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10 comments

AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE! TOTAL BAIT-AND-SWITCH OPERATION!

(Zero stars should be an option!)

On October 24th, I called ahead to the Lemon Grove, CA location to ask if they work on Smart cars and was told yes. I arrived, stood, and waited at the service desk. Some guy comes out of the bathroom (right next to the desk) looks me over and says hello. Turns out, this is the service writer just wearing plain clothes. Okay, whatever...

I tell him I'm there for an oil change and re-confirm they know how to work on Smart cars. I'm told yes, once again, and I was quoted $14.95 for an oil change. Sweet! I gave them my keys and was told it should be about 30 minutes. After waiting about 30 minutes (and seeing my cars oil filter just now delivered and sitting on the desk in front of me!), I'm told I need a different oil in my car than they quoted me. What??? I thought you knew how to work on these cars!

The service writer basically tells me they didn't know until they looked at the filler cap that I needed synthetic oil... and that the oil change would now cost me $57.00! Again, what??? I reminded him that he told me they KNEW HOW TO WORK ON MY CAR before I turned it over to them. I asked if the oil had already been drained because I'll take it elsewhere for that price. Well, of course it was already drained before they requoted me at THREE TIMES THE ORIGINAL PRICE! He said sorry and that there's 'nothing he can do'. I reminded him that good companies stand behind there errors and take care of the customer. He said he couldn't do that, but if I want the cheaper price they could just put the 'wrong' oil in my car, but that it's really not recommended to do that. Well, let's see... of course I don't want to trash my engine! Duh! So then I had to wait for them to have the right oil delivered! They had ZERO synthetic oil on hand! What? At an oil change facility?

I thanked him for the classic BAIT-AND-SWITCH, paid the bill, and IMMEDIATELY contacted Meineke corporate. That was October 24th. I have played phone tag with a corporate 'customer service' representative for THREE WEEKS now who obviously doesn't care one little bit about my dissatisfaction and receipt of poor service... since he has provided even worse service. I would leave specific questions on his voicemail, and he would leave me the generic 'sorry I missed your call' reply... again and again!

I give up trying to be taken care of by a company who doesn't care about poor service. Now I'm just warning others. DON'T GO TO MEINEKE! My '30 minute' oil change took one hour, 20 minutes... and cost three times what I was quoted. Please don't make the same mistake I did! Go somewhere else! Just the short time I was there 2 other people pulled there cars out of the shop, totally giving up on the shop with the lack of service they were receiving. Having witnessed the bait-and-switch game with me, they got the heck outta there before it happened to them.

Location: San Diego, California

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Guest

I love Meineke in Ontario, Canada. Their quotes are dead on and lower than competitors. $89.95 Canadian for a complete synthetic oil change on my Mercedes Sport Kompressor.

Guest

Yes I went to meineke. They stripped my drain plug.

I suggest not going there. How hard is it to change oil ??

Guest

I would have put 15.00 bucks on the counter.told him to *** off! Then let him take legal action.

Bet you would won.

Make sure you have the keys I your first.

Samantha Yci

I don't know of too many shops who readily carry Mobil 1 0W40 on hand. $57 is a *** good deal for Mobil1 0W40 and a premium oil filter made to last through the 10,000 mile recommended oil change services.

I can't figure out what the *** you guys are crying about. Smart cars were manufactured with full-synthetic oil. It's probably best to stick with manufacturer specifications. If I worked for Meineke corporate, I wouldn't contact you back, either!

You're an *** consumer with a stupidly unjustifiable complaint. Get over yourself.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Samantha Yci

wow sucka! Your comment just let us know that inexperienced kids are allowed to leave comments on this site.

What a waste of peoples time. Obviously that person was given bad service. You'll find this at most automotive places. This is why I have only taken my cars to Mennonite or Amish auto mechanics for the past twelve years.

Those are honest people that you can trust who stand by their morals. I don't know why they warned me about what I post on this site, they obviously didn't filter out this kids comment.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Samantha Yci

Did you bother to read the comment?? Apoarently you're not paying attention.

They told the said they knew what they were doing and gave her a.price. And what are you talking about, that 10 40 weight isn't carried in these shops! Do you know anything about about cars?? That's a common weight!

Do you work for Meike Corporation?

You insult the person for making a perfectly justified complaint. I think YOU are actually ***.

Guest

Way too many people have fallen for this ploy that really just exploits the average person's ignorance. If you really want to pursue this and get action you will have to send a letter to them, talk to better business bureau, anything that will document things.

Otherwise, the sad truth is they will probably blow you off. :(

Guest

:cry

First of all if you are a qualified co.

you should carry synthetic oil and filters for most all cars.

Maybe it was their first smart car? as they lied to the customer.The customer did not have to go there but he or she did,expecting pro's but got ***'s.

So in the future and to have piece of mind learn to change your own oil,your vehicle will last twice as long and with less aggrevation! P.S.Conventional,synthetic blend,synthetic all will work in your car.

If you change it at regular intervals,but pick one and stick with it,take time to read your OWNERS MANUAL,as it will not take much to be informed for the next time,in case you have to deal with ***. atyas

Guest

I have to agree with Autotech. You knew $15 was too good to be true and didn't ask if that was for synthetic oil. Note also that Meineke shops are franchise operations with different owners at different shops.

Guest

You should know your own car enough to know that it needed synthetic; and $60 is a fair price for that. No bait & switch here. In fact, you're actually lucky they came to you and told you about it-most places I've seen would've honored the original price and put inferior oil in your precious smart car....

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