Must I Beg Service Dept For An Oil Change?

[ctrcbob]

I've come to the conclusion that both my local FoMoCo Dealers Service Departments are a bunch of money hungry jerks. (No wonder they are called "Stealers").

Took my car to my local Ford Service Department for an oil change. They said they could not get to it for at least a couple hours. I asked why don't they have a dedicated Quick Lube area, like the Chrysler Dealer down the street? The Service Manager (whom I like and trust with work on my car) said, "Because we don't make money on oil changes". When I questioned that, he said, "Well look at you, you get your oil changed but you don't get additional things done". (He is talking about factory service schedules and this is true as I don't follow any schedule for service, but I get things done when I feel like it, just as I have done for 50 years). OK, I could not wait for two hours, and no way will I leave the car, so..............

I phone the L-M Dealer down the street and ask if they can get me in NOW for an oil change. Said yes, so off I go, they write up the RO, pull the car in, and it sits, and it sits, and it sits, etc etc etc. (No it was not lunch hour). While I was waiting, I asked "how much for a Transmission Flush and how much for a Coolant Flush. He said, "$195.00 for the transmission and over $100.00 (forget just how much) for the coolant flush. I THOUGHT HE WAS KIDDING! Then he goes about telling me why it costs so much. After I got finished laughing at him, and most of all, when I got tired of waiting for my oil change, I told him that I changed my mind and that I could not wait any longer, and must go.

These guys are only interested in making the big buck, and have no interest in keeping charges reasonable.

As it turns out, I went back to the Ford Dealer, and made an appointment for the oil change, when they open at 7:30am next Friday. Hope they dont tell me I have other cars ahead of me.

I will not take my cars to the Jiffy Lube's of the world, although if I can watch, I would think about taking it to Wal-Mart, only if I could watch while they do the job, and also if they still have Motorcraft Oil Filters in their stores. (I never use anything other than factory oil filters in any of my vehicles).

It bothers me that I must beg my FoMoCo Dealers for an oil change. (I may go back to doing it myself).

[davidholland]

Dealer service does seem to be lacking at the FoMoCo lots! I have a Chrysler LHS that I have only taken to my local dealer for any service since day one!
Their service is great!

[RF Overlord]

(I may go back to doing it myself).

Look at all the time you've wasted already, when you could have done the job yourself in a half hour...at YOUR convenience. ;)

I agree, $195 is outrageous for a transmission flush, and that doesn't even include changing the filter (although whether that's strictly necessary is up for debate). It's because of high prices, inconvenient scheduling ("drop it off first thing in the morning...maybe we'll get to it by 4 o'clock"... :rolleyes: ), and frequently incomplete or questionable repair quality that I will never use a dealer for anything other than warranty work. The other trick I like is when they tell you to "bring it in", you leave the car ALL day, then they call you at quarter of 5 to tell you they had to "order parts" so it won't be ready until tomorrow...at quarter of 5... :shake:

BTW, this is not intended to be a flame at all dealers...I realise that some offer outstanding customer service...it's just that "once burned..."

[juno]

I have too many bad experiences at Bev Smith Ford to trust them to do anything. The final straw was when I showed up for my appointed time once, they took three cars off the street as walk-ins while they made me wait to check in.

[Vortex]

I noticed when I took my truck in for its free oil change they had some 18 y/o pimple faced kid doing it. I think it is SOP for dealerships to assign the newest service dept flunkies the mission of changing oil. I got 7 years of free ones with my truck so looks like Ill be going back. At the L/M dealer, it took them an hour to change the oil in my MM. The funny thing is they have a quick oil change service bay, they just dont use it. Ill never understand this crap.

[hitchhiker]

There are many FLM dealers...

Try a few more before giving up on them.

The smart ones know that good service means future sales!

:D

[RF Overlord]

The smart ones know that good service means future sales!And the REALLY smart ones know that being the only dealer in a 50 mile radius gets them future sales no matter HOW bad their service is...

