Jiffy Lube

It’s been a while since my last lube job (I know — that sounds almost profane). As more and more colorful symbols started to light up on my dashboard (oil, tires, etc.), I knew it was time to pay a visit to my neighborhood Jiffy Lube.
Over the years I’ve made my peace with Jiffy Lube. Let’s face it — getting an oil change for your car is about as much fun as going to the dentist. But if you want a healthy car, it has to be done (every 3,000 or so miles).
The Mill Valley Jiffy Lube location has always done stellar work on my vehicle. I can get my oil changed, fluids updated, tires pumped, and carpet vacuumed for about $ 57 (in usually 30 – 45 minutes). That’s really not too bad. Also, if you visit Jiffy Lube’s website, you can usually print out a $ 10 coupon for your visit. So at the end of the day, you’re spending under $ 50. And that’s a small price to pay to have a safe car on the road.

In my previous review I left out the fact that my car battery died in the shop. I asked the attendant not to leave the doors open or the battery would die. His response «No problem we can give you jump if we need to». Instead of the employees telling me that they could not jump my car (because they did not know how to operate the battery charge machine) they acted as if nothing was wrong, charged me, and then left me stranded in front of their place. The attendants made fun of myself, wife and 3 year old child while I asked other customers to please help me. One attendant joked that I should ask the the UBER driver that was there to give us ride. HA! HA! One attendant said «F**k that guy, it’s not our problem his battery died». Wow, really? That was their response to me politely begging them for assistance. Real decent human beings working in that establishment. The customer that gave me a jump asked me several times why the attendants would not help me. He was shocked at their behavior as well. His guess is a good as mine.
Wrote to the owner with my contact information (that he requested) and I still have not received a call back. Not really shocked that the owner is just as irresponsible and inconsiderate as the individuals he hires to work in his shop.
Thanks again Jiffy Lube! Never again!

Friendly people and a convenient location are what saved this from a one star review. My wait was SOOO long. Think twice before coming here. They’re affordable and have lots of coupons but I may go to another place and pay a few extra bucks to have a shorter wait. You’ve been warned.

I hadn’t read the Unilocal review prior to visiting this location.
For some reason, I felt like I was being ripped off.
And yes, the staff was indeed yelling!

Great experience today with a quick oil change and a minor maintenance item. Chris is the manager at this location. He is very professional, kind and honest. Be sure to ask for Chris.

Called to check if I still qualified for a free top off. Gave my license number then waited on phone. They never came back to my call. Checked my email and found out myself. Drove to the facility. They told me I would have to wait behind 3 other cars at 15 minutes each. Odd… There were 3 stalls working on one car each. They were clearly not excited about the free top off. This was the first time I tried to take advantage of that offer. ILL NEVER GO BACK.

Don’t sit in the lobby noodling on your phone if you come here. Watch what they’re doing or they’ll try to rip you off. Came in for an oil change, watched the guy take out my air filter, GRAB LEAVES that had been stuck under my hood/​windshield wiper, walk near the driver side where it was harder to see, crush the leaves up and sprinkle them on the filter. THEN they tried to sell me a new filter because mine was «dirty.» WTF! When I brought it up they didn’t even say anything, apologize, or acknowledge that they’d done it. I’m never coming here again.

Chris and his team are awesome!
I was reluctant to go to JL for anything other than oil changes at first. For the past several years, Chris and team have worked on my old jag– and, it’s never run better. I have transferred most of my automotive care from an overpriced shop to this place and have referred several neighbors. We’re all highly satisfied.
This team is professional, honest and competent. I have never felt that I was being oversold– in fact, quite the opposite. This team looks for ways to add value and offer services, discounts and other things to make you want to come back.
Thank you to Chris, Sou, Katie and the entire team!!!
Jacqueline, Mill Valley

Do you know how to tell when you are next in line? Because no one is in front of you. How does a business tell which customer is next in line? When there is a place to form a line, then the person who is the first one there is next in line. Apparently this is not clear to Jiffy Lube Mill Valley.
I pulled into Jiffy Lube’s lot, which was empty, and pulled up to the «wait here» line. After a short wait someone came and asked me to wait in the lobby. Fine. After a longer wait with nothing happening I stood up and looked out and saw that my car had been pulled off to the side and another car was being checked in. I went out to ask why and the manager said that the driver of the car being service said she was there first.
I said,“well, there was no one in the lot and no one in line when I pulled in so I am obviously next.” And he just repeated that she said she was next. I replied, «what happens if I say that I’m next?» And his answer was, «what am I supposed to do?»
Here’s a clue, take the person who is first in line next. Ta-​da!

