Oil Change

I took our mini van to Walmart for an oil change. The power steering fluid level was just below the minimum level mark, so I chose the service package that included checking and filling all fluids. I left the van with at the service bay, and went into the store to pick up some toys on our boys’ Christmas list.

Forty minutes later, I went back to the car service department and found that my van was ready for pick up. I paid for the service and the toys at the service desk, and headed out to my van. The receipt for the service had a list of all the items checked and serviced, and the power steering fluid showed as “checked.”

After loading the Christmas toys into the back of the van, I popped the hood and checked the power steering fluid level. Son of a . . . . The fluid was below the minimum level mark. They hadn’t filled it at all. I checked the receipt again, then walked back into the Walmart service department.

At the desk was the clerk and a technician, talking. From what I’ve seen in this department, the service desk clerk is some kind of manager type. I’ve seen them directing the technicians. I set my receipt on the desk and told the clerk/manager the situation. I wasn’t rude, or loud. I was calm and just straight to the point: whoever serviced my vehicle didn’t fill my power steering fluid.

The clerk/manager had the audacity to tell me, looking me right in the face, “Oh, they just check fluid levels, they don’t fill them.” I could see the sign listing the services on the wall right behind him, with the words, “We check and fill all fluids,” plainly visible right over his shoulder.

Before I could respond, the technician said, “Yeah, we fill fluids.” I appreciate him speaking up, but it was kind of a disappointment, too—I was looking forward to pointing out the clerk/manager’s “mistake.”

The clerk/manager told the technician to help me, and I got my power steering fluid container filled properly. Before leaving Walmart, I checked all the other fluids, too, just to make sure.

I’ve had other problems with the Walmart service department, (twice, “20 minutes” turned out to be two hours), so this was the third strike. The technicians have proven to be slack and/or lazy: they will completely ignore customers, even when I directly try to get their attention for a question, and they have proven now to not actually service a car like they are supposed to. And the clerk/managers are either ignorant of their services, or are willing to lie directly to a customer to cover for the slack technicians. I will never again take my vehicles to that store for any kind of car service.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com