Wallmart, wallmart auto service. My poor car is dead! Ripoff Foley alabama
Hello fellow drivers!
I took my 1991 Jeep Cherokee to Wallmart for a simple oil change and my trouble began. The car was doing fine when I arrived but started running hot after a few miles of driving. This resulted in my having to replace the radiator and then the water pump. In all, about $700.00 in damage.
Upon inspection, a heater hose and the heater valve housing was broken, allowing the coolant to escape. I phoned Wallmart and the lies, denials, and good old corporate run-around started.
I first spoke the the "mechanic" who did the work. He insisted that the car was fine when I brougt it in. It must have broken just after I left. Next, I spoke with the "service" manager. According to him, the part was broken when I brought the car in. Ok...one of these good old boys is either mistaken or his nose is growing longer! How did the mechanic know the car wasn't broken and the manager know that it was????
I asked the service manager why he did not inform me that the car was spewing the anti-freeze out. He told me that he tried to page me but I "didn't bother" to answer. I heard no such page over the speakers. I then asked him why he didn't put a note on the service ticket, a nice thing to do since he KNEW about the problem and that any idiot would know that the car was going to run hot immediately and self destruct. He informed me that, and GET THIS!, that Wallmart did not put notes on service tickets! Lie, Lie, Lie....I then asked why he wasn't considerate enough to at least write me a note in the dust on the winshield rather than knowingly let me drive away to certain trouble. No repsonse to that.
Now for more BS. I asked him if there was an appeals process, a higher authority at Wallmart to whom I could present my case. Nope. He said that he was the final authority for Wallmart in these matters. Lie.Lie.Lie!
Next stop....Regional "service" manager. He finally returned my phone call after several days. It was amazing how much he knew about my problem but was unable to answer as to how the "mechanic" knew one thing and the "service" manager another. His answers were well scripted though. When I asked him why Wallmart seemed to callous in not putting a note on the service ticket so I could save my poor car, he said something about Wallmart recognizing the need for better communications with their customers and were working on it, whatever that meant.
Again. I asked Mr. Regional "service" manager if there was an appeals process to his decision to take no responsibility. NOPE! He is the final authority on these matters. No APPEAL..He had spoken. Lie.Lie.Lie like a rug!
Next stop...local general manager....He seemed helpful at first. It turns out that Wallmart does have a complaint department after all. The service guys must have missed this in their employee manual. He had me put all this in writing along with copies of my repair bills. I made copies at the Wallmart copy center, another $3.50 wasted. As this appeal was turned down.
Next stop.....Walllmart insurance department. The nice young lady explained to me that my problem was of a legal nature and that Wallmart had concluded that I could not prove that they screwed the car up...my word against theirs and that I might consider hiring an attorney if I wished to persue this furthur.
Know What? She is right. I cannot prove that the car was not spewing anti-freeze through the broken part when I arrived. But what I do know is that any mechanic who would allow a customer to drive away knowing that your car is going to be toast in five minutes needs his wrenches and screwdrivers taken away and maybe placed in a warm dry place. This goes for the rest of these corporate hacks at Wallmart.
I have promised Wallmart and they are not listening, that I will dog them about this forever. Even if they won't stand up and take responsibility, they could at least apologize. They have not and apparently have no intentions of doing so.
Thus endeth my story. The five dollars I saved over Express Oil Change cost over $700.00
Thanks
Danny
Elberta, Alabama
Danny
elberta, Alabama
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
lottiedottie
Foley,Alabama,
United States of America
I feel your pain
#7Consumer Comment
Tue, September 21, 2010
I live in Foley and have used the service center there at Walmart and let me tell you how my 2 trips went. The first one was fine took car in and had the oil change and go in the car to leave and the check engine light was now on. Never having come on before I went and asked them what was going on and they told me that sometimes that just happens with cars when they get the oil changed. Comming out of a long relationship where the ex took care of all that I had no idea. I am a girl and no I do not know a thing about cars. So after 35 min those smart guys up there were able to fiqure out how to make it turn off.
Round 2: Time for another oil change. My idiot self goes back to walmart in foley and after waiting 45 min I go and ask what is the hold up, my car hasnt moved and three new cars have came and went. I was also told I had been paged, but that was funny, I never moved from the bench in the waiting room there.
I was then told they could not change my oil because of a libality. They said I had put more oil in the thing and it was too full and if they changed it, it would mess up. You can refer back to the above paragraph, I know NOTHING about cars, much less where to put the oil at all. So after arguing and going back and forth with them, they changed it and yes a week later it also overheated and we never could fiqure out what was the problem, after 1400$ and 2mechanics, real ones, still no car. So I had to sell it get a new one.
I never bothered with reporting it to them, because they dont care and probably wont do anything about it anyway. Water under the bridge, but I saw your post and felt the need to hsare my story too. So you are not alone in the Walmart automotive junk.
R
Portland,Oregon,
U.S.A.
Not really saving much at all
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, January 28, 2006
You went to a Wal-Mart for an oil change to save $5.00 freakin' dollars?! Hell, even if an oil change at Wal-Mart was 99 cents it still wouldn't be worth the risk of having a mental defective under the hood of your car.
