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Oculus Spirit [79744]
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Am I being unreasonable? I'm thinking about breaking up with my mechanic
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May 7, 2024, 11:03 AM
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I've been taking my vehicles to the same mechanic for over 10 years now, overall I have been pleased even though they are definitely not the cheapest. However, I'm beginning to feel like I'm dealing with a dealership now...Couple of things have changed:
The old guy who started the shop has retired, and it's been taken over by his long time assistant. He was always very thorough, but he's no longer actually doing most of the mechanic work the best I can tell. He's hired a couple of guys, they seem OK, probably fine for oil changes but that leads me to this....
I have an O2 sensor that has apparently gone bad. One day I took it in for regularly scheduled service and when I got it back the check engine light was on. Code says it's that O2 sensor, I'm skeptical because what are the odds it just decides to shid the bed while in their possession? Strange things happen though, and I've got a decent amount of miles so I chock it up to coincidence (even though I'm fairly certain it's not).
At that point it was 5PM though, and they've had the truck since 9am. I schedule a time a few days later to bring it back, and specifically tell them I need the truck by 2pm. The day comes and I get it over to them at 8:30am, I am very clear I am leaving for a trip the next morning and need the truck back ASAP. I want this done because I'm towing ~7k pounds 4.5 hours away and like my stuff in ship shape condition. In my mind replacing the O2 sensor is not an all day event, I follow up at 2 and the truck is not ready. 4:30 comes around and they call me telling me it's ready. At this point I'm pissed, but doubly so when I get in the truck and see the check engine light is still on. Same code, guess the new sensor was bad too? This tells me despite being one of the first cars dropped off, it was the last one to be looked at even though I explicitly stated I needed it back ASAP. I feel neglected.
At this point I have paid for this to be fixed, I have time tomorrow so called yesterday to get things scheduled. Again, I am planning on dropping the truck off first thing in the morning, yet they tell me it will be until 3 or 4 until the can get the truck back. This has become common even for simple oil changes, I drop the truck off first thing, and don't get it back until the end of the day. This feels unreasonable, I'm not a PITA customer, but I feel like I'm being taken advantage of because I'm not one.
Surely this isn't common these days is it? I've had some bad experiences with the quick lube places, so I like going to a shop who I feel will be more thorough, but I don't feel like I'm getting that anymore...especially when they have my truck all MFing day every single time I take it in.
Hold me, love me, tell me what to do lunge #17
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Oculus Spirit [77633]
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Sounds like you need to breakup.
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May 7, 2024, 11:05 AM
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It will be tough but you will find another good one.
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Oculus Spirit [79744]
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It just hurts, I thought I had found the one, you know? Now I have to
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May 7, 2024, 11:22 AM
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admit it to myself that he doesn't love me, just my money.
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Oculus Spirit [82257]
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When he told you it was going to be $1000 to change the transmission
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May 7, 2024, 11:10 AM
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fluid and filter, I would have started looking for someone new.
I think its time to give him the "its not me, its you" speech.
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Oculus Spirit [79744]
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Yeah, I know the pan has to be replaced but thinking back that was a
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May 7, 2024, 11:18 AM
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little ridiculous. I don't mind paying to keep my truck in great mechanical shape, but all of this is adding up to make me feel taken advantage of. I think it is time to move on from this relationship.
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Oculus Spirit [82257]
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Yah that filter/pan is like $150.
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May 7, 2024, 11:23 AM
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It probably needs a machine connected to it get the right fluid level, and then the fluid, but what's the other $500 for?
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Oculus Spirit [79744]
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I did some investigating and that is basically what a dealer would charge
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May 7, 2024, 11:30 AM
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Maybe he's going by that? I could see it, he's gone to a more 'automated' system now where they text you all the BS recommended services you supposedly need, complete with a follow up survey they ask you to fill out about 87 times. I guess that should have been my first clue.
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Oculus Spirit [87645]
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I just come to expect pisk poor service now
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May 7, 2024, 11:13 AM
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I don't think good service still exists anywhere except for CFA.
I thought I was getting better service at the dealer for oil changes, but I was way wrong.
