All I want is a simple oil change/state inspection!

[TexasT]

So, as you may or may not know, I am a teacher. This time of year, my schedule is: wake up at 5-something am (0500), leave for work at 6 am (0600), leave work at 7 pm (1900), get home at 8pm (2000), usually taking home work to do. Makes running errands very tough. The hour commute each way makes it tougher, but, honestly, 12-14 hour days are always the norm in September.

So, here's the story:
Wednesday, I called a place at about 5ish.

Me: (After explaining what I want done.) I know you close at 7:00, so if I made it in 20 minutes, could it get done?
Guy on the phone (didn't give name): Definitely. We're not busy, so you should swing by.
Me: Ok, see you in 20.

So I go out to my car and discover the only insurance card I have is expired, which is no good (in Texas, you can't get the inspection done without one), so I downloaded the insurance app on my phone and thought, "Problem solved!" On the way there, I also realized, given the place is an hour from mine, they're in 2 different counties, so an inspection may not be legal.

I got there and talked to the cashier:
Me: I live in <my county>. Is that going to be a problem?
Him: No, this is located in that county too.
Me: I said <my county>. (Thinking that he misheard me.)
Him: Yep. <My county> (This is a blatant lie. I wonder what's he's pulling over the state's eyes)
Me: Ok, well, I also don't have the paper copy of my insurance card, but I have it on my phone, will that work?
Him: No, but you can fax it to us.
Me: Ok, I'll look at the app and see if that's an option.
Him: Well, we won't get the fax until tomorrow so you'll have to come back. (Um...aren't faxes sent/received right away? Why not until tomorrow?)
Me: Ok, it seems like an inspection isn't an option. Can you just give me an oil change?
Him: No, we're booked.
Me: I called ahead so I wouldn't waste my time and was told you could definitely fit me in.
Him: Well, you didn't talk to me.
Me: Whoever I talked to said it wouldn't be problem and since there's only 1 person in the waiting room, I'm thinking there wasn't a bunch of cars brought in the last 20 minutes. Why would y'all say that I could get 2 things done if you can't even do 1 before closing?
Him: Wasn't me who said it.
Me: Ok, then, bye.
Him: Well, are you coming back tomorrow?
Me: No. I had to leave a ton of work to do in order to get here early, hence why I called ahead just so I wouldn't waste time. That work still needs to get done. So now I'm going to have to work late, late tomorrow to get it all done. Had you been honest with me from the start, I would've made an appointment and come to see you. Now I don't want to give you my money.

Between Wednesday and Saturday, I printed my insurance card since on the phone app doesn't work, apparently.

Today, I was finally able to get the work done. The place opens at 10, and I showed up right as they were opening the doors.
Me: I need an oil change and inspection. How long will that take?
Him: About 2 hours.
Me: (Holding a heavy giant bag full of about 2 hours worth of work) Ok, I'll wait here. (Hands him keys and current insurance card. He used the insurance card to fill out the paperwork on my car.)

2 hours pass and I finished all my work I brought. I look out to see my car isn't where I parked it, so I assumed it was being worked on. Even though I have about 10-14 hours worth of work at home (I'm kinda procrastinating right now...really, I just need to vent so I can unclog my mind), I can't do anything but sit there and do nothing. An hour passes and the guy comes out.

Him: Well, everything looks good except you're missing some clamps on your air filter and your tires are getting pretty bald. Here's the quote for that.
Me: Well, the air filter was replaced about 2 months ago, so I'll call that place up and tell them they took my clamps. Let me know about the price of the tires and I'll let you know on those.
Him: Ok. (Gets me quote and leaves)

About 30 minutes later---
Him: Well, we can't do your inspection because your insurance is expired. (Hands me the one I found in my glovebox on Wednesday and threw in the trash compartment of my car)
Me: I handed you a new inspection card this morning.
Him: Well, we don't have it. I didn't see it.
Me: it's right there in your hand. I can see it.
Him: Oh, there it is. I don't know why he said you didn't have one. We'll start that now. It'll only be 15 minutes.

Ok, at this point the "2 hours" has turned into 3.5. I'm getting annoyed.

I keep trying to ask someone to help, but they only come out when there's someone new walking in the door and they leave as soon as they've been helped. Those of us standing there, waiting, get ignored.

