FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

[THE SENTINEL]

Took my wifes 2002 Venture van to midas 3-3-2012. Had a
pop noise every once in awhile right front.Took it in.
well you need struts front brakes control arm links.
$1300.00.Ok so I let them do the work.when I picked it
up .I had more popping noise then when I STARTED.I took
it back 6 times.Today oh you might need a lower control arm
I think.This is the mechanic.He is the only guy I talk to.
The service manager is always to busy working on his go-cart
on the hoist.Today was it they said if I BUY THE PART,they wouldput it in for free.I told the tech a control arm is cheaper than court.Then I CALLED THE GO-CART MANAGER.I asked
him why I was negotiating with the mechanic,well hes the guy you always talk to.I told him I was going to corprate.Which
I already did,then I told him small claims court.Then he got
mad because I WAS THREATING HIM.So I talked to his boss now
I have to take it to another midas by my work.The dist supervisor Corey says that they will make it right,we will see.
I am going to file a major complaint on Brett.

 

[High Binder]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

I thought Midas was a muffler shop.?

I do all my own wrenching and save tons by doing so, that might be worth doing in this case especially with such an easy job.

The popping sounds like it's maybe the CV joint. Does it pop while you go around a corner? Sounds like you fell into the typical shop BS policy of just making up everything they could to add more to the bill.

Small claims probably won't help unfortunately.

 

[THE SENTINEL]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

It pops just driving down the road.

 

[Maggot]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

Man, you just got fucked, and it happens all the time in these chain shops. Case in point:

Locally (Mid Atlantic)we have Merchants Tire and Auto, which is allied with NTB, and Tire kingdom, out west. Ive bought my tires from them for years cause they are nationwide and offer free balance and rotation...easy when Im away from home. So I took it in for brakes and they did all four. The first set lasted less than 10,000 miles, so I went in and bitched. They replaced them and the next set lasted about 8000. Next set, 8000. Seems they put in Chinese parts when I had specified only OEM. So I go in furious and told them. They told me they wouldnt replace them again so I called the district manager and told him about it. I agreed to pay for the parts from Chevy and they did the labor. So I take it out on the road and the son of a bitch pulled to the right really bad and they couldnt figure out why. I takeit to a Chevy garage who specializes in trucks and they pull the hubs...the mechanic at Merchants put both primaries on one side and both secondaries on the other (its a 2002 and still has drums on the rear)so it had to pull. Took it back to Merchants and called the district manager again and they put on new shoes, labor at their expense. Whew, so Im satisfied...So the mechanic tells me I need shocks (though he had just passed it for inspection a month before) back to Chevy, no problem.

Bought a new (used) car and take it in for inspection...needs brakes and timing belt...total of about $1000.00 Took it to the dealer and they inspected it no problems. Went on line and did a search...Yelp, City search, etc. I hear the same stories from LOTS of people ...Merchants told them they needed all this work they didnt need.

I wrote a letter to the state Attorney General. I hope he shuts them down. So BEWARE OF MERCHANTS TIRE AND AUTO. They are criminals, and I bet that is endemic nationwide in these chain stores. We all need to start reporting them every time.

 

[THE SENTINEL]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

it aint over yet.

 

[ThatRedGti]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

Midas and valvoline both are a bunch of criminal infested hellholes. I had the unfortunate need for some money and took a job at valvoline(where I was highly disrespected and getting threats that I was going to be fired daily) and took a joat valvoline(where they couldn't figure out I was a student and couldn't work 6 days a week open to close, with NOT ONE lunch break or anything). Then when I quit they withheld my paycheck for 2 weeks giving me some reason on why they didn't have it. Don't take your car to any of those quick service shops, your car is generally put back in a worse condition then it arrived in.

Rant off

 

[Slapchop]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

Sucks that you have to go through this. Many times at these chain stores/large corporations they hire just about anyone off the street and pay them minimum wage to do shit work. There is little if any accountability at places like these.

One thing these big chain stores hate is bad press. In this day and age you don't even have to go to the media in order to embarrass these people. I'd start out by finding out who the head honchos are at Midas. Get both email and postal addresses. Fire off a few emails to everyone in charge from the store manager to the corporate bosses. Then compose a well written letter detailing your dealings at the store. Include dates, times, names of people you spoke with. Make it as detailed as possible. Advise them that you plan on filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. File said complaint and mail a copy of that letter to everyone in the chain of command at Midas.

