Tire Kingdom (other names also) Rant!

So I am driving along and a get a blow out on one of my tires which had about half the tread wear left. Ran over a very large piece of brown glass and slashed the tire by the side wall. Could not be fixed (patched or plugged, too big)

OK, stuff happens so I limp into a Tire Kingdom. They have my tires so I get two new ones, did it pretty fast so far so good.

Now they bring out this brochure of Service Central; DNA testing

(Diagnostic Needs Analysis) They analysis all the fluids with litmus paper, swap the throttle body with a cotton swab, check battery wipers, hoses etc.

Then hand me a slick folder with test data, litmus strips. Lots of pictures, cautions, good, caution, overdue, warnings. A 4 page fold out full of all kinds of very official looking junk.

Seems that every fluid in my car is bad and needs replacement, battery is about gone also, of course I need a fuel injection service tune up also.

The total for all these necessary services comes to $500.00!!

My poor cars DNA is very bad!! What do I do??

I look at the sales guy and ask him if he thinks I will make it out of the parking lot? He gives me a strange look.

Oh by the way, it's a 3 year old Honda with 36,000 miles.

I checked the tire pressure this morning, 3 are good and one is 8 lbs over inflated. Can't even get that part right.

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My wife drives a Mercedes. We bought it used, out of warranty. She's taken it to the dealer for diagnostics on the check engine light once, and for replacement of the catalytic converter (out of warranty but replaced under a service bulletin). Both times, they gave her a long list of things that were wrong with her car that needed immediate attention. The first time, she called me nearly in tears. I told her to take it by our mechanic (Mercedes factory certified, but independent). He read the list, laughed, and told her everything was fine. Personally, I think they were trying to scare her into buying a new Mercedes and trading in that old hunk of junk, which, of course, they would turn around and sell as a diamond. The joke's on them, though. She can't afford a new Mercedes.

It'll be OK, we will be there with you...........until the end.

I took my Pontiac Grand Prix into a dealership to replace the catalytic converter under warranty at 79000 miles. I was given a list of all the serious things that were "wrong" with it to the tune of $1400. I never fixed anything. Other than fluids and filters, the only thing that has been done was to replace a wheel bearing (which was not on their list.) I now have 148000 on the car. It only goes to my real mechanic who always treats me fair and square. I, for one didn't feel too bad when all those dealerships went out of business a while back.

It's called "upselling" and it's a game for suckers.

My BIL got taken by a Toyota dealer when he took my sisters Forerunner in for a tuneup before his transfer to Alaska. It had 70K miles on it and the dealer convinced him a complete top end rebuild was essential, to the tune of over 2200 bucks.

A week later he took his Oldsmobile Alero in for an oil change. They not only checked the car over bumper to bumper, they turned the front rotors because they were slightly out of spec. He figured he was in for another hosing and got a bit irrate that they would do something like that without even a call. When they explained that it was part of the standard cost for the oil change he calmed right down, total cost was 39 bucks for the oil change and new cabin and air filters.

Needless to say he'll NEVER purchase another Toyota. Currently he's driving a Cadillac CTS and my brother "curbed" one of the wheels parking it while we were all on vacation together. When he got back to Alexandria, VA he took it into the dealer to see what it would cost to touch up that wheel, the dealer did it for free. IMO, that's a darned smart dealer, because I'm quite certain next time my BIL decides to purchase another car he'll go straight to that dealer. Hopefully, next time he'll pony up for the CTS-V, I've always wanted to hit the loud pedal on a CTS-V.

