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 Oil change BAIT and SWITCH
Posted Tue July 6, 2010 10:58 am, by Brian C. written to Sears, Roebuck & Co.
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On two separate occasions recently at the Automotive Dept in Sears Store located in the Newburgh Mall, Newburgh, NY, both my wife and my daughter were upcharged on an advertised oil change service. On both occasions they went in for a $29.99 oil change/air filter/tire rotation special. My daughter was relayed some very disturbing comments about other work needed, but since I got this information thru her she may have misinterpreted what the salesman said (at least I hope so!) After I arrieved we straightend out that issue quickly and authorized the advertised work. We went shopping and returned a short while later and the car was done, however when I went to pay for her work the price had jumped about $10, when I questioned this he told us that she has a special oil filter with an up charge and needed high mileage oil. Like an idiot and not in the mood to argue I paid her bill and we left quite annoyed since if I had not arrived she would not have had enough money to pay.
Two weeks later I send my wife in, who happens to manage a store in the same mall, and she had the same thing happen to her with what appears to be the same guy. I work in this Sear's part time seasonally for H & R Block and a couple of the guys know me. My wife's car has like 60,000 miles which is NOT high mileage. I have also spoken to a couple of mechanics and they all say the need for "high mileage oil" is a con and unwarrented.
Stop preying on women and ripping people off. I have advised both my wife and my daughter thet the next time this happens and different oil is used and up charged to insist that it be removed and the oil that is included in the special price be used. Yeah it's going to waste a few quarts of oil and a fair amount of the oil changing kid's time...but they might not get burned by the old bait and switch tactics Sears Automotive Salepeople like to use!
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by S D. Posted Thu July 8, 2010 @ 11:27 PM
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I'm surprised they would play this game even after the OP WHO WORKS
THERE shows up. Maybe to save face or maybe because there are so many
employees the workers didn't realize.
I avoid Sears when it comes to car repair. I had my brakes done...and
they messed up my emergency brake. Went back to have that corrected
(which they did at no cost) only to find out a year later that their
lovely work fubared up the brake system. They did an oil change and
state inspection and I purchased new tires. Next oil change at a
reputable mechanic, I learn two lug nuts are missing. What?!?!
Shoddy shoddy work.
It boils down to what you're looking for. I used Sears for the
convenience and because they're open 7 days a week and in the evening.
I've learned my lesson. And yes, I am one of those silly people who
doesn't know squat about cars which is why I never realized there was
a problem until too late.
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by billt Posted Wed July 7, 2010 @ 5:46 PM
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Where I live at, one of the local news stations consumer advocate
checked on the oil change shops thier advice was to avoid shops that
said your car had a "special" filter that required an extra charge.
This is the way the shops make more money when they cannot sell you
uneeded services.
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by Donno Posted Tue July 6, 2010 @ 3:53 PM
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Not to be confused with "The Ol'e Bait and Switch".
Perhaps, considering the subject at hand, this should be called the
"The Oleo Bait and Switch."
Oh, Magoo you've done it again!
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Well
by Donno Tue July 6, 2010 @ 10:02 PM
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I wouldn't
by jeishere Thu July 8, 2010 @ 10:54 AM
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Exactly
by Donno Thu July 8, 2010 @ 12:22 AM
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by kathleen m Posted Thu July 8, 2010 @ 12:04 AM
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Well kudos to you an dyour elderly father - but I am unable to change
my own oil. A) I live in an apartment where we cannot do those types
of things on the apartment property and B) I have a disability which
does make it impossible for me to do things like that. Therefore, I
choose to pay a little bit extra and take it to the local garage where
I have someone I know and trust change my oil for me.
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by Donno Posted Tue July 6, 2010 @ 11:23 AM
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WHY let it happen again? I am surprised you didn't tell your wife to
be on the lookout for it, and tell them BEFORE servicing she wanted
the regular oil.
I am wondering why you woud take your cars back to this dump, after
these experiences. The special oil filter - that sounds legit. But
the oil scam, you are right about that. at Wally World, I believe the
high mileage oil and regular oil are the same price. Why should one
cost more at Sears?
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by NathanG Posted Tue July 6, 2010 @ 11:07 AM
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I know from past experience the filter thing "could" be legit. There
are makes and models of cars that use special filters that cost more.
HM oil on the other hand at the very least should have been asked
about not just done. It is a scam that unfortuantely lots of people
fall for.
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