Sears Auto Center

So disappointed with Sears Auto Center. My husband’s car had an awful oil leak and we took it into an auto repair shop to get looked at. Turns out, the oil filter was left on his car after the mechanic at Sears gave up trying to remove it with pliers. The oil filter was damaged and bent from this process which caused the leak. Our mechanic took us under the car to show us what it looked like. I can’t believe they just gave up and left it there! My husband only had ½ quart of oil left and our mechanic said that if he drove for another day, he could have ran completely out and his engine would have been destroyed! I’ve been getting my oil changed at Sears for over 10 years and I will never go back again.

My bf and I came to the Auto Center so we could get new brakes on his truck and wander the mall for a short while, but we got way more mall time than we imagined. We were originally told it would only take about an hour and a half, yet it was over two hours before we ever heard from the salesman, telling us that their initial check of our brakes conformed that we needed new ones… Despite the fact that we had already told him how thin and squeaky the brakes were. However the real problem was when we arrived back at Sears, THREE AND A HALF hours after dropping off the truck, it was still not ready because they didn’t have the right rotors and had to order them from another store that was over an hour away, in the middle of the week day, when traffic was at a standstill. They had our number and made NO ATTEMPT to contact us about this turn of events until we had arrived to ask what was taking so long. It now has been over four and a half hours, we have been informed they are taking $ 40 off our bill (which will be about $ 450) and while we saw the items arrive, the truck is still unfinished. We are NEVER coming here again, they need more people working on the vehicles, and they need more efficient and informative salesmen.

Multiple family cars have been serviced here. Their tire prices rival Costco in the brand (Michelin) we prefer. They are also convenient and friendly. That is a plus.
We have yet to have a bad experience here.

Never say «never»…I called to give them an opportunity to repair my earlier situation. They offered to handle my next oil change for free, using the correct oil, which I had them do last week. It all went well, (other than waiting 15 minutes to check in for my appointment… it was at lunchtime and they appeared understaffed) I was concerned that the late start would make me late for an afternoon appointment, but they ended up finishing my car 15 minutes before the promised time! I got to do a little shopping/​lunch while they worked on my car (big perk of being located in a mall!) so it turned out fine. Thanks for the solution.

If u could go less I would. The don’t know how bad they are with that u make a app. And show up and tell u one hour or less then 1 hour later don’t even have the car in the bay. What do u ask they say well we had a car before u. So I say I been here 1 hour well we should have it done in two or three hour. Go to store manager he say sorry nothing I can do auto not part of sear. Then brain in auto the manager say will there was app. That we made be for u and so I ask the two the Baird be for my name nothing could not say one word not even I am sorry .that hour there manager of auto walked passed me 6 time not one word about anything or sorry we are running late it take more then we thought nothing. I am some guy that has no money that want to spend nothing here that how they act this year 2015 and 2014 my car alone I have spent more the 3500.00 dollars I sear auto and that not going to get sear to care lost me in auto and there store.

I wish I could give no stars. Was told 45 minutes «TOPS»…now going on 2 hours and still waiting. Ridiculous. Don’t give me a time frame if you’re not able to keep it and, in the event when you take longer than anticipated, call me and let me know! Will never be back.

Joe from this place was the rudest most unprofessional wanna be repair man. This place tried to trick me into paying for a test to see if my car needed more overpriced items. They tried charging me 80 dollars for a test that took 5 minutes. Joe claimed the labor took 1 hour. He was clearly confused because I was waiting in the lobby watching the whole time. Instead of him being understanding and apologetic he started yelling at me and calling me cheap and pathetic in front of customers. Then after his rant he realized what he did was extremely unprofessional and uncalled for and started to give me advice on what place I should go to get an o2 sensor that my car needed. No «joe» your rediculously pathetic freak out didn’t go unnoticed. I will never go back to this place for any car repairs again. Worst service I’ve ever experienced.

