Speights Auto Service Center

Background: I do 90% of the maintenance on my cars myself. I saw a groupon for oil changes at Speights, and it was a bit cheaper than if I were to do it myself. Also, I thought it might be a good opportunity to get to know a local shop for the other 10% of work I don’t do.
Review: Dropped off my car in the morning and came back that afternoon to pick it up. I saw it in the lot as I walked up to the office door, but noticed something leaking from under the engine. I got a closer look and I could see a small but steady stream of oil leaking from the drain plug. Not good.
Walked and mentioned the leak to the person at the desk and she went to get the «mechanic» who worked on my car. He came out and I showed him the leak. He then acknowledged he knew about it when he parked the car. Thought it might stop. Yeah, when all of the oil is drained out, it sure would stop then.
The manager, perhaps Mr. Speight, came out and had the mechanic bring the car back in to fix it. The manager indicated this wasn’t the first time an issue had arisen with said «mechanic» and in fact, he had been relegated to doing oil changes only. About 30mins later they pull the car out and no leaks. I go home, park in the garage until the next morning when I see a pancake size puddle of oil under the car. I drive to the shop (about a mile away) and let them know it’s still leaking. Here’s where things go from bad to worse.
I was accused that because it wasn’t an OEM oil drain plug, that was the reason it stripped the threads of the oil pan. The teflon tape they used to patch the leak wasn’t going to be permanent, they said. I’m sorry, I’ve used the same plug for the 6yrs I’ve owned the stupid car and never, ever had a problem with leaks. Yet, the first time I take a car here, to a professional auto service shop, I get Niagra Falls’ cousin from my oil pan?
I don’t think so. Again the manager said he would call around for a new oil pan and would let me know. I’m not the type of person to go around demanding this or that; usually I wait and see what is offered. I stopped by again that afternoon after work and spoke to the manager. He indicated that it would cost $ 150+ to replace the oil pan and gasket with a used one from a junkyard. That’s right, cost me. For their error.
I won’t go into more detail about the subsequent conversation, but it ended up that he charged me $ 45 to replace everything (his labor costs). I really should have had him get me the parts and let me replace them on my own, but I was too angry to think that logically. Or really just argued until they paid for it. The guy had the nerve to act like he was doing me a favor.
So, a third day left at the shop for what should have been a 30min oil change at the most. I came to pick it up and pay (i.e. get reamed) the next day and the manager essentially indicated that this interchange concluded our business and didn’t want to see my car again. Seriously!?! Now here I am getting angry again. Please, do yourself a favor and stay away.
Maybe they took a loss on the groupon deal (don’t see how they could have made money when it was more expensive to do it myself) and were having a bad few months. I was going to give them 2 stars because they ultimately fixed it (and I paid for it…) but I still have a pesky minor leak around the oil pan, whenI freaking PAID them to damage and then fix my car.
Conclusion: I’m really pissed all over again. 1 star. Half a star. 0 star. Seriously, stay away. Get reamed somewhere else, you’ll probably pay less.

1. They’re extremely slow. The two oil changes I’ve done here took well over an hour. At least there is a bathroom and couch in the sitting area?
2. And this was the killer for me — They refused to honor my groupon after it expired. ON the groupon it says that the amount is still valid as if it were cash at the vendor’s establishment. Which means the $ 50 that I paid with Groupon, should go towards the bill at the end. NOPE. they refused to give me any credits whatsoever.
ICK.

They did a great job on my SUV. They remind me of the honest mechanics of the good old days… well, the good old days I’ve been told about. Anyway, great job you guys.