Chris, you lied to me. Brought my car in three times for brakes and they still don’t work. Time for new management here obviously.

I had about $ 4 in quarters in a dashboard slot and they took all of them. Super annoying after the upsell ritual that we always have to go through. I started replacing my air filters before I go to get my oil change so that there is less to sell to me. Today, they said my brake lights were out. I declined the service to replace them, but now it’s taking up my afternoon to figure out if they did anything to sabotage my lights.

They told me that if I didn’t buy the most expensive oil, my engine would be ruined…
As another reviewer wrote, «really, I was unaware Jiffy Lube’s lower price oil would ruin engines… maybe they should advertise that?»
My car needs conventional OR synthetic 5W40 or 5W30, SJ grade or better. They told me that the 5W30 conventional oil they had was not approved for my car. It was SL rated though. SL is fine. My manual and
are authoritative on this, and I called VW corporate and they confirmed it too. Over 100k miles and I’ve never put synthetic in it. Made me sign a waiver before they’d put the conventional oil in my car.
I forgot the coffee I made because I had to go through their upsell song and dance
–which they took me out to the garage area to do, which is a safety violation
–probably because they didn’t want to do the upsell in the customer area, where other customers would hear it.
They also at least almost overfilled it. It’s above the maximum. (It’s in the c range of the dipstick, instead of the b range where it should be. If it was above the c range, I’d have catalytic converter damage.) DUMB MOVE: I didn’t check the oil level ’till the next day. Hope it didn’t get burned off and damage the car already.
At least they didn’t try to sell me other parts I didn’t need.

15 — 20 minutes wait just to check your car in … something is wrong here! No problem waiting and returning for the car, but get it checked in within 5′ please.
Good to see they are busy but a better system is required — or they should tell you before you get out your car. The assistant said only the manager can check you in … maybe they should train someone else who is standing around if they want to hold your business???

I used their garage service to install a used engine. The job was a total disaster and installation failed after one month. Since I was in the middle of nowhere, I couldn’t tow the car back to the shop for repair. It would have cost me a lot more to tow it in, then wait for another week to get it fixed, etc. Besides, I have no confidence that they can do the job properly and I could be stranded again.
They are good for the routine oil change, but not for major job as they claim.

These guys have always been fast and helpful! Also very honest. I am an aircraft mechanic so I know some stuff, and they never made up crap to get me to buy or do anything that wasn’t needed.

As an oil laboratory technician I know the importance of oil’s ability to lubricate, clean& cool an engine. The tech I dealt with here was also knowledgeable which I appreciate. Someone who really understands why they do what they do is a plus! Also, cheap & quick like all jiffy lubes.

DON’T GO HERE! If there was a ZERO star, or Negative Stars, I would give them…
Crazy staff yells, threatens, and curses at customers while trying to intimidate and scam them!
I watched them threaten an old man because he said he didn’t agree to have the most expensive oil put in his old car and was being overcharged.
They yelled at him that they would drain the new oil out and put the old stuff back in.
They told another customer in front of me that if he didn’t buy the most expensive oil, his engine would be ruined… really, I was unaware Jiffy Lube’s lower price oil would ruin engines… maybe they should advertise that?
I left.
Read the recent reviews, many have been threatened with violence, and called stupid, names, etc, when they don’t agree to be up-​sold and scammed on everything… something is very, very wrong with these people…

