffler exhaust blew engine during repair no longer drive able. Truck was left on the lot (Center 104 - **** South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC). Mechanic says I need to buy a new engine because of their mistake. Upon bringing my truck in for new muffler, I had no problems with the engine. Mechanic asked me if I wanted a larger muffler on the truck, I replied only if it would make the truck run better. I did not ask him to change it. When mechanic lower the lift, smoke, water from exhaust begin to mix with the oil. Engine immediately locked.
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3 comments
Guest

you must be a *** ***....a muffler cant blow an engine. the muffler would blow up before it would blow the engine. u probably failed to do necessary maintenance over the years & are now looking to pass the blame onto someone other then yourself...***

Guest

this is bull *** no muffler will cause a motor to blow

Guest

what the *** are you smoking! there in no way an incorrect muffler could seize an engine. even if the exhaust was completely blocked there would be no engine damage.

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Anonymous
map-marker Tucson, Arizona

Oil Change, What Oil Change?

I took my car for an oil on 12/11/2010 to the Meineke on Speedway and Dodge in Tucson. A couple weeks later I noticed the engine oil warning light come on. I checked my oil and was surprised to find the oil was black and at the add line. I immediately realized that they'd never even changed my oil but being that it was Christmas I just added oil and decided to deal with it later. I still needed an oil change though so I took my car to another garage I'll refer to as "JF" and asked them to check to see if my oil looked as if it had been changed. They told me the car still had the old JF oil filter as I'd gone to JF the time before. This was absolute proof that they never changed my oil unless Meineke uses JF's oil filters which of course they don't.. If it ended there I would have probably just let it go but Meineke also told me I needed front rotors and pads on the front and back. However, JF said I still had 40% brakes on front and back and didn't need any brake work. If I'd let Meineke do the work they recommended I would have been out nearly 300 dollars and who knows if they would even done the work. Meineke is conveniently located near my work and had the non- existent oil change gone unnoticed I would have had them do the brake work so I guess I'm lucky to only be out 25 bucks for the oil change.
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Loss:
$25
1 comment
Guest

I also took my car in on 3-5-2011 for an oil change. I also had my squeaky brakes done.

Now my check gauge light goes on to let me know I have zero oil pressure and my brakes squeak worse than ever. I am taking it back to Manager "R" per our conversation to have it fixed.

He said they were just working themselves in. Well, work this,"B---S---!

Anonymous
map-marker Eugene, Oregon

Meineke

We took our car in to Meineke in Eugene,OR to replace the rear brake pads. They quoted us $149.99 for new pads and to turn the roters. This sounded like a pretty good deal. We dropped of our car at the scheduled appointment time. Two hours later they called us to say the backing plates were bent. To bend it back it would cost an additional $30. Another hour later, they called back to tell us they broke a seal in the piston when they were taking off a part and this would cost us an additional $100 to fix. We were very upset that we being forced to pay to fix a part that they broke, so we asked to speak with the manager. The manager said he felt we were getting a fair job and if we don't fix the seal they broke Meineke would not guarantee the brakes. The total cost ended up being $308.00. By this point we were extremely pissed. We asked the manager to speak with his boss. He said he was the owner and there was no one above him. We then told him we understand he is the franchise owner but there has to be someone above him who works for the company that we could speak with. He said we could try to figure it out ourselves because he wasn't giving us any phone numbers to call.
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1 comment
Guest

Meienke is a ripoff, simply put. I had them repair my exhaust system about two years ago.

Charged me around $800-900. A few months later my tailpipe was hanging like a loose tooth because of the poor soldering job they did! Just the other day I came home from work to find my tailpipe pointed straight at the ground! Rusted completely off and not even two year old!

What a piece of ***!

