Info from Ashburn Virginia Tire & Auto (Goodyear Stores)

I think I see a business opportunity here. Who couldn't use an independent "Service Consultant" with automotive systems and service industry knowledge to act as a broker on the customer's behalf to help avoid these kinds of circumstances with the various shops? Sure, there would be a lot of variables to consider and work out in the business plan, but there just may be a need here.

 

I think the business might actually listen if people just stop going there altogether and they all of the sudden have no customer base.

 

Does anyone else experience this when they bring their car to Virginia Tire & Auto (Parkhurst Plaza) for a standard oil change?

I take my Honda in for an oil change every 3k-4k miles. Each and every time they want to do add-on work i.e. 'brake fluid is black', 'trans fluid is brown', 'we recommend an allignment check', 'power steering fluid is dirty', etc...

One time after I was told my trans fluid 'failed the test' I took the car to another shop near my office to have it checked. They said the trans fluid was just fine and charged my nothing to check it.

When it finally did come time for a trans fluid flush I let them do it....exactly 3 months later I am back for another oil change and they said my trans fluid is brown and needs flushed....'wait a minute, you just did it 3 months ago'. His response: 'Oh yes you are correct, we'll take care of it'

I never know what to believe from this place anymore. I keep track of all maintenance and know what Honda recommends so I'll usually just go by the book unless it's something obvious like a belt needing replaced. The only reason I keep going here is the convenience and they aren't pushy, actually very nice about everything. I just don't trust any of their recommendations.

 

yeah I've had that too. Battery low amps, etc. Still works fine. I guess a lot of people go for the up-sell =)

 

Agreed!

 

I AM disappointed. Bad experiences. One time, I was told my rear pads need replacing right away. I told them I'll take care of it myself. Went to do them and they are fine. Beefy. WTF?

Another time, had the rear seals replaced. 3 times I had to take the truck back for a leak they caused in the rear axle. For some reason, they couldn't get it right the first time. The leak happened over several months. Later on that year my rear bearing went. I'm sure it was due to the leaking fluid. Every time I took it back they seemed ticked off. HEY FIX IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!!!

If I could have the tools, garage space, and a lift, I would do all work myself. You'll be amazed what garage's charge you for some simple stuff like replacing an oxygen sensor or replacing an exhaust system. Brake jobs, I do them in my sleep and I use high quality parts.

 

I am extremely unhappy with this place (the Ice Rink location of Virginia Tire & Auto).

The first time I went there for a routine oil change/tire rotation service, I thought all was well with my wife's car. Then as I stood outside my house to greet my wife coming back home, I noticed that one of her tires was completely flat on the car serviced there!

It turned out that someone from the shop torqued out the valve stem from the tire (probably when inflating the tire).

Just a few weeks later, the tire burst while my wife, who was 7 months pregnant at time, was driving the car on the highway. It was a very scary experience for her. Now, I don't know for a fact the damage done to the tire while being driven flat directly led to it bursting later on, but that could not have helped and likely contributed to the failure.

Stupidly, I took the car back for another service at this place. This time, the shop claimed that the front brake pads were too thin and recommended brake and rotor work. I had it done and paid for it.

Later I found out that numerous small items were broken in the car including the hood rod. When I took the car to the dealership for a checkup, not only did I have to pay to have these items replaced/fixed, but I found out that the front brake pads were worn thin! In other words, the shop never did the brake work and simply charged me for it!

I will never go there for any service. There are horrible reviews of the place on the internet, including one customer who overheard front desk reps discuss how they are evaluated on how much service/repair (in dollar terms) they ring up!

 

oh man!!! That's so scary.....

 

So far, on this forum and elsewhere I have heard good things about Gill's, Fallon and C & C, all in Sterling.

I also checked BBB, Angie's and Checkbook. Of the three, C&C is a registered BBB member, so I am giving the place a shot.

 

Just to pile-on...

About a month ago my wife's car wouldn't start. She called me at work. I told her to call AAA as there wasn't much I'd be able to do. The tow truck driver came, popped the hood and noticed battery acid everywhere; apparently the battery exploded. The driver pointed out a corroded battery terminal. So we had her car towed to Virginia Tire & Auto at the Ice Rink Plaza. She called them to let them know her car was on its way and what she likely needed (a new battery). This was around 9AM. She waited around fruitlessly for them to call, finally calling herself at 2:30PM. She was told that the battery replacement would cost $280! WTF?! It's a 2004 Kia! I called them to find out what they did.

Service: Well, it's $125 an hour for labor. Then we did a voltage test - $50. Then the cost of the new battery...
Me: Wait, what? Why did you do a voltage test? The problem was pretty obvious, wasn't it? The battery terminal was extremely corroded. All it needed was a new terminal and a battery, right?
S: Well, it's a pretty standard check.
M: No, it isn't. Not when the battery explodes due to obvious corrosion. Who authorized this work?
S: Your wife.
M: I'll call you right back.

I called my wife and asked her. Nope, they didn't mention anything about a test. Oh, but they did mention the transmission fluid was brown and was in dire need of replacement... which would cost us another $1000 to have that done.

M: Hi, me again. Yeah, my wife says she didn't authorize a voltage check. I didn't either. We're not paying for it.

The next 15 minutes was a verbal volley between me and the service agent on why I'm going to pay for this test. I wasn't getting anywhere on the phone and decided to wait and discuss it in person.

So, we showed up a couple hours later. I asked where the car was, assuming it was ready. The service agent went to check and returned. "It's in the bay... they're doing a voltage test on it." he dutifully reports.

WHAT!?

I located and went directly to the service agent I talked to. I said, "Why are you doing a voltage check on the car now, after I told you explicitly that I didn't want it?" He was busted, flat-out, in a lie. He didn't answer me with anything coherent. Then I said, "By the way, here's my wife. Now tell her what she authorized." Of course, the backpedal ensued immediately and we ended up not paying for it. He was just setting us up for the scam.

They're off the list.

 

To balance out the good and bad experiences...Last month, a warning light in my husbands car indicated that one of his tires was low. He stopped @ a service station in Vienna, they told him that he had a nail in one of his tires and it needed to be replaced. Long story short, he didn't have the tire replaced that night, just had extra air added and headed home.

The next day, he took the car to Ashburn Tire & Auto (Ice Rink) with the intention of having it replaced. After some time had passed, the tech came back and told him that the tire that he had been told to replace was fine, there was no nail, no leak. They checked all the other tires, fine as well. The original place had lied to him. Ashburn Tire & Auto could have easily replaced the tire and we never would have known. They were honest and didn't make a dime off of us that day. But they will in the future.

 

I recently bought 4 tires there.. they were slower and quoted me times to come, and then I waited. They also charged me wrong price... but were willing to fix it when I mentioned... and told me of the rebate- when I didn't know about it. I am concerned now that I read this... but overall was happy. My car is a dream to drive now!

 

if they claim to have done a brake job, and you paid for it... but have a dealer showing you that you need breaks - seems like an easy case for a lawyer to prove. I would not stand for that, it is a safety issue and should not have happened.

Please call them on it and let them know you will look into your options. I have been screwed by this place on work as well and will not use them for service ever again.