[Agent M79]

You did the right thing.

You don't like waiting. Don't wait.
You don't like the prices. Don't pay them.

People can lament capitalism all they want but if enough people did what you did, guess what? The situation would correct itself.

I stopped taking my car to a local dealer as well. Even for warranty work. I won't feed the monster that feeds on my patience and peace of mind.

I continue to take my wife's H**** to the local H**** dealer because they do what they do when they say they are going to do it and they do what I ask and not what is on the service schedule.

[GreekGod]

When my brother graduated from Notre Dame Law School, his first job was 2000 miles away in Las Vegas, NV.

He asked what he should do when he could afford to buy a car, as he wasn't mechanically inclined. I told him to buy a used Ford or Chevy because service and parts would be readily available.

I also tell people a vehicle purchase should include a prior evaluation of the local dealer.

When I started looking for a toterhome chassis cab, I asked truck drivers about Fords, Peterbuilts, Freightliners, International Harvesters, etc. Lots of different opinions but most said Freightliners had a very bad service reputation and I found Int. Harvester had overpriced service parts. Stamped steel rocker arms for their popular 6 cylinder were $80 each!

A local dealer is only as good as the management, owner and brand.

[Tallboy]

Unless you have personally been in charge of a dealership service department [the whole thing] you are not qualified to pass judgement.

Any dealership service department with a technician standing around with an open lift is either not being run properly or is a place you don't want touching your car in the first place.

[Mad4Macs]

I count myself as being fortunate. Back in Michigan, the Suburban Collection was everything I could ask for, and here in Houston, Tommie Vaughn is looking great!
And yes, I give public praise to the people that do right, just as fast as I'll slam the idiots.
:beer:

[SergntMac]

Let's give the "Jiffy Lube" shops a break? Just once, K? Humor me?

I've got a Jiffy Lube just down the street from me and yes, it's mostly part-time HS age "dudes". But, good kids who have a thirst for working on cars while they complete the classroom stuff.

Everyone has to start somewhere, I can't imagine a professional chef (breaking into his career after college) that hasn't spent some time at BK, Mickey D, or, a Waffle House near you, somewhere in their past?

Just doesn't fit, K? To us, these are lowly "service industry" jobs. To them, ground breaking chances at exploring their career path. These kids are young, but respectful, eager, and wanting to do things right. If you took a peek at the hardware they drive that's parked in the back of the lot, a few of them are very bright, and promising Master wrenches. They respect the machinery you lay in their hands, and they want to deliver their best.

Yeah...It's a company sales pitch they regurgitate about air filters, rear end flushes and so on, because that's what they get taught to say. But, I have used these guys for a number of immediate service intervals (sometimes very short term and short notice) over the past 10 years, and I can say they ain't the worst I've seen. They try hard, and they are working to get better, I'll give them some space on that.

The Jiffy Lube at 103rd and Kedzie is full of good guys. Very attentive, never tried to sell me anything I didn't need, and they ask me to join them under the car when they want to show me what they see. (albiet, they also enjoy what I have to look at, and end up asking more Qs than offering answers). They have worked on my #1x with no problems, worries, or, failures.

(BTW, this Jiffy Lube is staffed mostly by the kids from Evergreen Park Tech, a local HS with a very progressive automotive tech school. The kids cycle through Jiffy Lube's doors [and payroll] on a co-operative work training program agreement with EPAT. The school has a 10 second Mustang Lab/project car...)

Can't say this is the case elsewhere, but the Jiffy Lube bashing is getting old. Y'all need to get your nose out of the air, our Marauders are just cars, K?

What's important to me is that my fluid levels are topped off and correct before a road trip and (because of my schedule) this is usually last minute detail stuff I don't get into until I'm heading for an on-ramp to somewhere.