I went to this Jiffy Lube twice because they do an average job and usually have the customer service of a large corporation. My first visit was fine, nothing exceptional, nothing bad (except for the long wait, as usual).
My second visit, however, kept me waiting an hour or more for an $ 80 oil change. When they finished, I paid, went to my car and without even getting in the car, I notice a pretty large grease stain on the light fabric of my driver’s seat. Immediately, I went to an attendant and explained the problem, after which, he scrubbed the spot for literally 1 minute. Soon after, the manager, Chris (I believe), who was to this point, helpful, came over and said that they believed the stain was already there when I brought the car in. I tried explaining that that’s not true and not possible (I’m a student researcher — not around mechanics or oil at any point throughout my day).
To this they said (with 3 workers in my personal space now), there’s no way the stain could have possibly settled within the hour or so that I was there, essentially calling me a liar. To which I said that an hour is plenty of time for a stain to settle and 3 or more attendants were in and out of my car and it’s very likely that their pants were stained when they sat in my car.
To end this story, I spoke with both the manager and supervisor and neither would take responsibility for the stain, leaving me to spend money and time scrubbing it (only to get about 85% of the stain out).
This was an incredibly insulting experience, after which Jiffy Lube has completely lost my business and that of anyone, with whom I share this story.

No problem with speed and service from this Jiffy Lube.
BUT BEWARE of the up-​sell for unnecessary items.
I was told my rear brake light was out and was asked if I would like it replaced. I said no just out of habit for these kinds of things. When I got home I checked all lights: not a single light was out on the car. Now either it happened not to be working at Jiffy Lube or the guy was being disingenuous at best.
They also said I needed a new engine air filter – one I had replaced myself not very long ago.
Come for the price but stay for the oil change (only).

Jiffy Lube is universally «good enough.» This one, in Mill Valley, was quick (30 minutes, in and out) and efficient. HOWEVER…
The «recommendation» to have oil changed every 3k miles is advocated only by those who profit from it: JIFFY LUBE, and their competitors. Most (if not all) auto manufacturers don’t make that recommendation, and surely Ford –who is the maker of my vehicle– does not. So, with that, it is bothersome to me that I am consistently upsold on EVERYTHING. My truck is 2005 with 97k miles. I keep her immaculate, and I USE her. I did have both the fuel filter and air filters changed at this facility on my last visit, but that is only because I had my truck out in rugged, dusty country for many miles and weeks in recent past (their argument that if you «can’t see light through it» means air can’t get through the filter made me giggle. Have you ever seen alveoli??). It is painfully irritating to me that Jiffy Lube’s recommendations don’t mirror those of vehicle manufacturers. But, this is what their business model is built on, and as an educated (FEMALE) consumer, this is the price I pay for convenience and quick service.
A point of contention I have about THIS particular facility is that the man who checked me in was condescending and treated me like a «little lady» who didn’t know her ass from her noggin’. I kept my Buddha nature in mind, and didn’t teach him a lesson, but I made it clear that thirty years under the hood with my attorney-​father, and then my own medical school and a continued interest in mechanics keep me pretty freakin’ savvy. Thankfully there was another customer, a delightful older gentleman, who I very much enjoyed chatting with.
A tip: google «Jiffy Lube Coupon» and you will surely print some money ($ 10 – 15).

If you’re like me and refuse to waste an hour of my life on an oil change — this is a good place. Search online for coupons up to $ 15 off.
I don’t often take my car in for its oil change, so I can’t tell you how this place compares to others. I can tell you that the guys outside are nice and they will check more than you want — wipers, lights, fluids, wheels, possibly breaks too. The downside is that you may spend more money than you want to get a service better provided by your own mechanic ie tire rotation and brake pad replacement.
MY EXPERIENCE
I came here before reading the other reviews because I’ve had positive experiences here in the past. I’m hopeful that after having them rotate my tired, top off my fluids and change my oil, that my service was as good as it was in the past.
RESPONSE TO BAD REVIEWS
It would be nice to hear a managers response to the stream of complaints, except that in litigation, of course. I’m hoping that they had taken subsequent remedial measures like replacing negligent staff, but I’d like confirmation of this before I return… it would also ease my mind around my last visit.
SCENE
Inside, they have Starbucks pod-​coffee with that scary powdered creamer, sugar, big flat-​screen tv, magazines, and a bunch of chairs. I didn’t touch their coffee or magazines, but I did catch about 15 – 20 minutes of Re-​Bath Remodeling one time, and Bethanney on the other. Also, they were not early as busy usual, but that might have to do with recent issues. Overall, not bad.
Note: Midas might have the touch, but I didn’t have the hour they wanted. JF got the job done– thanks!