Washoligy

From www.comumerist.com  2/14/09

Josh has been paying $30 extra to change out the air filter each time he brings his car to Jiffy Lube for an oil change. This time, to save money, he decided to do it himself—and that’s when he discovered that Jiffy Lube lied to him about the filter.

I don’t know a lot about cars but every time I go to get my oil changed I am asked if I need to get my air filter replaced. Normally I say yes, and deal with the extra 30 dollar charge, but today I was watching my spending and had to decline. In order to better sell their point, the salesman show me a pitch black SQUARE air filter, covered with leaves and oil, claiming it was mine. I recalled getting my air filter changed the last time my oil filter was, so immediately my suspicions were raised. I had to stop at a parts store and pick up some coolant for my car anyway, so I figured I could buy a new air filter and change it out myself. When I went to store I was immediately suspicious of the service I had received at Jiffy Lube. The filter I was shown by the mechanic was SQUARE, but the air filter I purchased (the only kind that would work for my car) for my car was RECTANGULAR. When I got home I was certain that Jiffy Lube had been trying to rip me off. The ‘filthy’ air filter was in fact only slightly yellow in color (not black,) and nothing at all like the one they showed me. The Jiffy Lube repairman lied to me in order to sell me a new air filter. Jiffy Lube should be ashamed, and I don’t think I will ever get my oil changed there again. This is exactly the kind of cheating that turns people off to hiring a mechanic in the first place.

Maybe the mechanic meant “this is your filter in theory,” right? Then why wasn’t he more specific? Hmm, unless he wanted the customer to confuse the issue and assume that it was literally his car’s filter, and then fearfully pay a premium for the service. (We’re suspicious of Jiffy Lube because Jiffy Lube has a long history of shenanigans.)

Luckily for you, it’s very easy to change your own air filter. The guys at Car Talk equate it with being able to hang a picture on the wall, and you won’t have to deal with the extra labor charges from a place like Jiffy Lube. As far as when to replace it, we’ve seen a wide range of suggestions, including “every 15,000 miles,” “every time you change your oil,” “every 3-4,000 miles,” “check your car’s manual,” and “when it’s dirty.” So while Jiffy Lube may have been right to suggest replacing the filter, it’s such an easy thing to do that you’ll save money by doing it yourself.

Washoligy - Don’t risk losing any customers by playing any foolish games with your customers especially in these difficult economic conditions.

This article was posted by the website Consumerist.

I wonder if the OEM’s had anything to do with this report. I’m not real familiar with engine flushes but I am with Fuel injection services. When I checked our computer it does recommend Fuel injections service intervals. Each auto manufacture is listed and with its own interval in which we do and will continue to recommend to customers. I think this report has some kind of bone to pick with the two lube centers they visited since they’ve done this type of reporting before.
Judge for yourself. Read about it at KNBC LA!

I’m a little late (extremely late) posting my opinions and photos from the ICA convention in Orlando Florida in April 2008.  I apologize and will try to be more prompt in the future.

As a west coast business it’s difficult to get back east easily and we prefer the event when it’s in Las Vegas.  I know I said differently in an earlier post, but now that I’ve made the trip to Florida we prefer staying closer to home.  But the mouse world area is a great place to visit. I believe the convention will be held for the near future in Vegas making it easier for us to get in and out without much of an issue.  I’m sure guys from the east coast may not feel the same, but I know everyone loves going to Vegas. And we look forward to next year. That said Orlando is a great place for a convention and was well run and very well attended by my estimation.  The Peabody Hotel where we stayed is an awesome place to spend a few nights and getting around to the convention center was a breeze.  The ICA put on a fabulous event.

Here are a few of the highlights in my opinion,

• Great keynote
• TV style interview kept my attention
• Trade show was filled with great vendors
• Most of the educational seminars where well attended
• Ritz Carlton seminar was very informative and maybe the best I’ve attended

Some thing that could be improved,

• Some of the seminars are old and worn and need revamping
• The Disney event though good, but by Disney standards could a have been stronger

Overall I think the event was just what I expected and seemed we attended.  I expect to be at next year’s event as well.

View my photos here.

We had the opportunity to visit the 2008 AOCA convention this week.  I can say again that the AOCA puts on a great event.  This year it was informational packed.  Money was spent where is should have been, on great speakers and educational events.  No keynote speaker was scheduled which I think was brilliant.
I personally participated in these educational sessions;

• The Attitude Virus
• Engaged Customer Service
• Fleet Marketing
• Government Affairs Update
• Street Fighter Marketing
• The Game is Played Away from the Ball

If I was to critique these sessions they were all very good except the “Fleet Marketing” which had no relevance to our business.  It was more for the mobile oil changer.  The presentation was good but you can tell that he wanted to push his type of oil changing business and was not educating many on how he has been successful generating fleet accounts.  A couple of highlights were “The Game is played away from the ball”.  I’ve seen this guy a before and he’s great.  He keeps you involved and interested and I could listen to him for hours.  “Street fighter Marketing” was also extremely interesting and to the point.  Both these sessions rank ultra high with me.
Others who went to the sessions saw;

• Establishing you training program
• Creating a great pit crew
• Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures
• ABC of Claims
• Small Businesses Don’t Die, They just commit suicide!
• Lubricant Training for the Fast Lubes

The guys indicated that they were all good and informative.  Again everyone who went to “Street Fighter Marketing” and “The game is played away for the ball”, highly enjoyed them.
We walked the Fast Lube Expo for a couple of hours making a few purchases and meeting up with vendors and old friends. 
Outside of the Convention we had two fabulous meals and spent a few hours socializing.  Overall AOCA puts on a great event and should be highly proud of them again this year. 
 

View my AOCA photo’s here.