So, I ask y'all...What's better? Hitting the road with fresh tranny fluid possibly a pint shy? Or, hitting the road (and subsequent race tracks) on 20K mile tranny fluid?

I can buy a pint of Mercon V anywhere (I carry extra engine oil and tranny fluid with me anyway) but, I can't repair a burnt 4R70W all that easy away from home (Been there, did this, ask me).

My point is...The "Jiffy Lubes" have their place in our lives, and they are not all bandits, shysters, shucks, harlots, or, stupid. OTOH...If you don't open your eyes and ears when you walk in, who's fault is that?

This thread began with short story about dissappointment with a dealership service department, and it seems to me, that a dealership is no better than their local competition. What is around the dealership, that's drawing customers away that they cannot compete with? My dealership is price competitive with the Jiffy shops, because there are none cheaper in this community. Go figure?

Shop around, build a relationship with a lube shop local to your home, maybe find a "pit crew" of sorts for yourself, where they remember who you are, and what you want? Meanwhile, this stereotyping is getting very old.

Just my /02C, carry on gents...

[wchain]

Thats sad. I get 9.99 oil change coupons from my LM dealer all the time. I used it once. Service writer was friendly and fast, Got it in 35 mins including a car wash. Never took the MM in after the time I saw the guy watching DVDs and trying to bark tires and cut donuts in the back lot while I watched. That was the last time that I had my MM at the dealer for anything. I'd find another FLM dealer, maybe find a SVT dealer? They would treat your car with kid gloves.

The scary thing is, the Flush Machines recommend you using Mercon III for everything and then adding in the correct additive for the vehicle, found
here (http://www.qmimo.com/mercon_V.htm) they have it for Mercon V, Honda SLF ATF, and Toyota Type T, and DCX ATF+4.

Who knows if they work or not.

I got a coupon pack the other day from the local LM dealer.
Individual Coupons
ATF Flush 129.99
Cooling Flush 99.99
Brake Flush 79.99
Power Steering Flush 79.99
Individual Coupons good for one use each.
Totals: $389.96

Below that there was a coupon "Complete Engine Fluid Exchange"
Flush Coolant, Trans, Brake, Power Steering, and Oil Change
$529.99. So for $140.03 you get an oil change. I called to ask if they serviced anything else for that price, you know like rear diff or anything. The answer was no.

Funny but Power Steering and Brake Fluid exchanges/flushes arent part of the Factory service schedule, even though its probably a good idea to do them at some point.

[whoskal]

The Ford dealer I use here in Oly is awesome...super friendly, quick service, and if there is a way to make it cheaper for me, he does it.

[Bigdogjim]

If you think your Dealership guys are above a qucik lube place think again.

Everyone has to start somewhere.

[Bigdogjim]

Let's give the "Jiffy Lube" shops a break? Just once, K? Humor me?

OK The rest of July is "National do not Pick On Jiffy Lube month".

[StevenJ]

I go to Hollman Lincoln Mercury down here in South Florida. Their prices are average, $36 for a semi-synthetic change, $74 for a full, and it only takes about an hour and a half for them to get the job done. Keep in mind, all the times I went to them to do the oil change was before their service department at the new dealership was open.

They were working out of a trailer and they still never made me wait more than two hours for the whole thing with one exception. One time, they overcharged me for a change because they charged me for the semi-synthetic oil plus the full synthetic and the labor and it came out to $96 when all I asked for was a full synthetic oil change.. Thankfully they corrected the bill and everything was solved without a problem.

[juno]

I had some time to kill before Sebring so I stopped at the local Pennzoil quick change. I had about 1500 miles since the last one, but I figured what the heck, the car will be abused on the track.

The mananger saw my car and recognized it immediately. Anytime someone does that my trust factor goes up considerably. Turns out he was a big mustang fan.

I have not been to the local LM dealer in a while, and never for service. I may have to stop in.

[Shaft333]

Let's give the "Jiffy Lube" shops a break? Just once, K? Humor me?

