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Pep Boys sucks a lot

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Started 4 years ago by Coremodels
Latest reply from ZHC

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Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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So, trying to help the folks who seem to be dumping endless cash into their car via Pep Boys...here's a real transaction today...
In Oct, they took the car in for a replacement serpentine belt and tensioner. They've literally spent over 4k at this place the past year. After an audit by me, they were returned about 400 bucks for work that was under warranty that they ignored. So, the car is still squealing and I talk them into letting me take it. Drop it off, explain the problem, the call goes as follows:
"Mr. Coremodels Sr., we looked at the squeal and it's not the belt as you thought...which we'd replaced...it's the tensioner. Now, my records show, you were advised to replace this in October but didn't when you had the belt replaced, so it's 196.00".
"Really? That's strange, because the work order I'm holding says "tensioner" and has a price attached and everything...oh...it's from October too"
"um...huh?"
"yes, work order number 20......... Why not look that up for me"
"hummm...you're right I guess...we did replace that tensioner...well, then it's no charge".
Great conversation, right? Until 2 minutes later when the phone rings...
"OH...Mr. Coremodels Sr., glad I caught you...it wasn't that tensioner, I don't know why I kept saying tensioner, that's so strange I said tensioner...it was the PULLEY...yeah, the pulley...not the tensioner..."
"really...and how much is the pulley then"
"196.00"
"wow, what a coincidence. it's not the item you said it was, that also cost 196, that turned out to be under warranty...it's this OTHER thing...that costs the same...that isn't. That's such a coincidence"
"um...yea...it is..."
"I need to speak with a manager...now"
So, end result, no charge...but god knows how many times they got hosed before...I'm sure a lot.l

Posted 4 years ago #
twistofreality
Northwest
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Man... that's nuts. I've always taken my car there for routine maintenance work under recommendation from a friend of mine and have never had any problems. This is pretty disconcerting, though. Anyone have any other problems with Pep Boys? If so, do you have any recommendations for mechanics in Columbus?

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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We only take our car to Grismer downtown. They're good people.

Posted 4 years ago #
captain janks
south side 4 life
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Walker wrote We only take our car to Grismer downtown. They're good people.
+1
i do 95% of the work on my car myself, but ive taken it to grismer a couple times, and they've always done excellent work. my girlfriend has taken her car there pretty much exclusively and has never had a problem with them either.
i would never never never take my car to pep boys.

Posted 4 years ago #
captain janks
south side 4 life
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also for tires, the NTB on fourth and long are good people :)

Posted 4 years ago #
milodesc
NJ
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i can also recommend grismer. i haven't gone there for anything major yet, but every time i've been there they've been great.

Posted 4 years ago #
HeySquare
German Village
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I'm glad to hear some good things about the downtown Grismer. I've taken my car there on several occaisions, and I thought they were good. My father had a bad experience at another Grismer location (not in Columbus) so he's been very skeptical about their service here as well.
I've taken my car to a couple of other places for service. The Sears Auto out on the west side is great. SAVED me a lot of money on a tire repair recently... how often does a person say THAT about a car repair place?

Since I drive a foreign car, I've taken it to Blagoi's out on the east side, on Livingston, for service, and they have also done a pretty good job. Alerted me to a couple of problems, and seem to have correctly diagnosed and corrected the problems that I've had.
I have also had great work done at Buckeye Muffler and Brakes out east on Main... really nice guy, took pictures of my muffler to show me what was going on, etc. Really good customer service.
So those are my thumbs up

Posted 4 years ago #
CDS sherman
East Franklinton
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well i had a friend who told me a story about a friend of hers that had there timing belt replaced at pep boys. the timing gear off of the cam shaft was set upside down when the belt was replaced. when the car was attempted to be started it destroyed the top half of her motor. they used to have good deals on tires but places like pepboys is the last place i would ever take my car. ive always used good reliable neighborhood shops. bernies in clintonville has always been good to me along with atlas automotive on town st. atlas replaced a motor for me labor was only 600 dollars, i provided the engine. bernies replaced a clutch in my 300zx for 250 dollars.... and the service is excellent.

Posted 4 years ago #
Undertaker Art
Clintonville
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ugh...car problems have been the bane of my driving life. Always something.
Here's a little clue about why Pep Boys sucks - a friend of my who is a mechanic let me in on their "secret". They hire guys right out of "mechanics' school" who don't always have the best of training. Most are learning on the job. They are supposed to have supervision and train under a master mechanic and there usually isn't anyone to do this, just some guy who has been there longer. Their basic job is to sell and up-sell as many parts and tests that they can to make more money. Now this may be a biased piece of info, but this friend definitely knows his stuff, so I am apt to believe him.
Suggestions:
Clintonville Auto Repair Service (C.A.R.S.) - they have done great work for the wife and I in the past and are always straight up about what's going on and their charges. Inexpensive? No, but the job is done right the FIRST time.
Bernie's in Clintonville - small shop, reliable service.
Luft's in Gahanna. The old guys who ran it for 50+ years after they got it from their dad, recently sold to some younger guys, but they still do great work.
Tuffy in Grandview - this is my brother's suggestion. They are a chain, but they seem to be straightforward in their dealings and won't find a way to charge you for what isn't the problem.
And AAA Auto Service, can't go wrong when it is the auto club's own service place. And if you are a member you get a nice discount.

Posted 4 years ago #
roy
Downtown
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ET Paul for tires and brakes, family owned, Parsons n/o Bryden. I cannot say enough good things about ET Paul. While you're there, check out the framed news articles in the waiting room, about how the shop evolved from a rubber-covered carriage wheel place. The precursors to tires of today! Who knew.
Mike at Arlington Marathon for mechanicals. These guys are true mechanics, not parts-changers like I see so often today. They work on my '68 Chevy and my 2000 Volvo with equal enthusiasm, diagnostics and skill.

Posted 4 years ago #
Ndcent
OTE
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For anyone out east, Hughes Automotive on Main Street in Reynoldsburg is where I've been taking cars for over ten years. Very honest and reliable place.

Posted 4 years ago #
ZHC
101 East Main Street, Downtown
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roy wrote ET Paul for tires and brakes, family owned, Parsons n/o Bryden. I cannot say enough good things about ET Paul. While you're there, check out the framed news articles in the waiting room, about how the shop evolved from a rubber-covered carriage wheel place. The precursors to tires of today! Who knew.
ET Paul is an awesome place, Grismer downtown is great too. I highly recommend either one.
I have to say the weirdest part of you story was the fact that they referred to you as "Mr. Coremodels, sir" :)

Posted 4 years ago #