Free oil change

Do you ever get the feeling that the "free promo" means "we're going
to reccomend a lot of expensive repairs"?

I'd never go to Midas for a car check. Every time I've been to Midas,
they have what I call three level pricing. The price you get over the
phone "sounds like $75" doubles when they do the estimate. And then
the price doubles again when they actually do the work, and find all
the parts that also needed to be replaced.

I've talked to others, they also report much the same with the three
level pricing.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
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I got a coupon in the mail from my Chevy dealer for a free oil
change and safety check.  Took it in today.  They said I had two
marker lights out ("OK thanks, I will replace them myself this
weekend") and my brake rotors are rusty ("I know. Leave 'em alone
because the brakes are really good, and if you turn the rotors
they'll warp") And the power steering pump shaft seal is leaking.
"How much to fix that one?"  $315.  WTF?  I asked if they replace
the pump or just the pulley.  He said neither, they pull the pulley
off, replace the seal, and put the old pulley back on.  It's real
common.

Sounds like /maybe/ a 45 minute job, and they pad the bill out to
about 2.5 or 3 hours labor for it (plus the part.)  I think I'll
just watch my power steering fluid level.

The pulley is pressed into place; don't they have a spiral groove
cut in them to push the oil seepage back?  I think they do, and
they'll only drip a little fluid if it's parked for a long time.

He also freaked a little when he asked how much air I wanted in the
tires and I told him "55# in the back and 60# in the front."  :-)
The door placard says 35#, but that's for OEM fat P-metric tires.  I
put skinny high-pressure LT's on it last year.  It's amazing how
much better the 85-profile tires do in the ice and snow -- which may
get here tomorrow the way this weather is headed.

Bob

On 10/27/2010 08:00 PM, zxcvbob wrote:

There is not, and never has been a free lunch.

To replace the 5 speed transmission in my 1993 truck, the quotes were
$300 for a used one, $675 to $1450 for a rebuilt, plus $500 labor.

Did it myself, with a $300 junk yard unit, $2.28 for three new oil
plugs, and a gallon of trans oil.

Plus, tied down wiring that had been loose, filled a couple empty holes
in the frame/crossmember, where bolts had vansihed, and, cleaned the
seat, and cab floor down to the paint. Degreased the under body and frame.

All of the extra repairs would have cost even more money with a "pro",
and, I would be a worried driver, because most shops and dealers now do
very shoddy work, under pressure to just get it done!

Big Red Truck wrote:


I did get a free lunch.  But the service guy wasn't happy about it.
They'll probably never send me another coupon.

Bob

I hate that too.   They really hammer the uninformed.  It kills me to watch
them get a woman with the oil on the Plexiglas trick .  At the quick oil
change places. .  Here's your dirty   differential lube.   Heres what new
looks like.

We will change it for $58.

Ok I better do it.



But I got back at them a couple times.   I drained my manual transmission
of lube once. Called them and said  I was putting an old car back on the
road. And would they top off everything if  I brought it in  for the oil
change. .Then they   Fill up the windshield wiper fluid, tranny oil ,
differential, and oil change , grease the  car for  for   $19.99 .

Next time I went to another and drained the differential.  Same story.

Couldn't charge me for a fluid change. There wasn't any.

Manager didn't like it but top offs are free.   :)  :)


I've got a bunch of   free oil change for buying a truck. I'm wondering if
they would do that to me. When I just bought the truck from them. It would
make them look like crap for a few bucks.  Considering its their truck I
bought.