-snip snip-

:D But he said he wanted to use only Motorcraft filters.

[ckadiddle]

I have had pretty good luck with a local Ford dealer for service. I won't buy from them any more due to a bad experience with one of their salesman, but I use their service dept. when I need it.

[Agent M79]

Unless you have personally been in charge of a dealership service department [the whole thing] you are not qualified to pass judgement.

Any dealership service department with a technician standing around with an open lift is either not being run properly or is a place you don't want touching your car in the first place.

I am not sure I understand your assertion here. Maybe you are responding to something specific in one of the posts or possibly generically towards the thread itself. I am not sure.

True, most of us have never been any part of a dealerships service department, myself included.

If you are saying people have no basis for dissatisfaction for the services rendered and/or the time taken to render services because they have not ran a service department, I respectfully disagree.

I realize there are always going to be those unreasonable S.O.B.'s that can't be made happy even if you paid them to bring their car in and fixed it before they left home. However, a reasonable and rational person is fully capable of determining when they have received bad service.

Some of those rational and reasonable people can even be understanding and forgive a situation or two. However, it does not take a service professional to determine when a service department has chronic issues and can't meet basic and reasonable customer expectations.

[Pat]

Just had my tranny flushed and gushed at the local L/M dealer, $137.00 out the door. In by 8 AM out by 4 PM, and a free ride home.

I know they take this long so I plan ahead.

Oil changes are handled by a quick lube line at the Ford dealership, usually takes less than 45 minutes. Cost around $32.00 (it's never the same price).

The kids that do the work, like Sgt Mac says, are eager to learn, smart and take pride in their work, menial as it is. The first time, I went in the back door and ask the boys how many quarts of oil the Marauder takes. They ALL piped up - 6 quarts, 5W-20, synthetic blend. WOW, I was impressed. They were very interested in my nitrous setup and kept telling their worker buddies that I had a 9 Sec car, even though I said 13's. But who am I to disspell such rumors.


Uncle Pat

[ctrlraven]

Last oil change I had done was at the local FoMoCo dealership that I used to work at. It took around 45-55mins to get the oil change done. I didn't care about the time cause I had the day to do whatever but of course the have a kid doing the oil changes and I saw his eyes get all big when the service advisor said "oil change change for the marauder and check and top off all fluids for the gentlemen". What bothered me was I saw the vehicle had 5 more miles on the speedo then when it was taken in. I approached the service advisor once I saw the mileage and he said it was the normal test drive, I gave him the "don't give me that BS (full word)" I know you guys don't do a 5 mile test drive cause I used to work here. Without 2nd thought he proceeded to apologize and hand me 4 free oil change slips. Of course they only 5 qts of oil so I will complain about that when I go in next time. I think I'm going to go back to the L/M dealer where I bought the mm cause they park their marauder's right up front in the "special service" parking area :). But I do fine it strange how the L/M dealer said my tires and brakes would need to be replaced in the near future and this was back in March, well June I had the oil change done at the Ford dealer and they said tires and brakes were just find.

[Tallboy]

I am not sure I understand your assertion here. Maybe you are responding to something specific in one of the posts or possibly generically towards the thread itself. I am not sure.

True, most of us have never been any part of a dealerships service department, myself included.

If you are saying people have no basis for dissatisfaction for the services rendered and/or the time taken to render services because they have not ran a service department, I respectfully disagree.

I realize there are always going to be those unreasonable S.O.B.'s that can't be made happy even if you paid them to bring their car in and fixed it before they left home. However, a reasonable and rational person is fully capable of determining when they have received bad service.

Some of those rational and reasonable people can even be understanding and forgive a situation or two. However, it does not take a service professional to determine when a service department has chronic issues and can't meet basic and reasonable customer expectations.

You are correct on all points. My only problem is those who show up without an appointment [especially at a dealership you didn't buy your car from] and expect to hear wrenches hitting the floor because you want your oil changed.

