[DeTomaso] Jiffy Lube

[LaurieFerrari at aol.com]

Oh Michael,
I can only surmise you own a five minute shop.  
What is irresponsible about reporting news of  interest whether new or old?  
Some may never have  seen this story and could benefit by the awareness.  If  
you can not feel confident that your work is being done and done correctly  
without snooping and demanding parts back, it's a  darn shame. In most cases 
putting your nose in the work area is  forbidden.  To have this worry is a form  
of induced paranoia; who needs it?  I've had nightmare  experiences with 
dealerships as well (forget the 5 min  shops).   Many moons ago my Lincoln Mark 
VII's suspension  light kept coming on. After countless times in the dealership 
for the same  problem, replacing things it probably didn't need, racking up 
bills to the  extended warranty co. that rolled out of the computer like the dead 
sea scrolls,  and never fixing the problem, I was exasperated.  One time the  
dealership had my car for a week and they had put in excess of  1500 miles on 
it; I'm not exaggerating.  Really annoyed,  I forbade them from test driving 
again without my expressed consent.   The next time in, I got a call from my 
service person reprimanding me for  not having current registration sticker on 
it.  And how did he know  this?  The main service manager was pulled over and 
ticketed for not having  current registration, driving my car AGAIN.  One 
heated call to GM  Cust. Service and help from Tech Support and miraculously they 
replaced some  computer that put the problem to rest.  So, thanks to Scott and 
anyone who  has advice to the public that keeps professionals on their toes, 
honest,  and legitimate.  It's always welcomed advice to me!
BTW.. that was a Jaguar/Lincoln dealership in the valley as the Jiffy  
Lubes...maybe it's a Valley kind of thing?
Laurie
-----------------------------------------------------
 
 
Message: 30
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 02:46:18 -0700
From: "Michael  Shortt" <michaelsavga at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Jiffy Lube -  NPC
To: "Art Stephens" <artstephens at charter.net>
Cc: DeTomaso A  <detomaso at realbig.com>, scott black
<timepiecepr2 at yahoo.com>
Message-ID:
<29a6b52c0708250246o6eb00de9la0c58f8db8138c6d at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I don't know you Scott, through my search  of the last 24 months of Detomaso
List postings I can't find another post by  you. You may very well have the
best of intentions.

However, as a PR  Professional (?), your rehashing of old news ( that was on
Dateline 3 years  ago ) seems highly irresponsible, leading me to question
your motives, seeing  that your business targets the automotive marketplace
does nothing to remove  any doubt, nothing like creating a problem that you
can offer to help fix for  a fee.

There are crooks in every business, yes even PR firms and Jiffy  Lube
franchisees, but to use a broad brush to paint all of them as being such  is
nothing more than over the backyard fence fearmongering. You above  all
others should know that to be true.

Anybody who has their car  serviced at any dealership of any kind, esp. one
that promises 30 min or  less, and goes and sits on their ass and watches TV
instead of watching their  car probably deserves whatever they get. There is
no excuse for the crooks,  they should have been arrested, that is nothing
more than stealing, but a  smart consumer would be watching and would ALWAYS
request your parts. I  personally ask for the new oil filter and date it
myself with a sharpie "for  my own records". Fluids changes can be checks by
examining the dipstick for  the color of the replacement fluids and lastly if
they don't meet your  expectations, refuse to pay until proof has been
furnished, the last thing  they want is a car blocking the bay or the police
to show up if they are  indeed crooks, too much attention and the last thing
a crook wants is  attention.

Trust is overrated, knowing for sure is always the best route  to take and if
you're too sorry, too unskilled, or like me, lack the space  for a backyard
buddy so that I could easily do those routine things myself,  then it is your
responsibility to look out for number one. Nobody else ever  will.

Michael in Savannah




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