Replies

1. 
   Phill_Giles | Dec 21, 2001 07:28pm | #1

   *
   I happen to like the good service and the computerized records/service schedules most of these places have.

1. 
   Theodora_D. | Dec 21, 2001 07:36pm | #2

   *Aw, Ron, but you're so sweet when you just smile and say,"No thank you, not today." Try that. Maybe they just want to see that smile. They're all entitled to try to create some extra business, aren't they? We're all in this game together.I better run outside now and see if my coolant is green enough.

1. 
   Cami_A | Dec 21, 2001 07:42pm | #3

   *That reminds me, Ron- I was going to look at this link and see if there were any rants from Home Depot hotties.... http://www.customerssuck.com

1. 
   Joe_Hennessey | Dec 21, 2001 08:55pm | #4

   *Ron, figure it out. For $20 they are going to change your oil and filter. For $20 they are going to pay the salaries of all the employees. For $20 they are going to pay the mortgage on the property and the building. For $20 they are going to pay all the usual overhead of running a business. All that for $20? I don't think so. They got one of my kids for $65 to change her rear end oil, convinced her if she didn't do it right then she probably wouldn't make it home. Fortunately it went on a credit card & they became convinced it was in their best interest to refund that charge. That's the name of the game at those places,just like the brake shops that advertise a brake job for $49.95. Joe H

1. 
   Boss_Hog | Dec 21, 2001 10:37pm | #5

   *I take it to the same place all the time - a place I trust. I really appreciate them looking over the vehicle. They often point out things I might not have thought of or checked out otherwise. They know they basically have a free hand to do what they feel needs done to my vehicles. (I take 8 different things there pretty much exclusively)At most shops, I think they use oil changes as a "loss leader". They don't really make money on them, they just hope to find some other service work that needs done and make money on that.

2. 
   Doug_Recko_ | Dec 21, 2001 10:47pm | #6

   *Hey Joey,Back end oil???? Now, that conjures up some pretty kinky things now....good thing both hands are on the key board typing this response....

3. 
   Dave_Riggs | Dec 21, 2001 11:07pm | #7

   *Ron, try these: I'd like the pink antifreeze to match my dress. Want to see me in a dress? That usually eliminates the extra questions. How about: I'm locked and loaded. Just oil and filter please. Try talking to your invisible brother Earl in the passenger seat. Ask Earl all the questions they ask you. Have lots of extra questions from Earl to ask them. Ask if Earl can help. hehehehehehe

4. 
   xJohn_Sprung | Dec 22, 2001 01:48am | #8

   *I do the easy stuff myself -- oil and filter changes, air cleaner, trans oil.... For the major stuff that I don't want to buy the special tools for, I take it to a small family owned garage that I trust. Heavier duty trucks are different enough from ordinary cars that you really should take them to someone who does a lot of them.-- J.S.

5. 
   piffin_ | Dec 22, 2001 02:30am | #9

   *Dave, I like your style! You and Earl can come to my party next week.

6. 
   Gunner_1750 | Dec 22, 2001 03:18am | #10

   *Ron, I hear ya my brother. I hate when the wife goes to those places. They love using fear on women. She's had to call me at work and put the jerk on the phone. I love to rip young oil changing salesmens asses. It's funner than telling the guy at Radio Shack that your name address and phone number are none of his damn bidness.

7. 
   Luka_ | Dec 22, 2001 03:28am | #11

   *3 times now, I have gone to radio shack for something simple, (batteries twice, and once some audio cable), and they have actualy refused to sell me whatever it was that I wanted, because I refused to give them all that personal info.Sad, but true.Oh, wait a minute, make that 4 times. About 4 years ago I went there for a tv card for my computer. Never did get a tv card...

8. 
   d_j_k | Dec 22, 2001 04:26am | #12

   *Hey dave,Here's another one , say "well gee, my checking account is overdrawn and all I have is $20.00 , can I owe you ? "

9. 
   Bearmon_ | Dec 22, 2001 04:32am | #13

   *Luka, they refused to sell you the stuff? I also find their tactics to be incredibly invasive, and have told them, "You don't need that", and they just shrugged and took the cash. Went to a Pep Boys auto service place recently, (it was a Sunday) with a flat tire off my equipment trailer, and the guy wanted my life history. I told him to forget it and fixed it myself.