It just doesn't work that way.

[HwyCruiser]

Get to know the service mgr, your service writer, the engine mechanic, the oil change kid, and the cashier. First names and handshakes go a long way for good service... that and spending a butt load of money in the back.

[Vortex]

Odd how this has come up, I just got off the phone with my younger brother. He took his 4 cyl. Ford Ranger into the dealer for an oil change last month and while they had the car they told him he needed to change his fuel filter. Hes not too bright on these things and let them do it (I think he got stuck $75 in the process). He says as soon as he gets home it doesnt drive right, he takes it back and they do nothing. Now a few weeks later and the truck is running like crap and the check engine light wont go out (gas cap is tight). I told him to get back to the dealer and ask to meet with the service manager and if that doesnt work to threaten to write Ford and raise holy hell with them. I have no problems with profit, but ripoff service departments just piss me off.

[Agent M79]

You are correct on all points. My only problem is those who show up without an appointment [especially at a dealership you didn't buy your car from] and expect to hear wrenches hitting the floor because you want your oil changed.

It just doesn't work that way.

I can't relate to that mentality but I know it exists. There are always petulent, demanding, self-aggrandizing yo-yo's and they represent a certain percentage of the population. Some days I think it's a significant percentage.

I am fortunate that I have found good shops for our cars. Now we are moving and I get to start all over again. :sigh:

[Hotrauder]

I know I have posted about my dealership to many times in the past but it seems to me that the relationships you build in the business world function just like the ones you need in the service of your Marauder. I am fortunate to have a Ford dealer 4 miles away that believes, just like the rest; that they are in business to make a profit. They also are smart enough to know that takes personal relationships with customers. From that point it is really easy for me to get great service. The service writer, shop foreman, tranny specialist and lead mech all have worked, driven and gone to lunch in my car. I am charged a more than fair price and treated with friendship and respect. Did I mention I get amazing service? I have only been in the waiting room to pick up a cup of free coffee and back to the shop I go. .I feel blessed. Dennis:beer:

[jakdad]

Our Ford dealer has a "Quick Lane" lube shop. Pretty fast service. Unfortunately, all dealers do not have a Quick Lane shop.

[STLR FN]

I got a reverse problem. I'll be going back to a dealership. Had the Merc in for a tire rotation/balance and oil change at Sears. Oil was changed properly but tires on the other hand was a whole different story. Bet younz can guess were this is going. Fronts were on the back and backs on the fronts, well at least on the left side. Rights weren't even touched(I know this cause the RF had a slight knick in the rim). I even told the service writer they can only be 'rotated' left to right when I dropped the Merc off. Then it only got worse. The lube tech that did the rotation didn't balance the right side and cross threaded a lugnut on the left front. A 1.5 hr job turned into a 4hr fiasco. Their response was he didn't know and he made a mistake. Guess he can't read either cause it was written three times on the service sheet on what to do. Needless to say I was not happy.

[Mebot]

Interestingly enough I used to work at a jiffy Lube when i was in high school. It wasn't all bad. I was just a lowly courtesy technician, i couldn't even add oil, I vacuumed and put air in the tires, but I took pride in my work and made sure everything was done properly and correctly.

I can't speak for everyone I worked with because there were some lazy guys that worked there. hmm where i am I going with this story...?

I guess basically what that guy said about not bashing Jiffy Lube, I agree with. I think Jiffy Lube is a good way to get oil changes and other maintenance on regular cars. It's a great place for mom's to drop the Honda Odyssey off while she and the kids shop at Target and an hour later the service is done. But I don't think it's a place where people who respect, love and nurture their cars should go.

people who have an affinity and appreciation for the rides they drive are a special breed. and the care they show for their rides shows.

