Mechanics see a woman coming and BAM!!!

[Freedom]

Read your owner's manual and only get what they suggest for regular maintenance.

Find an online forum your car - make, model AND YEAR - and read what folks say!

This was critical for me when I bought Carmine, the Prius, 3 years back. (Wow, 3 YEARS already!) Back then even Toyota dealers didn't know all the ins and outs, and would try to sell you stuff you just plain didn't need - the Prius didn't HAVE that part!

Changing the cabin filter on the Prius is a 10 minute job, I do that myself. Haven't actually had to CHANGE it yet, I annually take it out, hold it under running water to clean it, and put it back. Learned this from the forum, they told us what signs indicate you need a new one vs. cleaning it.

Every time I have my oil changed, the place will put a sticker on my windshield. Each and every one suggests I go back in 6 months of 3000 miles. But the Prius owner's manual is every 6 months or 5000 miles!

You really do have to pay attention, just like reading labels for foods. UGH!

Thank goodness for Prius Chat, or I'd have been done for!

[moosmom]

I have a high school chum that has a garage in Wethersfield that I was taking it to. The only reason I tried this other place down the street was because it was so convenient. I have a call into my friend now. My car is going into his shop tomorrow to get another estimate on all the work the other shop claims it needs.

Sorry Lady's Human, but I disagree with you on this one.

[Lady's Human]

Yeay stereotypes!

You blonds are just so sily.

[Catty1]

I heard Curt, one of the owners, tell a customer over the phone that he overcharged HIM

Unless HIM is transgender?


I hope your car gets all the right stuff at your friend's garage.

[Lady's Human]

So.....

What if the mechanic's a woman? Does that mean she automatically takes advantage of men?

[Karen]

Caveat to those who might think LH is being serious - he knows better than to disparage anyone based on gender - or hair color, either, really. Ma'd zap him with a lightning bolt from heaven if he was serious.

Moosmom, and everyone - ignorance is always taken advantage of by the unscrupulous. As was stated before, READ your owner's manual. Technical writers put a lot of effort into making them understandable to average people.

Educate yourself, that is your only defense. And ask questions, and pay attention to the answers. Write things down if you have to.

[Freckles]

Thank goodness for Prius Chat, or I'd have been done for!

And thank you for the information Prius Chat. Me, and my eight year old Prius thank you.

[mrspunkysmom]

Well, there are unscrupulous mechanics and many do treat women badly. I kept my Ford Escort running and in excellent condition for 12 years. I downloaded the maintenance requirements from Ford online and kept to it.

An incident comes to mind. I took my car in for its oil change. The mechanic insisted that it needed a fuel filter and a system flush. I said no, it had already been done. (I was new to this town.) The mistake I made was staying there. I should have retrieved my car. I said "oil change" only. He still did the other stuff and to get my car back I had to pay $400 or so. I complained at their main office but to no avail.

They didn't stay in business very long at this location.

I just won't go back and I refuse to buy Fords in this area since I would have to deal with this group.

Another mechanic shop I visited twice treated women who brought their "men" with them better and gave faster service than women who came alone. And he was a young guy.

Both of these happened in this big city. To tell the truth I've received better service in Southern small towns than in Southern big cities.

Good luck with your car.

[Karen]

My point is they will also treat men badly if they come across as not car-knowledgeable. And I am sure the unscrupulous take advantage if anyone with an accent - anyone they think they can bamboozle, they will. We just need to arm ourselves with as much information as possible.

I would have taken that guy to small claims court when he did more than you wanted then tried to charge you for it.

[Lady's Human]

I wouldn't have complained a the main office. I would have called the police and told them that the mechanic performed unwanted service on the car and was falsely detaining you. They're supposed to give you a form to sign authorizing the service. if you didn't authorize it, it's not supposed to be done.

Had to call the police once from a service center in........name redacted to protect the guilty........ It took me 9-1- and I never got to the second 1 before the manager was speaking with me.

If you're milquetoast, you're going to get burned.

[mrspunkysmom]

If you're milquetoast, you're going to get burned.

Really? It's a shame. What's really a shame is that a nice person is called a milquetoast.

I normally don't get burned. I've developed a reputation as someone who speaks her mind.

At the place that discriminated against single women, I complained so loud my oil change and servicing were free. That's why I went back. Service was still bad, so I just didn't go back.

I did find a good mechanic that I used until I got the XB.

I never really thought about calling the police. Hope I never have to do that, but I'll consider it the next time. I do fell vindicated somewhat that they went out of business at that location. And I accept every opportunity to disparage their name.

It's is apparently a problem they have. I think they are the only car dealer in the area that runs TV ADs stating how honorable they are.

A mea culpa: I don't know why I didn't think about the agreement. I had to sign one every time at Firestone. Long day at school?

But none of that excuses theft.

[wombat2u2004]

Sometimes there are additional costs that women's vehicles incur