Although I had to take back the ac unit Bc it was not working in wall location due to the lack of cool air to draw from and provide cool air:(i want to give a shout out to Collin in the merchandise pick up area. He went out of his way to help me get the ac quickly to my rental unit where a single mom and two kids were in sweltering 100+ degrees. I ended up with a different solution but I must say Collin did everything to help me and also was pleasant when I returned with the unit. For that I will continue to purchase items at Sears:)

I think they are way under staffed in the front or something because the 5 or 6 times I’ve been here over the years there is always a big line with usually only 1 guy working the counters, but rarely up to 2, who are constantly picking up the phone and not helping the customers who are physically there. Phone people get priority. So I called in this last time figuring why waste my time stairing at the guy talking on the phone when he has 3 people in line in front of me, and was put on hold for a half an hour. After I was told it would be «no more then 5 minutes.» I don’t get it. They all seemed kind of frazzled and talk in circles too. Tells me one thing all certain of themselves, but then a second later they have to look something up in the computer and they are wrong. The computer system there seems to drive them through the roof too. They are very apologetic about the wait, so I think they know. I’m pretty sure discount tire solved this issue by having PHONE DEDICATED PEOPLE only. They aren’t even on the floor, they are behind a closed door. I wouldn’t mind the wait so much if I was taken in order of first person in or first person call. That, and the talking in circles is kind of odd.

Maybe I just came in a good time but they were great. I went to Firestone to get my alignment done and they recommended for a brake fluid flush. The rep told me it’s necessary because my brake fluid is very moisture but when I came to Sears, the mechanic told me that I don’t need it. He showed me the moisture test result and sure enough, it was good. I spent only about 20 minutes and saved money so yeah, go to sears!

No. Just no.
Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, I’m a bloody idiot.
The first time I went there a simple oil change took about an hour and a half. I requested and paid extra for fully synthetic oil.
I had to come back about 2 months later for another oil change (my car’s monitor went off). In Sear’s defense, I do drive a lot. But when I went back the same customer service rep who handled my car the first time said «oh, you’re supposed to use synthetic oil in your type of car». I said «yes, I am…» He pulled up the file and showed me that last time, I paid for it and yet they did not use synthetic. Essentially he showed me that they scammed me. But he offered no apology or discount. Just «lets use synthetic today…»
It was Monday at 1pm. No one was there but me. So I didn’t think a simple oil change would take too long. I asked him, «will it be under an hour?» He laughed and said «of course!» I gave him my correct phone number and he said he’d call as soon as it was done. An hour and a half later, no call, so I came back. He said they were still working on it. 25 minutes later it was done. And he took about 15 minutes to ring me up. He jokingly said «sorry it took a little bit longer than expected. Do you have to be somewhere?» «Yes, I said. I need to pick my son up.» «Oh he can walk! Kids these days!» he said. «He’s 2» I said as he handed me the keys. I’m not going back. For $ 65, 2 hours of my time and no guarantee that they even used the correct oil this time I’d rather go to the dealership.

Went down on New years day to have some tires put on. I gave the woman my tire size of 31 inches diameter with a 15 inch rim, at this point width was not a factor. She was totally clueless about the number I just gave her. I volunteered to go back to my truck and make sure I was correct (which I was). My problem was not as much as her being clueless to a standard tire on a extremely common American made truck, as to her not going out herself with me to check it out. Nice Customer service !!! They didn’t have what I needed, and being New Years day there was no chance of getting it anyway, but her overall lack of knowledge and poor customer service will not bring me back to this location.

Amen to what everyone’s saying. 2 tires in 5 hours. Really??? And I was stuck here. What a joke.

Went to this Sears Auto Center today to have my battery and alternator checked. I rolled into the entrance bay to wait for a service person. Instead a lady rushed over and told me I couldn’t park there (I wasn’t parked, was merely waiting for a service person, engine was running), did not wait for me to ask any questions or explain why I was there but demanded that I back out and park in the parking lot. She was so rude that instead of parking I just left. This is the way I’ve been checking in for battery service at this outlet for years… in the past a service person would always come over and ask what I needed. The service has never been great at this location, but this is the first time I’ve actually been told to get my car out of there. I won’t be back to this location, there are better alternatives where the employees are not rude.

I’ve been a long time Sears customer, but I have to slam this particular location. This particular Sears automotive store is run by idiots. I would advise you not to take your car to this Sears location. The guys that work at this automotive location are very iinept at what they do. You could find better service and more knowledgeable folks at other automotive repair shops. If it can be screwed up, these guys will do it. Take your car elsewhere.