[Bluerauder]

Interestingly enough I used to work at a jiffy Lube when i was in high school. It wasn't all bad. I was just a lowly courtesy technician, i couldn't even add oil, I vacuumed and put air in the tires, but I took pride in my work and made sure everything was done properly and correctly.
The last part of your statement is very important. It reminds me of a saying the my father used alot ... "Any job worth doing ... is worth doing well". Unfortunately, I am seeing more and more slipshod work in nearly every field from food service, to auto repair, and even health care. A very large portion of our "Work Ethic" has gone to h#LL. Not all; but enough to notice. That is why whenever I get good service or a job is done very well, I make a point of noting my appreciation and sometimes even back it up with a couple $. :)

During high school and early college, I worked at a Western Auto store. Although my "official" title was stockboy, I was a jack-of-all-trades. I took inventory, unloaded trailer deliveries, took care of the stock room, priced items, rang up orders and mounted & balanced tires and changed batteries in the service department. Everyone in the store, including the manager, did what needed to be done. We had lots of repeat business. It wasn't a bad gig for $3.25 per hour for some spending cash. Back in 1967-1969, that was pretty darn good pay. :D

[BruteForce]

The last part of your statement is very important. It reminds me of a saying the my father used alot ... "Any job worth doing ... is worth doing well".

Your's reminded me of one of my father's sayings: "Good enough... ain't".

I think the attitude today is often, "that's good enough... next!"

[MM2004]

I agree with many thoughts/comments in this thread, and has become a good discussion thus far.

Fortunate as I may be, my L/M Dealer, once I pull into the service area, treats me with the utmost respect and have never waited more than 30 minutes for an oil change.

Hell, the car jockeys are usually lined up cause they wanna drive it. :D

I always tip the kid ~$5.00 when he's finished, and have never heard any grief for being in the shop while all the work is perfomed on my MM.

The shop foreman knows me as well as many others when I pull in for whatever the reason.

Come to think of it, most employees usually rip on me saying the car is always dirty whenever I am there. :rolleyes:

I support calling ahead as I always do when in route for service.

Mike.

[423REED]

I've been driving since 1965. In all those years I've had every type of good and bad service. I don't dislike Jiffy Lube, but I stopped using them awhile back because everytime they did an oil change, they would strip my oil pan plug threads! Never had that happen since then. But my selling dealer, Woodfield Ford in Schaumburg, Illinois once did a standard automatic transmission service (fluid/pan/filter) on my 1994 Taurus SHO. Next time I took it to Oil Express for an oil&filter change, they showed me where Woodfield had neglected to replace three transmission pan bolts! Woodfield usually does very good service, but I later found out that they had the new kid do my transmission change. Another time, Oil Express did a standard automatic transmission service on the SHO, and they put in a standard Taurus V6 transmission gasket, which proceeded to leak badly. The SHO uses a special, thicker transmission gasket, which Oil Express no longer stocked, so the kid just put in whatever they had in stock. They got a correct one from the AAMCO transmission dealer next store, and then they fixed it at no charge.
*
I've been taking my 2004 Marauder (DTR) to the original selling dealer, Elmhurst Lincoln-Mercury, in Elmhurst, Illinois, for eight oil changes since new (June 5th, 2004). They charge me $ 35.00 for the semi-synthetic, six-quart, oil&filter change. After three changes you get the fourth one for free! They keep my interior spotless, and they always wash my car for free. On July 3rd, I took big red in for a two year fluids service. This included a coolant drain and flush. They even added water pump lube, which I have purchased and always added to my cars with the new coolant. I also had the full transmission service (fluid, filter, gasket and draining the torque converter and trans lines) done, which I had never had done before. I just felt that the Marauder is a hig-performance car, and it has a super heavy-duty automatic transmission, and it should receive the best of quality service. They also did a fuel filter replacement, and a free oil&filter change (I had three previous oil change punches), and they washed my car at no charge. I dropped it off at 7:15 AM and it was ready at 3:30 PM, as promised!
*
This dealer has proven to me to be an exceptional, high quality, customer oriented car dealer. I plan on letting them continue to care for my Marauder. You know there's never a guarantee of anything with auto service. But, you do just sometimes get lucky and find great service.
Jim
*
PS: I could tell you a lot more horror stories about bad service.