That is pretty much a standard scam (just a new twist on it) for a lot of schlucky auto "repair" outfits. Years ago, I had new tires installed on a Corvette by a shop of one of the major national tire firms, to be followed immediately by an alignment. The "mechanic" jacked the car up, put a pry bar under the front wheels, and told me it couldn't be aligned properly because the ball joints were worn out. I asked him to show me how he determined that, and he made the wheel/tire move slightly up and down with the pry bar (normal operation). I told him that was very surprising, since all four ball joints in the front end had been replaced with new, top of the line ball joints by Moog a few days before (that was true, I replaced them, didn't really need it, but I not only drove the car on the street, but raced A-Production class in SCCA road racing, and was extremely finicky about preventative maintenance). Caught him by surprise. Went elsewhere for the alignment. Unscrupulous shops try that stuff all the time with women (they think they don't know anything), and, very frequently, men (same thought pattern). A few years ago, my girlfriend had a Volvo, and took it to the dealer for some minor warranty repairs. I went down to pick her up. It was a Monday morning, with a long line of cars (most driven by women) extending out from the service writer's booth, and the writer was walking the line of cars and taking service orders. It was interesting to watch and listen as the writer would write a description of the complaint, look at the odometer, record the mileage, and ask if she wanted them to complete the 13,205 mile service, or the 7,265 mile service, or the 33,278 mile service, etc. Every time they asked, the lady would get a somewhat frightened expression on her face, and ask if it was important. Of course it was, and if they didn't agree to it, the dealership could not be responsible for any damage or injuries as a result. Every one of those ladies immediately said yes! When he got to my girlfriend, I hung back until he asked if she wanted the 28,432 mile service - her reaction was pretty much the same, asking if it was important, with a great deal of concern. He went into his well-practiced spiel, and I stepped up and asked him "What is included in this 28,432 mile service?" He was stunned, apparently nobody had asked him that before, and stammered out things like and oil change, lubrication, air filter, tune-up, etc., and that it was very important to safety and for warranty coverage. I then asked him if he could show me the requirement for the 28,432 mile service in a Volvo service schedule, as it certainly wasn't shown in the owner's manual. He then started to make up some other BS, but I cut him short, asking him if Leon (the owner of the dealership, and a good friend of mine) was aware that he was selling all those different services to unsuspecting customers. He started giving BS about it was all official Volvo-recommended service intervals, etc., and that it was in concurrence with the dealership's practices. I then told him I was going to go in to see Leon in his office and ask him about all these very specific (to the mile) service schedules he had been selling (listing about 8 or 10 of the prior work orders), and mentioning that I had checked Leon and his son out in the new Beech Bonanza (a high performance single engine airplane) he had purchased and taken delivery of a few weeks ago. I knew that wasn't policy, and that Leon was highly principled, and the s.w. would be looking for a new job shortly after, if I did that. He immediately back-pedaled, and offered a complementary oil change to my girlfriend if I wouldn't tell Leon. He continued down the line, but stopped asking if they wanted the (insert your mileage) service. Remember, they work on commission. Oh yeah, after he left, my girlfriend asked me if it was really OK to not have them do the 28,432 mile service, and if the car would be safe if it wasn't done. Even at honest firms, it only takes one individual with larceny in his heart to do such things. But DNA? That sounds like a well-organized scam from the top down.

310 Pilot: "...and mentioning that I had checked Leon and his son out in the new Beech Bonanza (a high performance single engine airplane) he had purchased and taken delivery of a few weeks ago."

Hey 310Pilot!

I would have gladly told you anything you wanted to hear for a ride in the Bonanza! ~GRIN~

I had an '02 Chevy Impala as a pharma rep. Put 90K miles on it in 2 1/2 yrs. The check engine light came on @40K. My son has the car now with 160k on it, no repairs except for routine maintenance. The check engine light is still on. Car is on it's 4th set of tires, every change (@Tire Kingdom) there's $1500-$2000 of "urgently needed" repairs. Learning to ignore nonsense is an essential survival skill in today's world. Joe

310Pilot said:

and mentioning that I had checked Leon and his son out in the new Beech Bonanza (a high performance single engine airplane) he had purchased and taken delivery of a few weeks ago.

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If the service writer hadn't been doing what he was doing, Leon might not have been able to afford the Bonanza.

A local shop changes the oil on the van at my work. One time they gave me a list of about 25 things that needed urgent and immediate attention. I threw the list away. The next oil change, there were only two items on the list. I guess that my generous donation to Benny Hinn paid off.

Pharmer, there is a easy proceduer that will turn that light off. Just as the service manager or some mechanic that works for chev.

There are a few things every family needs...
A doctor
A lawyer
A wrecker driver
An auto mechanic
A plumber....
When my girl child moved to South Carolina, I went to several shops and talked to the guys...I found one that would take my daughters car, do routine service (tires, brakes, oil change) AND CALL ME BEFORE THEY DID ANYTHING ELSE....
worked out great...no BS, no surprises....and they went to her house once to change a tire for her....
At home here, we have our mechanic who works on all our stuff....everything goes to him....no BS there either....

Several years back I took a 1990 Buick LeSabre into Pep Boys for a new set of tires. The car had severely worn tires because the ball joints and all four struts had been worn out. I had all that stuff and the back springs replaced by my local mechanic. I also replaced the spark plugs, plug wires, front brake rotors and pads, transmission fluid and filter and the fuel filter.

