Sears Auto Center

So, I make an appointment for an alignment at 11. I’m told it’ll be 2.5 hours or more. So I walk to the mall and run errands, do some training on my iPad at the Starbucks (wifi). I get back at 3 thinking it must be done (no phone call though). The van’s still parked where I left it. No apology, nothing. So I’m waiting some more while they do the alignment. Crappy customer service. I will not be back and don’t recommend this location based on how they treat customers.

Get my tires here due to convenience. Waiting area is in great disrepair, chairs taped, TV not working, coffee machine with sugar and creamer caked all over and pretty gross. But still for tires a good service, affable employees and fast decent service. Guy behind desk asked me to try their oil change service versus dealer. I explained it would have to be around my work hours, so he gave me appointment for one week out «guaranteed to be first appointment, no others made yet» Arrive 758a and line 3 deep and one already very harried employee doing everything. I already hear several before me have appointments he can’t find and how awful everything is… doesn’t bode well for me. 820a and I finally make it to service desk and say I have appointment for 8a. Flustered, overwhelmed employee states” I don’t have appointments for you! There are already 4 people in front of you! I explained I have to be to work by 10a”, and he again states, «I don’t have appointment for you!!! There are 4 in front of you! «OK, Deep breath… leave and realize this is why I go to dealer… never wait, appointment always scheduled correctly, waiting area clean and employees not stretched to limit. This is why I only go to Sears for tires… poor employee, one more to help would have made all the difference, oh, and a clean waiting area would be nice. Come on Sears, customer service and not stretching your employees to the max bring repeat business, this is why you aren’t the department store auto repair leader you use to be!

Very inefficient and slow. Three people waiting in line but the guy at the counter keeps answering the phone and takes his time addressing the callers questions instead of putting them on hold to address the folks in line first. So I called and he answers the phone, I said «I’m in line and it seems this seems like the fastest way to get your attention». He did not like that. What a joke!

I usually have no complaints about the service I receive, that is, until recently.
I brought my car in for a simple oil change & tire rotation. I was told it would be done in 2 hours. 2 hours later, as I walked back from the mall, I noticed my car had not moved. The service man confirmed they did not get to my car due to being short staffed and would «comp» me a free oil change. I asked if it would help to make an appointment and proceeded to make an appointment for 10:00am the following Wednesday.
The following Wednesday, I brought my car in and this time was told it would be about an hour and a half. So, two hours later, I walked back from the mall and again observed that my car had not moved. The service guy confirmed they had not gotten to my car. I told him this was the 2^nd time & that I had an appointment. He said that he had 2 others with 10:00 am appointments and was not going to make any excuses.
I can understand being short staffed and busy but my biggest complaint is that they made promises they could not keep. I wasted 4 hours of my time trying to get a simple oil change and tire rotation. I am very hesitant to go back there again for fear of wasting more of my time.

Too be fair, as a female I expect most auto places try to upsell me because most places just think we’re clueless when it comes to cars and act like we’re going to die in a car crash after we leave their store.
They did try to sell me new tires, however it wasn’t pushy and I simply let them know up front, I needed my alignment done and if I needed anything else they could tell me but I was interested in buying that day. They did my alignment suggested I get new tires and I was on my way. Quick and nice location by the mall so I could have lunch or run some errands.

Con artist. If you are female don’t go in as they think they can dupe you into repairing and replacing a bunch of things. I have a car that is 2 years old and runs perfect. They tried to tell me I needed new hoses and new battery. I have had a coolant leak in a previous car so I know it smells a certain way when it is leaking. Don’t mess with this gal! Plus, I just wanted a simple oil change. It took them 1 hour and 45 minutes. Yes they rotate tires, but this ridiculous. I like honest, integrious places. Go to Walmart in Oldsmar for an oil change. Never had any funny business there.

If you need general repairs done on your vehicle, Sears Auto Center is as good as it gets. I’ve brought several of my cars and those of my family to this specific location, and these folks are the most honest and trustworthy mechanics I’ve ever known. I would not hesitate to send my wife or my mom by themselves to this place to have their cars looked at.
They also have good deals on tires and batteries. For more specialized auto performance needs I’d recommend other places, but for general auto maintenance and repair this place is top notch. I can’t speak to other Sears Auto Centers, just this one, so YMMV.