Finally, I get acknowledged. At this point it's 4 hours in.
Me: Is my car done?
Him: What car is it?
Me: <color, year, make, and model of my car>
Him: Ok, let me look for it.
About 5 minutes pass and he comes back up.
Him: Did you say blue or red?
Me: Blue.
Him: Ok.
About 5 minutes pass again and he comes back up.
Him: Well, I found your keys, but I don't know where they put your car, let me see where he parked it.
Me: You lost my car?
Him: Well, it's around here somewhere.

THEY LOST MY CAR!

So, about 5 minutes later, he comes out, "She's all done. They were finishing up the inspection."
I'm calling B.S. on that. If they were doing the inspection, they'd know where it was. Fact is, they had finished it, parked it somewhere, but didn't bother to tell me. At least, that's what I'm assuming.

And they parked her in a handicap spot. I saw red. Wanna see me get irate? Hurt those who need help the most.

The original guy: Hey, call me when you want me to order those tires.
Me: No. (walked out)

I went nearby to Discount Tire to get my tires. Same price but much, much, much better service. I love them. The guys even kept my seat where I have it at so I wouldn't have to adjust it again. I'm 5'2" (about 157-158 cm) so you know that couldn't be comfortable for them.

And before the comments start, yes, I know you can do an oil change at home. Well, I can't because I would get fined by the complex, but in theory. But I can't get an inspection done on my own, so I figured killing 2 birds with 1 stone would be better.

[Seshat]

Ask the Discount Tire guys where they'd send their family and friends to get things done - at least the things they, themselves can't do.

[blas]

I doubt anyone would judge you for not doing your own oil at home. If they too, that's too bad. Not all of us have that luxury.

Besides, if I did it on my own, I'd fuck up my car. If I let my dad or brother do it, they'd take as long as they pleased.

I get my oil changed at the dealership because it's very rare that they keep me longer than they say and I get free drinks and snacks and WiFi and get to sit in plush comfy chairs.

[cashierbex]

No judgement here. I would lose patience trying to change anything in my car. Rather have a pro do it and not screw up. Plus have it looked at while I am there to see if anything is wrong that needs to be addressed soon.


Also, wow. Those guys would piss me off. How are they still in business?

[Mikkel]

And before the comments start, yes, I know you can do an oil change at home.

Oil changes take some equipment. You need to get the car high enough to get under it, you need something to collect the old oil, you need a place to get rid of that oil in an environmentally friendly way and you need tools to change the oil filter.
Even if it isn't hard to do, it's something a proper workshop can do faster.

[Sunshine]

Oh my gawd. How annoying!!

[mhkohne]

Oil changes take some equipment. You need to get the car high enough to get under it, you need something to collect the old oil, you need a place to get rid of that oil in an environmentally friendly way and you need tools to change the oil filter.
Even if it isn't hard to do, it's something a proper workshop can do faster.

Getting rid of the oil alone was enough to get me to stop doing my own oil changes. The whole thing is just too much of a pain in the posterior.

[protege]

Even if it isn't hard to do, it's something a proper workshop can do faster.

Not necessarily. While my Corolla can be in and out in about 15 minutes...my MG cannot. Sure, you can drain out the old oil from underneath, but getting to the filter is another story. It uses an "inverted canister." That is, the oil filter housing points upward, and contains a replaceable paper element. Messy as hell to deal with--no matter how I try, oil always gets all over the starter, floor, and anywhere else it can find. That paper filter is a dripping mess when it gets removed...and then more oil comes out of the cooler.

I've done it at home, and occasionally let the local garage do it. By the time I've bought the filter, the oil, the zinc additive, factored in my "labor," and then hauled the used crap back to the garage, it costs about the same. Most of the "oil change kit" I have isn't anything special or expensive. A large plastic bin to catch the oil, a wrench to take out the drain plug, and a big wrench to remove the nut on the filter canister, a funnel, and I'm good.

One place I don't go, is the "national" battery and tire place. After spending 3 hours for an oil change one night, I quit going there. I could see my car sitting on the lift, and *nobody* was on the shop floor! Where the hell did they go?

[Sapphire Silk]

I typically find it very cost effective to pay to have an oil change done. The labor cost is nominal, and I don't have to figure how where to dispose of the old oil and filter. Plus I don't get all messy. Worth every penny, IMHO.

Don't blame the OP for walking away from those two shady characters. Finding a reliable mechanic is like finding a reliable doctor: unicorns.

