Sizzlenut

After hearing horror story after horror story about the damage these technicians have done to people's cars, I thought I'd ask if people had any stories to share and if they have a place that they recommend. I'd like to know which franchise has the best reputation. I didn't hit the poll option because there are so many out there the list would be huge.

From sensors not plugged back it to oil plugs not being tightened, damaged mass air flow sensors and missing air filters, there are lots of stories I've heard. Let us know your story and give some of us the heads up on where not to go.

Cheersh

Smitter

Do it yourself.........
then u know what u got and have no one to blame but yourself...
theres no way some minimum wage punk is getting their hands on my $60,000 investment

Sizzlenut

I do my own oil changes. I'm thinking about getting in on a franchise.

Alak

iTrader: (9)

The only problem I had was one time they forgot to put the drain plug in before they filled it with oil. It was my own oil so I made them drive to where-ever and get more, because most outlets only supply **** low-grade oil. Also got the whole thing for free because of the time it cost me.

RX7KENN

ask your gf how she likes it lubed.
let her teach YOU

rx speed

iTrader: (1)

Well people, I hate to rant but I own a quick lube franchise and I can definately dispute some of these claims. I don't pay any of my employees even close to minimum wage, and full time employees receive 100% coverage in their benfits package. I can agree there have been horror stories in some stores, but given the amount of volume our stores see, I think the percentage of screw ups are very minimal. I'd say much less than a mechanic shop, or dealership. All of my employees have a general passion and interest in cars, so it depends on the hiring practices. I can guarantee if you go to my store, you've got nothing to worry about. Tony http://oilchangers.ca/locations/gta/northyork.shtml

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

I think it is hilarious,In a Twisted way.You hear of these guys that have Done Complete Engine swaps.Taken a Car and built it up to SIX Hundred horse power!.Then they are TOO lazy to do their own OIL Change!..So they get a Kid that gets hired to do the Job.Maybe his first Job ever,tO DO the Oil Change.I don't Know,but it doesn't make sense!..I do everything to My car that I can,Mainly because I am CHEAP!.But if I get in over my head,I give it to the Pro's...RX_Speed,if I ever need an Oil change,I will Go to your Shop,IF I am in the area..thank God there is One place that has "experienced Guys!

Smitter

"All of my employees have a general passion and interest in cars"

imagine the excitement that must rush through their veins as they are unscrewing the drain plug

BIZL

There is nothing like a job dealing with cars to kill your passion. Back in th day when I had my integra, i worked at acura washing cars and moving them around and stuff. While I worked there I never washed my own car cuz i was sick to death of it...

rx speed

iTrader: (1)

I noticed that a lot of people in the Canadian forum like to always add their own smart *** remarks, would these people keep their remarks to themselves, especially when they are not relevant to the thread. My business caters to people who don't have time to do it themsleves, and actually have lives beyond their car. When I said my employess have a general passion and interest in cars, I mean they are quite knowledgable and take their job seriously. I to give you your own smart *** remark, if you have invested 60K in your RX, you've been seriously ripped off.
My two cents, and if you don't know me, keep your sarcasm to yourself.

rx speed

iTrader: (1)

^^all directed to smitt113fd

Smitter

^^
well .......sorry to have struck a nerve of yours.......i guess the quick lubes out east do have qualified oil changin technicians.......and u can build low km single turbo fds from bumper to bumper for dirt as cheap.......

fair enough rxspeed........u keep changin oil........i'll keep building high powered fds

now

iTrader: (1)

I always change the oil myself in my mazda cars, and almost always in the others.
but the one time I was lazy and took a dodge mini van (which I didn't care about)
in to have the oil changed at (I know I know) Walmart they stripped the drain
plug (which I am sure is a ploy to sell plugs) then topped it off by not having
a replacement plug to they used a tap plug.
I say it again I would never take anything that I valued to #1 worst Walmart
or any other place for a oil change.
last time I needed a wheel alignment the place that did it dented my
TII hood pushing it shut
so stupid isnt limited to oil changes!
matt

now

iTrader: (1)

dont waste money on a franchise think up a good name and start your own place.
in my little town a guy i know started a super care lube and wash and purchased
everything for less than a franchise fee.
lube tech sounds good

01Racing

Well here is the dealership view of the Lube franchises. I take a used car to a quick style lube every once in a while to compare pricing. Their basic oil change in Scarborough is $33.95. Then they upsell me to non recycled oil, price goes up to $37.95. Now I am shown my drain plug and gasket that need replacing, price goes to $44.95. I am now "recommended" to do a bunch of other services which I decline. I now ask for a "mazda" oil filter and the price goes to $52.95. My total when I leave is usually about $63.00 all in. Our dealership charges $36.95 an oil change which includes all of the above except the drain plug which usually never needs changing. With taxes and disposal fee's we are under $45.00.

classicauto

iTrader: (3)

$33.95!! WOW

I own a shop of my own and I can't change my oil for the price that the local quick lube charges. Its $20.XX for pretty well any car you can imagine. By the time I drag my drain pan out, put the car on the hoist, and spend $11 on oil and filter - I amy as well be clean and lazy for $9 extra and not have to fill my waste-oil drum that I'm PAYING to empty!!