[tomd]

I agree with SergntMac, I’ve been going to Jiffy Lube in Lisle and before the one in Lisle opened Downers Grove for more then 12 years with no complaints.



Let's give the "Jiffy Lube" shops a break? Just once, K? Humor me?

I've got a Jiffy Lube just down the street from me and yes, it's mostly part-time HS age "dudes". But, good kids who have a thirst for working on cars while they complete the classroom stuff.

Everyone has to start somewhere, I can't imagine a professional chef (breaking into his career after college) that hasn't spent some time at BK, Mickey D, or, a Waffle House near you, somewhere in their past?

Just doesn't fit, K? To us, these are lowly "service industry" jobs. To them, ground breaking chances at exploring their career path. These kids are young, but respectful, eager, and wanting to do things right. If you took a peek at the hardware they drive that's parked in the back of the lot, a few of them are very bright, and promising Master wrenches. They respect the machinery you lay in their hands, and they want to deliver their best.

Yeah...It's a company sales pitch they regurgitate about air filters, rear end flushes and so on, because that's what they get taught to say. But, I have used these guys for a number of immediate service intervals (sometimes very short term and short notice) over the past 10 years, and I can say they ain't the worst I've seen. They try hard, and they are working to get better, I'll give them some space on that.

The Jiffy Lube at 103rd and Kedzie is full of good guys. Very attentive, never tried to sell me anything I didn't need, and they ask me to join them under the car when they want to show me what they see. (albiet, they also enjoy what I have to look at, and end up asking more Qs than offering answers). They have worked on my #1x with no problems, worries, or, failures.

(BTW, this Jiffy Lube is staffed mostly by the kids from Evergreen Park Tech, a local HS with a very progressive automotive tech school. The kids cycle through Jiffy Lube's doors [and payroll] on a co-operative work training program agreement with EPAT. The school has a 10 second Mustang Lab/project car...)

Can't say this is the case elsewhere, but the Jiffy Lube bashing is getting old. Y'all need to get your nose out of the air, our Marauders are just cars, K?

What's important to me is that my fluid levels are topped off and correct before a road trip and (because of my schedule) this is usually last minute detail stuff I don't get into until I'm heading for an on-ramp to somewhere.

So, I ask y'all...What's better? Hitting the road with fresh tranny fluid possibly a pint shy? Or, hitting the road (and subsequent race tracks) on 20K mile tranny fluid?

I can buy a pint of Mercon V anywhere (I carry extra engine oil and tranny fluid with me anyway) but, I can't repair a burnt 4R70W all that easy away from home (Been there, did this, ask me).

My point is...The "Jiffy Lubes" have their place in our lives, and they are not all bandits, shysters, shucks, harlots, or, stupid. OTOH...If you don't open your eyes and ears when you walk in, who's fault is that?

This thread began with short story about dissappointment with a dealership service department, and it seems to me, that a dealership is no better than their local competition. What is around the dealership, that's drawing customers away that they cannot compete with? My dealership is price competitive with the Jiffy shops, because there are none cheaper in this community. Go figure?

Shop around, build a relationship with a lube shop local to your home, maybe find a "pit crew" of sorts for yourself, where they remember who you are, and what you want? Meanwhile, this stereotyping is getting very old.

Just my /02C, carry on gents...

[texascorvette]

Go down to NAPA and buy their best oil filter. Go to your Royal Purple dealer and buy your oil. Take your oil and filter to any quick lube place and have them install your oil and filter. It'll cost you about $65 or $70 total, but you know your car has been serviced as well as it can be--and in reasonably short order. Oh yeah, if you're really picky, buy one of the magnets to go on the oil filter.