Hello,
I've had bad experiences in most of the franchise auto shops I tried. Besides the usual "courtesy check" (I understand they have to make a living and some of their suggestions can actually be very valid), they aren't too trustworthy: in Firestone they tried to charge me extra for my 2003 Corolla CE's invisible ABS brakes and $95 for a cabin air filter change (had bought one for $19 and took me 3 minutes to change it). In Tuffy they put the air filter backwards so the cover wouldn't fit.
One can't help but think what other scams they were able to slip by. Oil changes are done in a hurry, mixing old & new, not puting oil in the new filter's gasket and overtighten both the filter and the plug.
I guess the safest way is to go to a local unfranchised mechanic, keep bringing him business and earn his trust.
Do you agree? Any suggestions?