Although an oil change is certainly simple enough, you do need to do a few important things like put the new oil in, and secure the plug properly. That said, I don't think the average Wal-Mart employee can complete these tasks 100% of the time.
And although they probably damaged your old vehicle, I doubt you'll prove it.
Put this behinfd you and never go to Wal-Mart for auto service again.
Brandon
Somewhere,Other,
U.S.A.
Had to Replace Radiator and Waterpump?
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, January 28, 2006
Maybe it's my lack of being familiar with where the heater control valve is located on your Jeep, but I certainly wouldn't think that just a few miles of driving caused you to have to replace the radiator and waterpump.
I work in a major automotive retail center and was involved in a very similar case. We were changing the shocks on a 93 or 94 Explorer. The heater control valve was located on the right side near the firewall where the shock is tightened. The technician went to move the heater hose and valve broke in half. Plastic pieces like the heater valve get very brittle especially with hot fluid running through it. We went ahead and replaced the valve for the customer without any argument even though it wasn't necessarilly our fault.
Even if Walmart did damage the part somehow, who told you had to replace the radiator and water pump...I can maybe see it possibly damaging the water pump(even that seems questionable with little driving you say you did), but why the radiator? Unless the valve was molded into the radiator, I don't see why you had to replace the radiator. I would hope the repair shop you took it to wasn't taking advantage of the situation that Walmart may have put you in, because I'm sure you told the repair shop what happened. Just the heater valve, heater hose, and labor shouldn't have cost more than $100. But like I said...it may just be my lack of experience with this vehicle.
Brandon
Somewhere,Other,
U.S.A.
Had to Replace Radiator and Waterpump?
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, January 28, 2006
Maybe it's my lack of being familiar with where the heater control valve is located on your Jeep, but I certainly wouldn't think that just a few miles of driving caused you to have to replace the radiator and waterpump.
I work in a major automotive retail center and was involved in a very similar case. We were changing the shocks on a 93 or 94 Explorer. The heater control valve was located on the right side near the firewall where the shock is tightened. The technician went to move the heater hose and valve broke in half. Plastic pieces like the heater valve get very brittle especially with hot fluid running through it. We went ahead and replaced the valve for the customer without any argument even though it wasn't necessarilly our fault.
Even if Walmart did damage the part somehow, who told you had to replace the radiator and water pump...I can maybe see it possibly damaging the water pump(even that seems questionable with little driving you say you did), but why the radiator? Unless the valve was molded into the radiator, I don't see why you had to replace the radiator. I would hope the repair shop you took it to wasn't taking advantage of the situation that Walmart may have put you in, because I'm sure you told the repair shop what happened. Just the heater valve, heater hose, and labor shouldn't have cost more than $100. But like I said...it may just be my lack of experience with this vehicle.
Brandon
Somewhere,Other,
U.S.A.
Had to Replace Radiator and Waterpump?
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, January 28, 2006
Maybe it's my lack of being familiar with where the heater control valve is located on your Jeep, but I certainly wouldn't think that just a few miles of driving caused you to have to replace the radiator and waterpump.
I work in a major automotive retail center and was involved in a very similar case. We were changing the shocks on a 93 or 94 Explorer. The heater control valve was located on the right side near the firewall where the shock is tightened. The technician went to move the heater hose and valve broke in half. Plastic pieces like the heater valve get very brittle especially with hot fluid running through it. We went ahead and replaced the valve for the customer without any argument even though it wasn't necessarilly our fault.
Even if Walmart did damage the part somehow, who told you had to replace the radiator and water pump...I can maybe see it possibly damaging the water pump(even that seems questionable with little driving you say you did), but why the radiator? Unless the valve was molded into the radiator, I don't see why you had to replace the radiator. I would hope the repair shop you took it to wasn't taking advantage of the situation that Walmart may have put you in, because I'm sure you told the repair shop what happened. Just the heater valve, heater hose, and labor shouldn't have cost more than $100. But like I said...it may just be my lack of experience with this vehicle.
Robert
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
I see the problem, and it's a simple fix
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, January 27, 2006
"But what I do know is that any mechanic who would allow a customer to drive away knowing...".
WalMart does not have a single mechanic working for them. They have ZERO mechanics anywhere near their stores. Neither do Jiffy Lube, or any of the other oil change places. They have oil change guys. My 10 year old can change oil. My wife can change oil. Neither have ever learned anything about the highly skilled occupation of Mechanic.
More than likely, the minimum wage oil change guy didn't even bother looking for anything else in the engine compartment. He found the drain plug, the oil filter(you can only hope), and the fill cap. That was all he was looking for. This is because he is only worth the MINIMUM amount of pay WalMart is legally allowed to pay him.
If you want your car maintained properly, go to a real mechanic. They have families to support, just like you. They also get paid a living wage, just like you. Most mechanics own more in hard assets than the average medical Doctor. I have over $50K in one toolbox alone. I have 3. Add in equipment, updates and upgrades, and continuing education, a mechanic has more lifetime investment than any other occupation. And it doesn't get paid for by WalMart or Jiffy Lube.