Pep Boys service writer comes to me after they have the car up on the rack. Says, "Sir, you have a very unsafe car! It needs Struts, ball joints, springs, an exhaust system and new brakes. Also we recommend a transmission flush and fuel system service."

I hit the roof, and told the service writer I wanted to see the manager. The manager came out. Told him to go take an actual LOOK at the struts etc. and see if he noticed anything- like fresh new paint and Monroe Sens A Trac stickers, new rotors etc. He came back and tried to tell me none of the parts I said were new had actually been replaced and they would not install new tires until I had the service done!!.
I can't print most of what I said to the manager and service writer after that. Needless to say Pep Boys has been off my list ever since.

I have a Dodge Ram that had a warranty recall. I took it to the dealership to have the free replacement part installed. After the work is done, the guy says to me that while replacing the engine part they noticed that my air filter was pretty dirty and needed replacing. He then gave me a ridiculous price quote for the new air filer plus labor. I just looked at him and said, can’t be, I replaced that filter myself a week ago.

It seems that everybody is out for every nickel they can scrounge, legitimately or otherwise.

scooter123 said:

It's called "upselling" and it's a game for suckers.

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scooter,

I don't know who calls it that, but I call it criminal. The people mentioned by Rule3, yourself, Pilot310, and others are really thieves masquerading as professional service people. Deceiving the ignorant out of their hard-earned income is evil. It would be nearly impossible to enforce a law against it, but some hefty fines and forced restitution to the victims sure would make some of these folks think twice about continuing their shenanigans.

Pardon me for being so strident, but that story by Pilot310 in particular really sent my blood pressure upward. If I were him I would have told the guy's boss even if the guy prostrated himself before me and pleaded for mercy. That was outrageous.

Andy

Andy, I agree that it's illegal. It's also good for a news "expose'" about once a year in my area. Unfortunately, it's much too common today and is the way that a lot of chain repair shops operate today. That's why I don't have any work done by the chain shops, instead if it's something I don't want to do I have a local shop I know I can trust do the work. Fact is that there ARE honest repair shops out there and IMO it's up to driver to find them.

The total for all these necessary services comes to $500.00!!

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Is that all? Last time I had my my car in to have a flat fixed they did the same testing and wanted $1,000.00 to have me safely back on the road. CROOKS...

In high school, I took auto shop for 3 years and it was my plan to become a mechanic. After graduation, I went to work at a large chain store changing tires and oil and I was able to get my ASE certifications in suspension and brakes. This was in the late 80's when fuel injection and computer control was just starting to be the norm.

After a while, I got a job working as a mechanic at a very well known auto garage chain. I was very young at the time and didn't do very well because I was naive to the world around me.

I was silly, I thought people brought you broken cars that you diagnosed and fixed. There are plenty of hard working, honest mechanics. Unfortunately, some aren't. Plus, a lot of customers were just as ready to take advantage. Many would accuse you of damage or OK a repair and then refuse to pay. I was only a mechanic for a couple of months before I went back to school for something else.

Now the only cars I work on are my own. The only time I will take my car in is for an alignment. I figure I have saved thousands of dollars on repair work of the years. I also know that it has been done right.

I still cringe when I hear a story of how much someone paid for a repair or how they were taken advantage of. The muffler on my truck gave up this week and I noticed I have a leak coming from the right rear wheel area, so either a brake line / caliper or an axle seal need attention. It will be a nice job for Saturday that won't cost very much, but I imagine it would be several hundred dollars worth of work for repair shop.

Paul

truckemup97 said:

If the service writer hadn't been doing what he was doing, Leon might not have been able to afford the Bonanza.

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Nah, Leon was one of the good guys, and didn't tolerate his employees ripping off his customers. I saw him at the airport the next day and told him about it, and that service writer was terminated immediately. He picked up the phone in the FBO, called his service department manager, read him the riot act, told him that service writer better be gone before he got back, and that the service manager would also be gone if that ever happened again. Almost made me consider buying a Volvo, well, not really. I've always been a Corvette, Cobra and Shelby guy, a Volvo just never got my interest.

You can search the internet and find out how to turn off the "check engine" light on most vehicles. It usually involves a sequence of turning the ignition key to a certain position, pushing a certain button on the dash or pulling a certain fuse for a few seconds. Those little "idiot lights" just irritate the cream cheese outta me.