Wow. There's a $222 million-plus law suit pending against a group of Midas repair shops in Oakland, California for perpetrating the oldest upsell in the book -- rotors. Pretty much anyone walking into a chain store for brake pads can count on the rotors upsell. They lure you in with a very cheap brake pad replacement advertisement then hit you with the worn rotors bit. Before the chain-store flunkies start getting upset, I have to tell you that sometimes you really do need to replace your brake rotors. The problem comes with a shop telling everybody that they need that level of service. Time may have caught up with this shop. Read more at KCRA.com.
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yup, i was identified as a “sucker” @ PEP BOYS last week . When I had my 1993 nissan sentra in for an a/c blower and resistor I was told I need 2 front tires casue they were wearing”real bad” on th einside tread. I declined the offer over the phone and had 3 different people look at these tires afterwards and of course they were perfectly fine. Then I get the “would you like me to add the extended labor warrantee to your bill for and extra $15″? Of course I declined that as well. The resistor for the blower was bad and it’s been a week waiting on a new part from a dealr? This part retails for approx. $19.00 and they charged me $56.00 plus tax and $47.00 labor to put ion this part no bigger than a pack of cigarettes that took them 10 mins. I am done w/ Pep Boys after they fix this mess.
Wow – no bigger than a pack of cigarettes! Since when did the mere size of an item determine the price?
I worked for Midas before going to a dealership service department 24 years ago. they were the biggest crooks in the business, they wanted to teach you their method of brake up selling right down to the ball joints were compromised because of the heat that was generated by the brakes. I can’t begin to tell you how many customers they sold unnecessary repairs to due to their underhanded methods. Almost all brake jobs got new calipers, wheel cylinders and brake hoses. And of course the paid their mechanics by what parts they upsold. Needless to say I did not stay there long. Buyer beware!!!
lansen, th epoint was th emark-up and th eupselling and th ecost to install a simple part as opposed to installing a water pump.
contrubute something worthwhile reading please. if yo udon’t have anything worhwhile don’t post.
that is immature and a waste of time/
SAME CRAP FROM BRAKE CHECK SINCE 1977 WHEN I WORKED THERE….
While it’s true that there are many rip-off centers across this wonderful nation, there are some darned good ones as well so let’s not condemn every Midas shop in America. Nor any other brand for that matter as its still a face-to-face situation, and you are dealing with an individual, not a corporation.
It seems to me that what everyone is suggesting (and rightfully so,) is accountability. That my friends is a two-way street and your accountability is in the form of being educated about your vehicle, and asking questions based on both that education and common sense. Buy a repair manual for your car or go to the library and read up on it. You don’t have to be an expert, not do you have to do your own repairs (although that is helpful and saves big bucks.)
I realize that the above suggestions will not work in all situations as all of us find ourselves in positions where we just “gotta have the car right now…just fix it so I can get on with my busy life.” But, that doesn’t mean you can’t arm yourself with some facts that will prevent the next rip-off…
For over 20-years, I owned both automotive repair, parts, and engine rebuilding facilities. Our method of business was (and still is) treat people honestly. Plain and simple. We would even take the time to educate them as frankly, that brings them back especially in the case of retail auto parts sales. You don’t have to shaft the public to make a living, but as a consumer, you don’t have to be shafted either…..
My friend (female) had a new rack & pinion ($900) put on at APEX less than a year it went out. They would not cover it because she uses the car to deliver mail. Took it somewhere else to get it fixed, and said it look like the rack had never been replaced!
They also told me I needed a new Cat. because it was rattling,I said “not this time” I went home and it was a loose muffler clamp.
Same thing with Value Brakes. Went in there a few years back for the ‘$99′ brake inspection and by the time they were ready to work on it, he tried to make me believe I needed brake services up $650 or so. I quickly smelled a rat and told him that I would not be getting anything done that day..His reply was that he wouldn’t advise me to drive a vehicle as unsafe as mine. Needless to say, the pads were replaced and never had a problem. If I hadn’t been so green back then, I probably would have gone after them.
They rip you off to pay the high rent and their expected normal salaries. The government determines this and pays theirselves in the military these expected normal salaries, they walk tall, walk all over people, live in arrogance, and don’t seem to catch on until they are addicted or dying. Even then, I’ve not notice them catch on until after they are dead and I hear them saying things…………
These expensive repair shops don’t need to pay high rent. You can fix cars anyplace. They should all move to cheaper rent. This expected high salary with no bartering is the problem. And the guys that want all that money, to take chicks to restaurants, and movies, buy them things to buy them….that’s the problem. And there needs to be a public blacklist to report to. They have rip off report but it’s not enough. Hollywood once had a blacklist and look how well it worked. They are the richest in the world. They rooted out all negatives.
I have the feeling that I had a part replaced on my car with the one that was original. Specifically the air filter cover piece and connecting piece that goes over the fan shroud to the engine. My car is a ‘03 Denali and when I went to pick it up we looked under the hood and I pointed out that it didn’t look familiar but took it anyway. When I got home I asked my wife if anything looked peculiar (she looks under the hood very seldom) and she pointed out the same thing with no clues from me. I’m convinced they swapped it out whether by mistake or what I don’t know and can’t figure out why. It’s a ‘03 Yukon Denali vortex 6000. Anyone ever had this type of thing happen? Thanks. fullblastllc@hawaii.rr.com
Who can blame him and he is the one that opted in all of his business ventures to be in the two riskiest types of business: launching a magazine and opening a restaurant. ,
Son lives in apartment in West Hollywood. He is looking for a DIY garage nearby where he can rent a space to install an A/C compressor on his truck. There is one at Beaumont which is 90 miles away, but I’m trying to locate one near west hollywood.
Can anyone help?