10. 
    Luka_ | Dec 22, 2001 04:50am | #14

    *Yup.The first two times I was flabbergasted. (Well, pissed is more the word for it. LOL) But the third and fourth times I was just plain amazed that they would turn away a sale like that. Yes, I asked if they really needed the info. They said yes, and then they actualy refused to sell me anything unless I gave them the info.What's that saying about cutting off your nose ?The first time was in the ballard area of seattle. The second time was in the northgate mall in seattle. The third and fourth times were both in the shorline area of seattle/lynwood.After that last time, I asked if they REALLY needed all that info. He said, well, just your last name and zip would do. I gave him a fake last name and zip. The one subsequent time I have gone to a radio shack, (in monroe, wa), I just gave them monroe's zip code, no name, nottin else. Apparently they have lost enough sales that they are not so hard nosed about it around here anymore.

11. 
    Daryl(Newf)_Ferguson | Dec 22, 2001 04:55am | #15

    *...Ron, I'm confused......n...

12. 
    kai_ | Dec 22, 2001 05:36am | #16

    *This Radio Shack thing is bizarre. I've also been told they couldn't sell me something, and I gave a fake name and addy. The other day, I gave my real one, I was so exhausted. I will be giving a fake name the next time. Actually, I want a better place to shop. Suggestions?

13. 
    r__ignacki | Dec 22, 2001 05:41am | #17

    *Hey Ron, wait till you need a tune up!!!

14. 
    Daryl(Newf)_Ferguson | Dec 22, 2001 05:43am | #18

    *...Like Mexico?.....I have a cousin............(ya, me )...n...

15. 
    kcoyner_ | Dec 22, 2001 06:10am | #19

    *Some yrs back I took my truck to get the oil changed at a quick change place because I didn't have time myself. The next time I changed the oil myself it took me 3 hrs to get the friggin oil filter off. The D>A. had't lubricated the filter gasket befor installing and he must have used a hell of a filter wrench to tighten it instead of hand tight. My wife spent $300 for front end work on her car because a "car tech" at a quick change told her it had not been properly lubricated. I told her that was B.S. because I lube everything every 3000 when I change the oil. But I'm just a carpenter and don't know s#!+ about a vehicle.

16. 
    r__ignacki | Dec 22, 2001 06:15am | #20

    *Some fleet mechanic once told me they don't change the oil in their trucks. Change filter once a month, and add a quart. ???

17. 
    kcoyner_ | Dec 22, 2001 07:01am | #21

    *I have a good friend who spent 20 yrs in the army as a mechanic. He told me they did oil analysis at regular intervals. They changed the oil only when the "vial" told them too. If I understand motor oils, it's not so much the oil as it is the additives in the oil that break down over time which can cause problems. Never changing would only rid the oil of contaminants and not replentish the additives. I am involved in trucking, and on the other hand we have several things analized such as coolants and motor oil. The reason is that it is cheaper than replacing the large quantites at regular intervals.

18. 
    Dave_Riggs | Dec 22, 2001 07:36am | #22

    *Me and Earl think this Radio Shack deal is not funny. They did it to me and I asked the guy his wife and kids names. He gave me a look and then gave it up. His clone asked the same dossier style questions the next time............. For those of you who bought Windows XP, you are getting the same treatment, you just don't know it yet. Download the Opera browser and avoid the Dark Lord in Redmond. That Finnnish Hobbit Linus Torvalds is carrying the Magic CD with the code to toss into the Puget Sound and the Dark Lord in Redmond will fall!

19. 
    Mark_McDonnell | Dec 22, 2001 07:41am | #23

    *Ron, I tell 'em up front, oil/filter only, I'm in a hurry, now is that $19.95 with tax?.............They actually figured it out. The wife does the same tatic. It's multi gender approved!Luka.....same thing, several years ago, lost a great deal of business from me. I heard that they let up on it too. Also, buddy bought some K-1 last night and had to fill out his name, address and phone........anybody have an idea what's up with that?

20. 
    Phill_Giles | Dec 22, 2001 07:59am | #24

    *They never used to change the oil in diesel locomotives either (unless it had completely broken down from heat): they test it regularly and top up the additives and they pump it through an external filter/separator now and them.

21. 
    Phill_Giles | Dec 22, 2001 08:13am | #25

    *One that I find particularly annoying is our local Future Shop (appliance/electronics) who try to insist that I sign a document that I had declined to purchase the extended warranty. I generally retort by asking them if I'll be required to sign a document stating that I did not purchase a TV too.

22. 
    Dave_Riggs | Dec 22, 2001 09:14am | #26

    *I got hit up for a tourist survey in Barcelona, Spain at the airport. Whoever hired the young ladies did a fabulous job. They were so beautiful and polite that I offered up all sorts of things they didn't even ask for. Tried to give them my office number, pager, what bars I hang out in etc. Never had an invasion of my privacy been more welcome.