5 and a half hours to drop an oil pan, pull a broken «dipstick» out, and then put the oil pan back on. I was told it «may» take two hours, so I dropped my car off and went to the local watering hole. Three hours later I called and it still wasn’t done. After 5 hours I showed up at SEARS asking what was taking so long, and they said they coudln’t get the oil pan back on. I asked why that was such and issue and they said it was because «it’s very tricky to do.» Oh, I apologize I thought I had taken my car to proffesionals!!! Had a prior bad experience with them when they put my car under someone elses name and when I need a copy of the work order I couldn’t get it and there was no record of my car having said service. Go some where else.

New to the area from Northern CA. In November 2012 called and talked to Manager Terry. Very nice, extremely helpful when I came in, Needed a code check just to ease my mind. He was so nice and helpful.
Today I went back today to get my tires rotated (I have always gone to Sears in Northern CA) Talked to Andre. Told him about another concern. For months I had been hesitant to drive my car far due to a ticking noise.
These guys were great, rotated my tires, and went above and beyond to address my other concerns. Told me what it was, referred me to a local business to have it fixed.
Just as a woman I feel like I am going to be taken advantage of most anywhere.
These people were professional and compassionate. I would recommend this facility.

Why do they suck? This place:
* Upsells/​recommends completely unnecessary work
* May or may not «lose» some of your items (as Kristen L. already wrote)
* Can’t operate their computers/​processes/​etc in any even vaguely reasonable amount of time.
Enjoy!
I had to order some tires from Tire Rack — and unwittingly chose Sears as my installer because I thought I could hang out at the mall while I waited, and they had a competitive install price. Sound logic, bad idea.
My request was simple. Please install 2 previously shipped rear tires. However simple, I apparently underestimated what a monumental undertaking this is, as overcoming the initial paperwork and keying of my information required groups of congregated Sears’ staff – complete with scratching chins, furrowing brows, nodding heads, and intense, vociferous interactions. Finally after only 50 short minutes «all systems were go» and I was free to wait. And wait. And wait.
The initial install took *hours* longer than expected and when done, oh yes – you know it is coming – the upsell. Their computers had with stellar precision analyzed my alignment and realized I’m driving the wheeled equivalent of a radio flyer wagon. I should pay $ 125 more at once or else my new tires will be unevenly bald by the time I can make instant coffee.
Hmm. I HAD bought this car used. COULD my alignment be off? Hook, line, and sinker. I agree and that crap adds 2 *more* hours – plus 30 minutes more with their stupid agonizing paperwork and processes – and, of course, the aforementioned $ 125 to my install.
So I got full day at the mall. Stocked up on workshirts, stuffed my face at BJ’s and other snacks. I’ve shopped-​till-​I-​dropped. Whatever – it’s finally over.
A couple days later, I realize my fancy-​shmanzy, unnecessary stock BMW valve caps have been replaced with crappy generic black ones. I call Sears up to say WTF and the detective work begins. Later, it’s revealed that the installer may have 2 of said missing valve caps in his toolbox. Why? They said I was missing 2 already, so they did me the favor of replacing them evenly with plain rubber ones all around. Pretty strange I thought. Was I really missing them? Who knows, but the fancy BMW caps can’t be bought individually of course, so I had to spend $ 18 for a new set of 4 to replace them through BMW.
Next, my front steering starts shuddering all over the place. I’d never had any issues in the months I’d owned the car before the alignment. How odd. I go BACK to Sears as the alignment I’d been upsold was warrantied. Still, do I sense ANOTHER potential upsell coming? Sure enough, somehow the tires I did NOT replace suddenly need balancing, and on top of that I need THOUSANDS in additional work according to them – new shocks, struts, sway bars, bushings, you name it. I need it ALL.
I start catching on that this just might not be a very good shop. I let them do the alignment on warranty but then take the car to a trusted independent I use (Euro Auto Spot at Miramar) to sift through Sears’ BS. Turns out I need only the smallest item they recommended, the bushings, a nominal repair. Now, I can’t be sure I didn’t actually lose the valve caps (though Kristen L.‘s words here definitely make me doubtful I did), but I can be sure they upsell like mad, and are capable wasting your time with uncanny effectiveness.
I thought Sears would be reputable, and there’s a lot to walk to to kill time around here, but man. What a terrible, terrible shop.

