Beware the Walmart.

cinealta_draiodoir · #1 10-30-2007, 09:54 AM

I usually have a garage here in town to do work on my car, but they were so packed I took the car up to walmart to have the oil changed, tires rotated, and have the battery tested. I've heard of stories where they didn't do a good job and all, so I wrote my name on the oil and air filter and put a silver Sharpy mark on the front tires. After 15 min they tell me my car is ready...already fishy. I pay and go out and check it and not only is the silver marks still on the front tires, but the oil and air filters are still there. I check the paper I got when I paid, and they said they were changed (had better be for almost $60). It also said the air pressure was at 35psi in all tires...I go back in and buy a gauge and it's only at 15psi...15PSI I drive on the interstate at 80mph for over an hour every day, WTF?! I knew they were low, but not that low. I wondered why the MPG was way down...

So I go back in and ask if they forgot my car, or had to move it out of the bay for some reason. The guy acts like he doesn't know what I'm talking about, then finally I ask for the store manager and he says that I'm the third today. He accuses me of scamming walmart and says if I'm don't leave the property now he'll call the cops. (in this small, VERY corrupt town this would be bad for me) I could see if I had yelled or cussed at them, but I didn't and I was a lot calmer then than I am now. Not only did they not fix the problem, give me any money back, but I was accused of scamming walmart?!? I've never had a problem with them before but watch out. From now on I'm waiting in line at the small garage...

Who do I go to for this? Can I prove the oil filter and air filter weren't changed? If the store manager accuses me who do I go to? Other than the air filter being really dark. And they broke one of the caps on the tires. It looks like they tried to take the tires off, but couldn't figure it out.

guitarsandcars88 · #2 10-30-2007, 10:27 AM

The only reason I take my car to walmart for tires is because I had a mechanics class with one of the guys that works there so I know he knows what he's doing. I only go there to get the tires. I rotate them myself because the one time I took it there to have them rotate the tires for me it took them an hour and a half...I could have done it quicker with only vice grips. I'm tempted to try this at my local walmart. If you really wanted to pursue it, you could maybe get a lawyer. Small town shops are nice, but some of them are pretty corrupt as well. Best to do what you can on your own.

cinealta_draiodoir · #3 10-30-2007, 11:38 AM

Yeah...I just cant afford a lawyer. I just won't go back to walmart. The shop where I take it to lets you stay with the car, they have chairs and couches right beside the lift, lol. They also give you the part to inspect yourself and take back for the core charge (if there is one)

'97ventureowner · #4 10-30-2007, 11:52 AM

You also might try to contact your local state attorney general's office and file a complaint along with the BBB if your locale has one. Too bad you didn't document everything before you went in, and then again in the parking lot after they did the work with a camcorder. That would be a good way to prove they didn't do anything or did it improperly . That's how some sting operations are set up to prov something like that.

BNaylor · #5 10-31-2007, 08:25 AM

There is a love hate relationship with Walmart. You love their prices most of the time but when things go bad customer service wise you hate them. I would contact corporate Walmart and raise hell tactfully.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716-8611

1-800-WAL-MART (1-800-925-6278)

BTW - I wouldn't take my car to Walmart Auto even if they were the only shop in town.

xeroinfinity · #6 10-31-2007, 10:38 AM

Yeah walmart is not good for auto maintenance!

Any jo schmo off the street can work in thier service dept.
Then when the law comes down on Wal mart, they'll say "well it was just the guy who worked on your car, and we fired him for shorting customers."
When they are probly told to short who you can, woman, and elderly folks...

Documentation is the only way to trap walmart in thier scams.

cinealta_draiodoir · #7 10-31-2007, 01:36 PM

Thanks for the number. This is me in 5 min if they don't give me my money back (or at least, give me a gift card...)

: newburn:

back2life · #8 11-05-2007, 08:06 AM

i work for walmart thru sams club. all of us are not stupid/lame ect. if that was one of my employees: 1. he would be sent to take care of the work 2. i would have gave you your money back 3. his ass would have been wrote up. i dont play that, i got bills to pay and if they cant do they work then they gotta go. definitely should get taken care of by coporate,i see it all the time. but truthfully the store managers should not have addressed you in that manner and should have took care of the problem right then. dont hate all of us!

guitarsandcars88 · #9 11-05-2007, 12:03 PM

Wal-Mart is still useless for auto stuff, even if you're not all a bunch of morons.

cinealta_draiodoir · #10 11-06-2007, 04:50 AM

There have been a few that have helped out. When my car broke down in the bay (after sitting for a few years) he pushed it out and helped me track the problem down during his lunch. Then when he got off he showed me how to fix it. (alternator, battery, pretty much all the hoses, and fuel system) I tried to pay him but he wouldn't take the money. He really had no business working at Walmart, but around here they have pretty much shut everything else down.

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