*** Meineke! Never again

Fenton Pvq
map-marker Reston, Virginia

Meineke customers sucks and their franchise holders dishonest

For several weeks now i call meineke headquarters to file a complaint about one of their franchise holders in cutler bay Florida .and as to date after speaking to some one in customer service by the name if (Jun ) am still waiting for their return call in calling their office i have spoken to several customers all very very very rude it seems like their head quarters except the fact that their franchise holders can rip off customers and they don't give a DAMM ,meineke franchise holder's over-charges ,replace old parts with new parts only give you i year warranty weeks after brakes down and they have a great legal excuse the warranty has finish and recharge you double to fix the same thing that did not fix right in the first place and its a shame their head quarters dint except the fact their franchise holders are CROOKS and their CUSTOMERS SERVICE don't give a DAM either ,i have sense taken my truck to PEP-BOYS .who not only repair my truck for half the price but three 3 OF THEIR mechanic check my truck and said that meineke did not put a new seal but use the same old seal what they took out ,please post this complaint that other can see and that they can places where there is more honesty and that the the corporation is concern not just for their GREED but a customer's ,i say PEPBOYS IS THE RIGHT they have a WONDERFUL customers RELATION
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Loss:
$522
5 comments
Guest

My suggestion to people that complain all the time about the labor and parts costs, is to fix your own junk cars. YOU LOSERS

Guest

My suggestion to people that complain all the time about the labor and parts costs, is to fix your own *** cars. YOU LOSERS

Guest

Im from N. Ga and I do Auto repair on the side.

So the one guy from Florida thinks a 2 dollar seal was reused by Meineki and he listened to Pepboys, Interesting.

I bet Meineke is glad to let him go as a customer. Good luck pepboys I feel for you!

Guest

Big National chains are a *** scam. Overcharging, incompetence, not doing work that is charged for and on and on.

They'll charge double of what a real shop would in many cases.

AND DON'T FORGET THE QUOTAS. Go to a real shop next time.

Guest

From Meineke to P*o*o*p Boys. What next, Stiffy Lube?

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Anonymous
map-marker Shallotte, North Carolina

Car was Ruined! thanks Meinike

Exhaust pipe broke on my classic convertible while attending grand daughter's birthday out of state. Went to Meineke in Middletown, Ct. They assured me "NO Problem." When all said and done over $1,600 in damages from smashed exhaust manifold to furnace cement on the upholstery. They promised to fix the damages, kept me there an additional 10 hours and then sent me on my way where as the "Glue" they used on the exhaust caught fire. The smoke from the fire nearly killed me. Police assisted in extinguishing fire and prevented me from continuing my way to where I was staying. Had the car towed to local garage next morning for a temporary repair and estimate to fix properly and permanently. Neither the franchise in Middletown, Connecticut, or the home office acknowledge a problem after fully documented by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Meinike does not service cars, they promote cash for clunkers when they are done and they TAKE the cash, your car is a clunker.
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Anonymous
map-marker Washington, District Of Columbia

Meineke has earned my business with their affordable oil changes

I have been very pleased with the oil change service provided by Meineke of Orillia. I used to change my own oil found the cheapest I could do it myself was about $17 (using bottom line filters from car part stores). I bought a new car in 09 and decided to get the oil changed by a garage to keep the new car warranty. When I found the average price of an oil change was $45-55 and Meineke's was only $20 I went for it. So far, I have saved about $200 using Meineke over its competitors, and have had no problems with work or people.
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1 comment
Guest

Cheaper isn't always better. With a $20 oil change, you are likely getting lower quality oil and a low budget filter that doesn't filter out particles as effectively as a higher quality filter.

There is also likely corner cutting going on in the process, since the shop cannot make hardly any profit on a $20 oil change. This can lower your fuel economy, and decrease the life of your engine. You have to look at the big picture before you come up with that $200 savings figure.

If you want true economy, go back to DIY, and use synthetic oil and a high quality filter. Yes that route costs more than $20 per change, but you can also go longer between changes with the synthetic, and your engine will thank you.

Anonymous
map-marker Albuquerque, New Mexico

Overcharged me for what they did.