[Ophbalance]

The only thing I would suggest doing differently is maybe asking around and finding someone closer to your work site that can be trusted with an auto for service. I change my own oil simply because I no longer trust the quick lube places to do so to MY specifications. But that's my own hangup . They have a tendency to overfill, and charge an arm and leg for synthetic.

[MadMike]

That sounds a lot like what we went through with the dealer my son got his car from. He took it in for a simple inspection a couple months ago, and what normally takes a couple of hours at the most ended up like pulling teeth.

My son couldn't find his registration card, but they said they could go ahead and start the work anyway, they just couldn't put the inspection sticker on until he showed them a registration. So I took him to PENNDOT the next morning to get a new copy of his registration. Say what you will about PENNDOT (I know I have!), but that was the only thing that went smoothly.

Once we got the new card, my son called the dealer and asked when the car would be done. Turned out they hadn't even started it, and now they were saying they couldn't even start it without seeing a registration. So we brought the registration to them and told them to go ahead and start it.

We called again the next day, and once again, they hadn't even started it, this time because the insurance policy they had on file had supposedly expired. Turned out they still had his old insurance on file, from when he was still on my insurance. So we got that corrected, or so they thought. Then there was another issue where they misread the effective date, and decided it wasn't in effect yet. This time, my son read them the riot act over the phone, and they finally got everything straightened out.

This was far from an isolated incident. We had the same problem when he had to take it in for body work after hitting a deer. They had it there for a week, when my son called in to check on the status, and found out they hadn't started it. According to them, they were waiting on some information from him, and they had called him, but there were no missed calls on his phone or any voicemails. It's hard to say what number they called, because sometimes they tried to call me, or his grandma who had cosigned for him.

I know where not to buy a car from. Unfortunately, my son has to get all the work done through them until the warranty is up.

[raudf]

I know how to change the oil in my car, but that doesn't mean I want to. I'd rather let a place change the oil. Much less messy for me and much, much, less painful. Plus, they are less likely to knock a sensor loose, of if they do, they tend to plug it back in.

Also, I'm so very glad that I don't have to deal with inspections. For some reason, my state did away with them.. which is great in stress levels, but sucks for the vehicle quality.

[Mytical]

I have to admit I sometimes get a bit miffed when somebody mentions "You can do it yourself cheaper". Yes, yes I can. Except I would need to hire a crane to lift my sorry hide from under the car, because once I got down (which would be hard enough) I am NOT getting back up. Even with a couple of people to help me do so. If by some miracle I did manage to get back to my feet, my body would make me pay for it for a long long time. Simply not worth it. At all.

[Gaki]

I usually have the opposite problem. When I got my Blazer inspected they were like, "Okay, we're done, see ya later, bye, you passed!" That was probably less than 30 minutes.

That Blazer SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED INSPECTION. Not two months later I went to my mechanic about a strange noise and he called me hailing Jesus that I wasn't DEAD because my car could have flipped over at any sharp right turn.

Of course my mother has stories she could tell you about times she called our mechanic and told the people at the inspection place to talk to him and tell him why his work he did a week ago somehow wasn't done at all. If there's one way to get the uber-vicious woman out of my mom, it's try to scam her. She reads minds, for god's sake.

As for the do-it-yourself side of things, I just get my brother-in-law to change my oil and filters. He can do it in about 15 minutes and my sister makes the best cookies to munch on while waiting.

[Jay 2K Winger]

I generally haven't had any issues getting my oil changed or getting the state inspection where I live. Apart from one initial bad experience at the Lube of Jiff (when they hosed me on what was my first-ever oil change after buying the car from the dealer), my experiences there have been relatively simple and painless. (Well, maybe not always to my wallet, but anyway.)

And the state inspection has never been too much of an issue. I take it 'round to one of the gas stations nearby that have inspection stations, wait about 15-20 min or so, and then get my pass/fail. Only times I've failed have been, in one case, for a tire that was wearing thin and needed replacing (went to the tire center at the wholesale club immediately after that), and once for a steering rack boot that needed to get replaced at the dealer.

The only gripe I've had with getting my car fixed has been when I had a leak in my oil pan or something. I took it to the dealer TWICE and despite them finding the leak, they first claimed it was in a difficult-to-reach spot that would require removing the transmission to get to it or something. It did eventually get fixed. And I should note the oil leak was relatively small, and really only noticeable any place I'd park for long periods.