4 months ago I got a great deal on 4 new tires with FREE rotation and balancing. I arrive at 12:30 on a Monday and the sales girl talks me into adding a $ 20 oil change and says 2 hours. I show back up in 2 hours. Surprise my car is not done. We go out to see how much longer and my car is still parked were I left it.
So I sit down in the waiting room were I find these 2 girls have been waiting 3 ½ hours for an oil change. After 3 ¼ hours my car is done. The couple behind me in line have been waiting since noon and it’s now 3:45, and they just had an oil change.
Two hours to do the work seemed a little long but OK I’m at the mall. Is what sent me off the wall is the other customers and myself were all WAY WAY past our promised time.
I had this same problem getting my tires and replacing my car battery a couple years before.
Free tire rotation and balancing is not worth it. I have better things to due with my time. I truly feel they lie when giving you a quoted time that they have no intention of making.
What if I had a prior engagement?

DO NOT GO HERE OR ANY SEARS TO GET YOUR CAR WORKED ON. THEY WILL STEAL YOUR ORIGINAL PARTS!!! I GOT OVER $ 400 STOLEN FROM ME.
I purchased new tires for my Altima. Afterwards, this light was on but we didn’t know what it was and didn’t worry too much since it was a new car. We went to Nissan and just asked why that’s on. They told it was the tire light and we just pumped some the tires that needed a bit of air. However, the light was still on but we didn’t mind too much because it would appear and disappear at times. We have driven it like that for 3 years but didn’t know until about 5 or 6 months ago when we went to Nissan to do an oil change and asked again. They looked further into it and we were told that sensors were missing from the tires, which we didn’t even know this car had sensors. We’ve never owned a car with tire sensors before our Altima. Immediately, I knew it was Sears because we have never gotten new tires or done anything anywhere else. As a matter of fact, our front tires are really bald right now and need to be rotated.
When we found out that they were missing 5 or 6 months ago, I called right away and they said to bring the car. But I told them I don’t have time since I will have someone to pick me up. He (don’t remember the name) said it will be fine and to bring it in anytime. We weren’t urgent about it since we have been driving it like that for 3 years, so we just waited until we were finally both free for the whole day. For the both of us to be free on the same day to get tires done is rare.
I finally had time had called La Jolla store because it was closer. An employee checked and they were in stock and told us to just come and they’ll put those sensors in. My husband and I drove up there taking two cars but nothing was resolved. When I arrived, the same employee I spoke to Piero had to ask the manager Christina for approval. Then a lie came out, that they didn’t have the sensors in stock. Christina and another manager (forgot his name) said that they’d fill out a claim for me and see what their insurance will do. Then they realized we got the work done from Escondido and said they couldn’t help me and I would have to go to the store we got the tires from. How inconvenient — and this is about an hour I was there because I was doing a lot of waiting. With good customer service and they really cared, they would’ve just helped me and not make me go to Escondido.
I called Joe, the manager at Escondido, and told him that I was at the La Jolla store and they couldn’t help me because I got the tires from Escondido and explained everything that happened. Joe told me that I would have to bring my car all the way up there so he can check out the tires and rims. Probably to make sure if they are the same tires. So we drove it all the way up there, Joe took a while to see me, probably waited about 20 minutes. He looked at the tires, said that he’ll order the four sensors and that they will come in 2 to 3 days. He never called. I called him 5 days later and he told me that he couldn’t help me because the other store told me «no» and because I got my tires 3 years ago. That is the most ridiculous reason because I did explain to him that I was at the La Jolla store and they told me to go him because I got my tires at Escondido. And yes, we did get the tires 3 years ago but didn’t know sensors were missing until 5 to 6 months ago! How many times did I have to explain that to these managers. He ends with «I’m really busy right now, it’s a Friday. I would like to help you but I can’t. I really need to go, I can’t talk to you right now.» Of course he can help, just like he promised. I thought he was very rude on how he ended the conversation. Joe has the worse personality ever by the way, when I had asked for him, he looked at me with the «what do you want» attitude. After explaining what happened last week, he never apologize for our inconvenience they have caused, and now the stress. Employees at Sears should be trained on customer service, especially the managers. That would be a good investment.
We paid $ 571 to get our tires done there and your employee stole our 4 original sensors that are worth over $ 100 each. Never ever again will we go back to Sears and give them business. We will also tell all of our friends and family.