I took my pickup truck into Mieneke in Delaware on Chestnut Hill Rd. I needed the doughnuts (gaskets) replaced on my exhaust manifold. The cost of the gaskets are $5.95 ea. at the local parts store. I know because I called and asked. Mieneke quoted me $120.00 to install new ones parts and labor. They told me "If we have to torch the studs out of the manifold and replace the its $20.00 per stud extra". When I returned to pick up my vehicle they charged me $200.00 I asked why they told me they had to replace the studs. He showed me six studs....none of which had been cut out with a torch and all they had was the threads were scored on one side. A die could have easily been the cure or probably just run the nuts back up on the studs. I called the consumer complaint line and was told the price was fair and basically to bad. Now its 117 days later I am in New Mexico my exhaust manifold is leaking AGAIN and I am told "Labor is only good for 90 days". I should have went to Goodyear they honor their work for 1 year or somewhere else. NEVER AGAIN MIENEKE !!!!!!!! You have seen the last penny from me and earned a bad reputation to anyone I can tell coast to coast!
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1 comment
Guest

@ Anonymous

You are confusing a cutting torch with a Mapp or Propane torch, which would be used to loosen a frozen stud so it can be un-threaded from the manifold if need be. More often than not, the opposite problem occurs, a stud will un-thread with the nut when it is turned.

The leakage after 117 days is very suspicious. A flat gasket could leak if the manifold flange or pipe flange is warped, but not so with doughnuts, unless the flange is badly deteriorated.

Did you ask for your old doughnuts back so that you could be sure that they were replaced? I agree with you however, that $200.00 for that job is excessive, especially if the system leaked again within 117 days.

Anonymous
map-marker Shelton, Connecticut

Thousands of dollars of damages by Meineke Muffler

Took my 1937 Buick to Meineke Muffler of Middletown, Ct. on 11-01-2010 Quoted a price of $184 to replace front pipe. Would be done in 1 1/2 hours. I was there 5. I see the technician wailing on the bottom of the car and in engine compartment with big hammer. I get the car the exhaust falls apart on the road. I open the hood to see the manifold smashed and doped up with furnace cement that was dribbled all over the fender staining the paint. I call and immediately return. I show the manager a great b.s. artist the damages. He says will make all well again and weld up the manifold to make it right. He then makes excuses the part was warped. Also promises a full refund. I stand in the cold another 3 hours while they work on other cars of other people as they come in. They finish my car at 9pm that night! Give me a receipt stating zero charges. By the time I get home the pipes fall off in the street again and my credit card never credited the money refund as promised. I call to inquire and received veiled threats they do as they please and I best not contact them anymore! Master Card is coming to my rescue, my attorney is informed Ct. DMV is going to get an ear full.
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3 comments
Guest

To the one gentlemen's comment about bringing a classic car to Meineke. We can fabricate and manufacturer everything and if you have a great fabricator NOTHING is impossible to make.

We are known for our dual exhausts and our shop preformed a ton over the years without any complaints.Apparently he went to the wrong one. Remember how you feel about Meineke when you have a flex that goes on your car and the location is difficult to get to and the dealer wants 1600.00 for the pipes and flexi which sometime come with a catalytic converter and and the flexi and Meineke can do the job around 400.00.

Spend the 1600.00.

Guest

I reluctantly point out that findinng a good shop is hit or miss. Coincidentally, I was the manager of the largest Meieke in Maine and represented one of thhe best shops in the entire Boston/New England Zone.

I had some absolutely spectacular fabricators who could replicate almost anything. The oldest thing we ever worked on was a 1907 Dodge Bros Touring Car. But I built that team and cultivated good techs and paid them well.

They took pride in what they did.

If only I could afford to open up my own shop. It's sad what passes for customer service these days.

Guest

Are you playing with a full deck? They may have ruined your classic old Buick.

These *** are not real mechanics, and you expect them to fix anything correctly?? You took a massive gamble, and now it looks like you'll have to spend a lot more $$$ to have your fixed right at a real shop. Meineke is a scam and they're incompetent.

Never go back there again. You learned a huge lesson.

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