23. 
    Boss_Hog | Dec 22, 2001 02:43pm | #27

    *I think kcoyner is right on this one. They figure it's cheaper to test the oil and see if it needs replaced, than to change the 20 quarts or so that the bigger diesel engines take. They can also tell if there are metal shavings in the oil and stuff like that so they can hopefully head off bigger engine problems.

24. 
    r__ignacki | Dec 22, 2001 05:48pm | #28

    *... HEY! ........No need for maintenance scedules,stuff like that..Just let the engine tell you when to change the oil, but I don't mean the dashboard reminder, just listen for noise!When you start the engine in the morning, if it's quiet.... it's cool.If it makes noise, like... RATATATTATTATTATTATTAT.TAT.TAT..TAT TATTAT TAT TATATAT TAT TAT Tat tat tat tat ,,,t t t tat tat t let the lifters do the talking.Remember, a little less demand for oil will keep the price down, and the planet a little greener.

25. 
    lonecat | Dec 22, 2001 08:08pm | #29

    *When I was a kid I had a 56 chevy that I could tell when it needed a couple quarts cause the hydraulic lifters weren't working right.

26. 
    Gunner_1750 | Dec 22, 2001 09:16pm | #30

    *About this Radio Shack thing. I just don't trust techno geeks collecting data on me.

27. 
    Lisa_Long | Dec 22, 2001 09:43pm | #31

    *I agree on Windows XP - no thank you! No one needs to know more about me than even I do. I use a tactic similar to your Radio Shack tactic on telemarketers. I tell them they're calling at a bad time, and if they will give me their home phone number I'll return their call at their home. They don't like that, but they get it. Does anyone ever give a cashier their real data? I'm known at Radio Shack at "Wilma Flintstone". Give my best wishes to Earl. :-)

28. 
    xJohn_Sprung | Dec 27, 2001 02:12am | #32

    *Luka --I tell 'em I'm from New York, and give them an address that would be in the East river. ;-)-- J.S.

29. 
    Cliff_Popejoy | Dec 27, 2001 08:36am | #33

    *How about giving the Rat Shack cashier the name Millard Fillmore and the address, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave? Bet he/she wouldn't bat an eye...

30. 
    Dave_Arbuckle | Dec 27, 2001 09:17pm | #34

    *At the Radio Shack... Maybe turn and ask Earl what your address is, then turn back to the counter guy and tell him 1600 Pennsylvania Ave?Phone number? Something that starts 800 is always fun. You could always give them my phone number: 800-555-1212.If they want your ZIP code, be sure it could not be mistaken for a local one. In Washington, I'd recommend one starting with zero. Or, how about a Canadian Postal code, they have letters, right?It don't take much to entertain me. ;-)Dave

31. 
    Cami_A | Dec 27, 2001 10:29pm | #35

    *If you say it as nine zero two one zero, they never get the joke...

32. 
    Ron_Teti | Dec 28, 2001 09:29pm | #36

    *Im just gonna refuse to give it to anyone anymore. I went to buy some door hardware(I know piffin :) ) and they asked me to give them my info I asked why and I got a spiel about ot selling the info its just for their researchers to find out where the people come from to do business with them in case they need to biuld another store. Yea right I thought.

33. 
    Dave_Arbuckle | Dec 29, 2001 12:35am | #37

    *75023. One of the ZIP codes in Plano, Texas, where I live. Make their researchers scratch their heads, Ron. ;-)Dave

2. 
   Ron_Teti | Dec 29, 2001 12:35am | #38

   *
   Ive been taking my truck in to get the oil changed. Its and dodge 2001. every place I take it the guys always "find" another service to charge me for. Actual quotes: "Sir, Your radiator coolant isnt as green as it should be its a little early to change it but you might want to consider it." "Sir your 1/2 a quart low, that can cause a deposit in your engine. We can add a cleaner and clean out your engine for $29.99." Sir, your rear differential needs serviceing. You should service it every 12000 miles. We offer that service for 39.99". Im thinking shaddup just change my oil and let get the heck outta here. I even went to the last place (where all the quotes came from cuz my regular and cheaper place did the same thing). Oh yea another bud took his truck into a new place(for him) and they told him, "you need a new air filter". "We can put one in for you". he said "Does my truck have a million miles on it yet?". the guy said "no." My bud said thats a K&N filter its good for a million miles". The guy (with no shame by the way)just told him how much he owed for the oil change. It seems everywhere I go now theyre trying to get me for something.