Repair/Service: oil change

Hourly Rate: $10

Total Cost: $10

This shop is conveniently located outside my business so I tried to built a neighborly vibe. I have had my starter done there, which they convince me to do it with them when I approached their competition right next door. Ever since, I've referred locals and several of my employees to check them out. I had an experience with the helper once he overprice to change a radiator for $120 dollars when the owner was on vacation, I had it changed at another shop for $60 plus its a four cylinder Mitsubishi. On my last experience I went in for a oil change, which I already had the oil and filter. No problem on the work, just that the manner the managers helper handled the situation(later I found out where he learned that from) was inappropriate. First off the job was cheap I would of brought cash I just spent on a late lunch. I understand the ten dollars going toward the tech getting paid but he said he'll do the credit card and had us waiting and tried to make it sound like a big deal. Which they didn't like, the manager finds out and tells the helper why is he doing a ten dollar charge. I guess he was upset the way the owner talked to him so he took it out on me. If they asked and explained correctly, I would have had no problem bringing ten dollars back. Instead he was saying who pays ten dollars on a credit card, well as a business owner I don't like that either but I wouldn't have my employees deny business or insult my customers. Then I realize he still had the keys to the car so I run back in and grabbed it from the helper, drove to an atm, came back to shop and i told the helper it was a big mission. I don't know what he told the owner, but the owner confronted me with the $20 bill and said to take it back and never come back to do business with them. I was shocked, I told the owner that was petty and he didn't even seem concerned on knowing any part of my story. I gave him the $20 to him and told him that's not how you conduct business, obviously he needed it more than me. I even asked in the beginning if ten is to low to charge me $15, which I know he didn't tell the owner it would of probably been solved if that.

by Local Customer190 on March 20, 2012