Midas for breaks?
02-01-12, 06:37 PM
#3
After some bad experiences, I've vowed to forever stay away from those chain shops. I feel much more comfortable going to an independent auto shop. My problem with chains like Midas and Jiffy Lube isn't that they don't possess the expertise to do a relatively simple job like replacing brake pads or changing oil. It's that their business model is built on offering necessary services at dirt-cheap prices (think Jiffy Lube's 19.99 oil changes) to get you in the door to sell you other crap.
I took my girlfriend's car to a Firestone to get the oil changed (before I'd learned my lesson) because they offered them for something like 19.99, and after completing the service they took me back to the car which was still in the service bay on the lift. They told me they did the oil change and they discovered the car was in need of X, Y, Z etc, all things that are not recommended maintenance items and did not need to be done. The most hilarious was that they said the engine needed a service they called an "engine shampoo". Of course all these extra services were exorbitantly priced and wholly unnecessary. In addition to shady business models, there have been countless reports and stings showing these types of places not actually performing the work requested.
So I recommend not to use them and to instead check reviews on Google, Yelp, and other sites for independent auto shops in your area. Many will have coupons or special offers for first-time customers as well.
I took my girlfriend's car to a Firestone to get the oil changed (before I'd learned my lesson) because they offered them for something like 19.99, and after completing the service they took me back to the car which was still in the service bay on the lift. They told me they did the oil change and they discovered the car was in need of X, Y, Z etc, all things that are not recommended maintenance items and did not need to be done. The most hilarious was that they said the engine needed a service they called an "engine shampoo". Of course all these extra services were exorbitantly priced and wholly unnecessary. In addition to shady business models, there have been countless reports and stings showing these types of places not actually performing the work requested.
So I recommend not to use them and to instead check reviews on Google, Yelp, and other sites for independent auto shops in your area. Many will have coupons or special offers for first-time customers as well.
02-01-12, 06:57 PM
#5
Those cheap oil places are fine, if you remember to know to say no. Their business practices are unscrupulous, however they get the oil jobs done, and for cheaper than you can buy the oil and filter on your own. If they screw up, the liability is on them. And you are welcome to supervise the techs while they work on your car.
As to the brakes. Do it yourself or have a friend do it for you.
As to the brakes. Do it yourself or have a friend do it for you.
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02-01-12, 09:05 PM
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Thanks for all the responses guys! As I don't really have the experience to change them myself, Ill take calvin's advice and shop around for a good independent shop in my area. Anyone here from Chicago and know of a good place?
02-02-12, 02:04 AM
#12
Ramonst3r check PM
02-02-12, 09:55 AM
#13
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buy your own parts and take it to a good mechanic. dont buy parts from shops. they usually get cheap parts and i dont trust any oil change places. you dont know what they are putting in from the barrel. i used to work for a place and we would put supertech (walmart brand) in engines and sell them as mobil 1!!!
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