Consumer Rant #1 For 2009

Yesterday morning, after noticing that I had gone way over my usual 3000 mile oil change, I went out to Farm King for my usual Super Lube for $24.95. They change the oil, check my tires, filter and replenish my fluids (I love talking dirty). As luck would have it they had some sort of technical malfunction at the shop that prevented changing the oil on trucks. Drat! OK, I could have waited another week but decided to go to one of those quickie oil change places. My impression from the past was they find everything under the sun that is wrong with your vehicle to pad the final cost. I told myself to stay firm and just go for the absolute basic change, I figured $19.99 plus tax.
I pull in and no other cars so I thought, alright, this is your lucky day. Well, once I got into the office, in they came. !st trip in, my battery is in good shape. Great! Next trip, I need a new filter, they even showed me an old one, supposedly mine. Reluctantly I said OK. That couldn't add much more than $8-10 bucks. Next trip, my gas filter needs changed. I said, no. Next trip, my coolant needs flushed. Again, I said no. Next trip the guy asked if I had noticed a missing in my engine and I said no. he said he found a loose wire but replaced it, and I said thanks.
Finally, it is over and I get a bill for over $49.00. Cussing at my inability to wait another week for Farm King, I drive out the place having been fleeced and positively vowing NEVER to pay for a fifty buck oil change again.

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