Comments on: Thanks a Lot Valvoline

By: Curious Cat Investing Blog

Curious Cat Investing Blog — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:07:48 +0000

I wouldn’t bother to try and get them to pay up. I also don’t believe cars need oil as frequently today as they did 30 years ago. Though I believe that is what owners manuals still say.

By: Kristy @ Master Your Card

Kristy @ Master Your Card — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:23:09 +0000

Honestly, I don’t like confrontation unless it’s unavoidable. Not that I have a problem calling someone out when the need arises, it’s just something I’d rather not do if I don’t have to. That being said, since the part was only $15 and not a MAJOR problem, I would have done the same thing as you. There’s no guarantee that Valvoline would have even agreed to fix the problem in the first place, so if you had gone all the way over there only to turn around and go back to Firestone, you would have wasted your time and gotten all worked up over it. I think sometimes you just have to pick your battles and this case was not one I would have fussed over.

By: Hank

Hank — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:31:16 +0000

I would have opted for leaving the old oil filter on just this once. I’m lazy like that. I can’t stand taking my car to the repair shop. So, there is no way that I’m doing it two days in a row!

By: Pinyo

Pinyo — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:38:02 +0000

I hate going to unknown mechanic. I swear that some of them break your parts so that they can show you what needs to be fixed.

Anyway, I would have done the same as you…skipping the hassle.

By: NatalieMac

NatalieMac — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:29:02 +0000

I would have done the same thing you did. I’m estimating it would take at least an hour and a lot of headache to go back to the other place and argue a point. For $15, an hour of my time isn’t worth it.

What *is* worth my time, though is to call them up or shoot off an email letting them know what they did wrong and how it cost them my business.

By: Blaine Moore

Blaine Moore — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:23:32 +0000

I get my oil changed for me rather than doing it myself because I’m not a mechanic and I like having somebody look over my car and let me know of anything I should get worked on before it becomes expensive. I can change my own oil, but I might not notice when the brakes need to be replaced or when a line might be ready to go.

As such, I don’t try to save $5 for an oil change. I bring it to a shop where I trust the guys there and spend the extra money. It puts the money into a local business in my community, it’s convenient, and they’ve always been helpful with what does and doesn’t need to be done maintenance wise.

I let my car tell me when to change the oil, so that’s sometimes 4 to 6 months between oil changes, and I’ll let the experts take a look at the car.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:49:01 +0000

Susan: You are correct, and that is probably the best course of action to take. This time around, though, I just didn’t feel like doing it. They have lost all future business from me though.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:00:33 +0000

Avdi: Many auto parts stores accept oil for recycling, but most (if not all) charge a disposal fee. So it’s still another trip. I prefer to get it all taken care of in one stop. The convenience factor is the deciding factor for me.