I do my own changes on the RX simply because its sex undoing the plugs in the Pineapple Aluminum oil pan, plus I like to inspect etc. But I'll be damned if I'm crawling under my beater escort to save all of a mighty $4.

Oh and on franchises - there's many benefits and established structure/procedures as well as good will that come with certain names. If the price is right, the help and instant business is worth it.

ScrappyDoo

iTrader: (7)

When I was 18 and 19 I worked at Mr. Lube. I was made the supervisor of a shift and had most of my friends working with me. We'd go out on a Saturday night and have a completely hung over staff on site on a Sunday morning. But for the time we drove a car into the pit, oh and the time through the garage doors(while closed), oh and into the big dumpster ouside things were just fine.

That said those were isolated incidents at a busy location where we probably serviced 18-19000 cars a year. We rarely made mistakes and when we did there was a company standing behind the staff to repare any problems caused.

Too contrast I worked at a chrysler dealership as well when I was a young. During my one year as an apprentice I saw a Stealth Twin Turbo driven 500 kms while in for a routine service (everybody and their mother drove it). One tech forgot to install front end bolts resulting in an intrepid going spread eagle on the 401 almost killing people. I remember a Grand Cherokee being returned to chrysler since 20 trips to the dealer for a clunking noise could not be solved (turns out a tech left his shears lodged near a motor mount). Another tech was a drunk, he lost his license and had to be escorted on road tests.

My point being that no place is perfect. Stereotypes are useless. I have no problem going to either a dealer or a lube shop. I always get out of my car and ask to watch. If that is not okay with them I move on. A lurking customer does wonders for keeping things on the level.

01Racing

Classic Auto I totally agree with the price. Even at $36.95 when a licensed technician performs an oil change you cant make money at it. We have been after the manufacturor for years to change the price to reflect real costs of doing business. We have to use factory oil filters, premium motor oil etc.!

ScrappyDoo

iTrader: (7)

Damn, I hate this forum not allowing you to fix typos.

BenjiRX-7

iTrader: (3)

Sorry for the EXTREMELY NOOB question, but is making an oil change on an FD different than it is on another car?

ScrappyDoo

iTrader: (7)

Nope.

BenjiRX-7

iTrader: (3)

uhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm alright, thanks. Then I'm wondering what this whole thing is all about lol. Oil changes for 60$ ? They cost 30$ here for my 2 actual cars, 15$ if I do it myself... anyways.

jim_chung

iTrader: (2)

When I was 18 and 19 I worked at Mr. Lube. I was made the supervisor of a shift and had most of my friends working with me. We'd go out on a Saturday night and have a completely hung over staff on site on a Sunday morning. But for the time we drove a car into the pit, oh and the time through the garage doors(while closed), oh and into the big dumpster ouside things were just fine.



I think that's the most disturbing passage in this whole thread. That a nation wide company would put a 19 year old kid in charge and then tolerate their Sunday morning level of performance as well as the occasional car driven into the pit.

I'm sure Rx Speed wouldn't be happy with this. That's like telling the family of the poor woman who died a few days ago during a liposuction procedure that, well things happen.

ScrappyDoo

iTrader: (7)

Comparing a death to damaged material objects is ridiculous. And frankly down plays that family's suffering.

Exactly what demographic were you hoping to work in these places?
The problem in the store I worked at was not the age of the supervisor but rather a lazy manager that never popped in to check on his staff. He created the culture that we worked in. Give a teenager an inch and they'll take a mile.

For the record the cars going in the pit were more an issue with foolish customers mixing up their sense of direction and pedals. (they were not driven by techs)

It is a shame you didn't gleam from my post that the dealership had equally bad experiences if not worse. Maybe I wasn't clear but I'll say it again it. Stereotypes don't help.

Rxspeed has changed my oil and he runs a tight ship. He would do the same if he ran a dealership.

Boosted11

iTrader: (11)

+1 on doing it yourself. I bought the cheapest jack and jack stands I could find from Canadian tire. After only a few oil changes and fluid changes you name it, it will equal the price of the jack and jackstands which is only 60 bucks. Then after that its all save save save save, shall I say more?

Oil changes especially, are super super easy. All you do is jack it up, unscrew the oil plug, let the oil drip, while its dripping change the filter, put the plug back in, and top it off with oil .... Why pay a mechanic to do that? I bet oil changes are there favourite thing to do because its so simple.