There isn't a single (paid) oil changing technician on the planet who knows how to wipe off the excess oil after an oil change.
So, you could break up with them, but the new one is going to be just as sloppy probably.
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Oculus Spirit [79744]
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Heh, I've noticed that too now. A little oil stain on my driveway
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May 7, 2024, 11:19 AM
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the next morning after an oil change. I generally DGAF, but yeah that's indicative of laziness, and probably because he has minions doing this instead of himself now.
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All-Conference [445]
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Re: Am I being unreasonable? I'm thinking about breaking up with my mechanic
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May 7, 2024, 11:13 AM
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Whenever I got the "just getting it up on the lift" comment it's time to move on.
Had a similar situation with a "passenger door ajar" alarm. we went through everything, sensors, relays, fuses whatever. They kept hooking it up to the scanner and couldn't find anything. I said probably because the computer thinks the passenger door is ajar. Certainly there is someone at GM that knows what's going on. Then one day, for no apparent reason, it stopped and never happened again.
Found a local guy now that took over a shop his father ran for years. Completely honest with me, gets me the best price he can on parts, doesn't go by any labor guide for pricing. Simply charges a fair price for good work. BTW, because of all that, he's usually covered up in work.
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Oculus Spirit [79744]
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Is he in Greenville/Anderson area? That's how this shop used to be
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May 7, 2024, 11:21 AM
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but I guess times change.
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All-Conference [445]
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Re: Is he in Greenville/Anderson area? That's how this shop used to be
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May 7, 2024, 11:29 AM
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Sorry Lake, I'm in E. NC But I went through several before I found this guy. Even went to places where people said, "go to...so and so, he's great". Only to find out, not so much.
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Oculus Spirit [79744]
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Are your services all day events, or does your guy manage to get things
May 7, 2024, 11:34 AM
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wrapped up within 4 hours or so? A couple of hours should suffice in my opinion. That's the funny part, I probably wouldn't have really started questioning them had services not become all day ordeals.
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All-Conference [445]
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Re: Are your services all day events, or does your guy manage to get things
May 7, 2024, 1:00 PM
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Really depends on what's being done. I'll drop a vehicle off first thing in the morning when he opens. Sometimes if he tells me he can't get to it by the afternoon. I'll still drop it off. He'll work it in if he can. Most times when I do that, he'll call and I can get it during lunch.
Here's the thing with me. A locally owned shop. We are a comparatively small town. I know the guy. Other people know the guy. Local owners (whatever the business) see you around town. You don't need Yelp or Google review. Word travels fast and if you're not running a respectable business you won't last long.
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All-Conference [445]
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Re: Is he in Greenville/Anderson area? That's how this shop used to be
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May 7, 2024, 11:33 AM
[ in reply to Is he in Greenville/Anderson area? That's how this shop used to be ] |
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Grew up in Anderson though. Back in the day my dad took all vehicles to a guy named "Cooter". I mean, how can you not like a mechanic named cooter? Honest to a fault. I can remember my dad asking him, "are you sure? I want you to make money on this." He'd usually come back with, "I just didn't feel right chargin' ya any more than that".
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Heisman Winner [136704]
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Need an O2 sensor in my truck as well.
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May 7, 2024, 11:26 AM
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Stopped yesterday and had the code read after the check engine light came on. I wonder if this cicada invasion has something to do with everyone's O2 sensors dying all of a sudden? I'm not saying this is a government-led conspiracy, but it all seems to be a little TOO coincidental if you ask me.
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Oculus Spirit [79744]
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Probably trying to push us into EV's by clogging up our sensors with
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May 7, 2024, 11:39 AM
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chem trails. Thankfully we still live in a land of FREEDOM without vehicle inspections so we could just cut out all of that garbage.
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All-TigerNet [11287]
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Re: Pretty sure
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May 7, 2024, 12:05 PM
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It's the Chinese hacking through Alexa so they can sell more cheap parts. Whatever you do, don't link your phone and Alexa to your vehicle bluetoof.
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Oculus Spirit [79243]
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Pressley Auto Services
May 7, 2024, 3:52 PM
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Always seems to be good to me
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Replies: 18
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