If you're a "social net-worker" write/post/blog about how you were treated on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter or whatever online media outlet that you belong to. Spread the word and make it known that you are doing this.

Follow these steps and you'll be hearing from them before you know it and they'll be tripping over each other in their attempts to pacify you and make things right.

Good luck.

 

[THE SENTINEL]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

I am going to the other midas shop monday.I talked to the tech
when I picked up the van today.He told me sometimes he works
on 3 cars at a time.while the other guys help the Manager with
his racing go-kart hobby.This guy is really frustated at the
Manager.we did some test driving together.I found out he was
a abrams tanker in Desert storm.He also told me they are calling him in Monday to the shop on his day off.seems some
shit might be hitting the fan.I am going to make it my mission
in life to black ball them.

 

[THE SENTINEL]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

went to the other Midas,had my van 5 1/2 hours.drove and looked
at it Told me I HAD A CRACKED YEAR BRAKE SHOE.more bullshit.
I went to pick it up and the guy tells me he just got a open
bay to look at it.I told him all of them were open at 7.30 am
what happen to my 8 am appointment.He looked at me like I was
nuts.I told him give me my keys and I left.I called corprate
told them I wanted to talk to the franchise owner.fucken
losers

 

[springer01]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

I know some people might not agree with this, but being a GM technician for 13 years I feel strongly about taking your car to the dealership for repair. I know they cost more, but at least they have actual qualified people working on cars and have access to documents and information that chain stores don't. Even with dealerships it's hit and miss sometimes, but you've got way better odds of getting it fixed correctly and fixed right the first time.

 

[High Binder]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

Best bet is to chalk it up as a learning experience. Dealerships are expensive for a reason but are worth it.

Personally, like I said above, I think you should start wrenching on your own car, you'll learn a ton and save even more. I've never taken any of my cars to a shop, but if you dive into it you can figure it out or buy a shop manual and that'll walk you through everything.

 

[ubet]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

Op, I feel for you, its tough to find a good mechanic. I have learned the hard way to never take it to midas, pep boys, or any of those quicky places. You get what you pay for.

 

[THE SENTINEL]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

Talked to franchise rep today.Told me to give him 24hrs,I gave
him the whole run down.Told him didnt want Midas touching the
van and I want all my money back.This franchise has 168 stores
in OHIO,AND 188 COMPLAINTS with BBB.

 

[jcfd2201]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

The automotive repair business is full of crooks and criminals!! There are even "shady" dealerships out there. We have 4 family owned and operated tire and auto service centers located in the same region but each in a small town. I still go in and work at the store closest to me and our philosophy and policy is to be honest with a customer as well as take the customer out and show them their problem. Reputable shops are out there and can be found with a little internet search and asking of friends and family. Research a shop's reputation before using them!

As for your problem TS I hope it is resolved soon and to your satisfaction. I'm just curious if the replaced the strut mounts when they did the struts. A bad strut mount/bearing plate can cause a popping sound.

 

[THE SENTINEL]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

Gonna have my dad check it out in the morning.Should of took it
to him in the first place.hes 2 hrs away.hes been working on cars 45 plus years.he will figure it out.

 

[mexicanmatch]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

We got a crooked Chevy dealer in town, They found out i had a defected head on my truck at 80.000 miles, I even saw the service bulletin on it. they said they were talking to the factory abt replacing the heads. just over 100.000 miles the service manager said Chevy would not do anything because the truck now had over 100.000 miles on it. I called the local and regional reps and they hung up on me and i didn't get ugly with them. So i wrote Chevy HQ and never got a reply. I even paid cash for it but it's in the past now. NO MORE CHEVY'S.

 

[THE SENTINEL]

Re: FIGHTING MIDAS IN ENGLEWOOD OHIO

Dad fixed it.My Dad just turned 69 years old,he works like
he 29.He checked the struts ,brakes,control arms bushings
everything midas had worked on.found nothing.Then I got in the
vann with hood up shifting reverse to drive.you could hear the
popping noise in the right front the motor was torxing back and
forth.Then I pushed the van back and forth while he checked for
vibration.I put my hand on the black tube that runs from the
fender to the front you could feel the vibration.Dad went to
tighten the bolts ,both of them stripped.we put some bigger
bolts in.took it for a ride.Fixed.2 freakin bolts stopped the
popping noise.was a process of elimination,I am glad to have
a Dad that will bust his behind to find a problem.I might be out
$1300.00.But I got a great Dad.very proud of him.