UPDATE: Chris goes back to the dealership and makes the manager give him 50% off his bill
cars
Bad Manners: Walmart Borrows Your Car Without Asking
By 4.3.07
My parents had a similarly horrible experience at Walmart last year here in South Edmonton Common, Edmonton, AB. They took their car into get an oil change, and left it there to do other errands. When they got there, the clerk at the desk could not ‘find’ their car and got all nervous. After about 15 minutes of ‘checking the lot’ the clerk gave in and said one of the mechanics had taken their car to go pick up a friend who’s car had broken down! My parents immediately got the manager involved, and the manager seemed to be taking the appropriate actions, and when the tech came back ~10 minutes later he wasn’t even apologetic about stealing their car to get his friend, he seemed to think he had the right to! My parents, being the nice pushovers they are, and seeing it as someone helping someone else and no harm was done other than ~20 minutes of time let it go. Walmart even made them pay for the oil change! The manager said he would call them back with a resolution, but none ever came.
Jonny’s parents should have explained to the manager that they charged $5.00 a minute for unauthorized car rental. —MEGHANN MARCO
Consumer Reports Loses Some Independence Following Flawed Car-Seat Tests
By 4.3.07
Consumer Reports will consult with outside experts when developing product testing protocols, rendering the staunchly independent organization slightly less so.
Don't Get Your Oil Changed At Walmart
By 4.2.07
The employees and their manager spent most the time spraying each other with air hoses and windshield fluid. 3 hours later, after seeing other folks come and go, we were told our vehicles were ready. We paid and left quickly, trying to avoid any other confrontation that would delay us even more. Flash forward to last week, my wife told me that her check engine light came on while going to work and the same on the way home.
We have to admit we didn’t know there was such a thing as a Walmart oil change before this letter.
Dealerships Rip You Off With The "Four-Square," Here's How To Beat It
By 3.30.07
Former used car salesman Alan Slone grows a conscience and reveals one of the major strategies dealership use to screw you when buying a new car.
Get 30 More Miles Per Tank: Turn Off Engine If Idling More Than 10 Seconds
By 3.29.07
If you’re going to be idling for more than 10 seconds, you can get 30 more miles per tank, according to the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency and the Celias blog.
Consumerist Confessions: Tell Us About Cars…
By 3.27.07
The Consumerist is interested in hearing from car salespeople and customer service representatives in the automotive field. We’re looking for tips related to buying a new or used car. If you are or once were a car salesperson or worked in a car dealership and would like to confess, write to us at tips [at] consumerist [dot] com.
Love at First Exit: Dating at 65 MPH and 32 MPG
By 3.26.07
Bar scene too irritating? Internet dating not bringing you the social life you wanted? Prefer to drive around town with the top down, blowing kisses, hoping to meet Mr. or Ms. Right?
Car Dealer Refuses To Sell You A Vehicle Without A Thumbprint
By 3.19.07
You are handed a slip of paper and told to mark your right thumbprint in a box. The paper says clearly that it’s a request, for your protection, and to prevent your identity theft.
Mexican Hertz Charges $499.48 For A Flat Tire
By 3.14.07
For a pre-paid one month economy car rental for $632.03, on January 16th Hertz rented me a 2007 Blue Chevrolet , Lic#5981AVB in good condition at the Los Cabos airport. I declined to purchase insurance. Late on the night of January 20th, during a rainstorm, a tire blew out on the vehicle; so, after exchanging the tire with the spare the following morning, on January 21st, I returned the vehicle to the agency at their suggestion and wrote a full report. The agency assured me there would be no problem of any charges.
Man Blogs Suing Allied Interstate For Jacking Up His Credit Report
By 3.13.07
One man is blogging about his suing of Allied Interstate in small claims court for jacking up his credit report.
5 Ways To Find Cheap Gas
By 3.9.07
Life Clever has five different ways to find cheap gas fast: Desktop widgets, websites, text-messaging services, mobile web browser and GPS.
Potentially Insane Ways To Increase Your Fuel Efficiency
By 3.6.07
Wayne doesn’t get high mpg marks by tinkering with engines or using funky fuels or even, most days, by driving a hybrid. He gets them by driving consciously – hyperconsciously….
Jiffy Lube's Underhanded Charges
By 3.4.07
Jiffy Lube charged Carlo for an oil change. They even warned his car suffered from a transmission fluid leak and an excessive oil leak. Only one problem: They hadn’t looked at the car.
When I came back, they told me that my car was ready and even pointed out that my car had a transmission fluid leak and excessive oil leak. They even said that they replaced my filters and window wipers. I agreed to the charges and paid for it. After five minutes, the cashier comes back and tells me that my car hasn’t been serviced, yet.
Carlo’s car was a chameleon. They thought the car was green, even though Carlo told them it was “bluish-green.” Well, that explains everything. Carlo had been a Jiffy Lube customer for six years. Now, he will service his car elsewhere.
A Humble Suggestion: Do Not Try To Trade Your Baby For A Dodge Intrepid
By 3.1.07
Police Sergeant Brett Wilson says the department was notified of the alleged baby swap yesterday morning. Within hours, they had mother Nicole Uribe behind bars and the baby safely placed with a foster home.
Google Maps Has Real Time Traffic For 30 Major Cities
By 3.1.07
Holy crap, this is awesome. Oh wait, we don’t use our car anymore because we moved to Brooklyn. For the rest of you: Holy crap! This is awesome: Google Maps has real time traffic! Now the endless line of cars shining brightly to the horizon can be expressed in pretty, yet oddly depressing, colors via Google Maps. Bliss. —MEGHANN MARCO
Fake Vehicle Warranty Renewal Card Confuses Consumers
By 2.7.07
It was marked as an “IMPORTANT VEHICLE NOTIFICATION” and advised us to call a toll free number and have our current milage available. It warned that this was “DATED MATERIAL” and we needed to “RESPOND IMMEDIATELY”. The return address was from the “Warranty Notification Dept.”
