Pep Boys Auto Parts & Service

Reviews 3

JO

Joseph Clark

It was a cold night and just started to snow... I was about to make a couple trips outside of town so I figured I might as well get my oil changed. Took it in to the service center on Prater. They began the change rather quickly. I was happy to have the oil change done within a half hour. We waited, chatted with the clerk while the guys got the oil changed. Didnt pay attention. The kid came back in and said "Its about a half a quart low on the dipstick." to which both the clerk and I replied to give it a minute to settle. He said okay, and proceeded to play with this phone there in the front office. It was rather cold out after all so I didnt think much of it. A few minutes later, and they handed me my keys, I paid the $80 (A little steep for an oil change even by my Volvos standards) and left. Drove out of there and about 30 miles out of town I began to smell burning oil. I didnt think much of it since the service guys mightve gotten some on the headers or engine. Spills happen. Oh well. But then I heard the dreaded "CLUNK!" and the car jerked. What? I pulled over to the side of the highway and lifted the hood. Low and behold, no oil cap! My engine was smoking like a chimney and everything was a nice glossy oil soaked yellow. Yikes. By this time, the service center had already closed so I knew calling them was futile. I got the car home, checked the oil level. Took 2 quarts of cheap stuff to get it back to the minimum line. Dang. In the morning, I pulled the car in to the service center, smoke pouring out from under my hood. Im so happy I had a Volvo so that it could handle some abuse like this, or else I likely wouldnt have made it. The guys took their time in replacing my oil and filter. Something about an air compressor problem and their hydraulic lift. Made them put the correct high mileage oil and a new filter just in case there were metal shavings from dry cylinders, cams and lifters. They did so. I asked them to clean my engine so I wouldnt have to smell that burning oil smell. They half-assed it with brake-cleaner and a couple dirty shop towels. I bit my tongue. Got a new oil cap for me and sent me on my way. I requested my money back from the night before. They didnt have the cash on them to do so, so the manager sent me a money order (Took 4 days to get the money order, almost wouldve made this story one of revenge if it took any longer. :P). I deposited it. Took another trip thinking the engine was alright. It seemed okay besides the burning oil smell. Every time I stopped I would see a drip of oil here, one there. It didnt do this before. Even after all was said and done, I still gave them the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe there was still some spilled oil on the splash plates or frame or something... Negative. It kept getting worse and worse. Last week it developed a clicking sound. Oil levels were dropping. Had to add a quart this morning (From an oil change two weeks prior?!). This car was immaculate and in perfect working condition before this oil change. Now the whole timing and belt side of my engine is soaked with oil. The clicking sound has gotten worse. I called Pep Boys corporate customer service and filed a complaint. Again, Ive used Pep Boys time and time again for other things. This screw up might have cost me an engine. Well see within the next 24-48 hours how corporate handles this. But this location dubbed "The Clown Show" by the clerk who quit working there that night told me, will not be getting to lay their hands on my vehicles any time soon. Ill still shop there for my products, but I cannot for the life of me let their guys service my engine anymore.

ED

eddiebv1983

I wish I could rate ZERO stars. A couple of years ago I made an appointment over the phone for an A.C. diagnostic and was told a certain price. When my wife dropped off the car and picked it up it was a completely different price. They used the excuse that it was a new employee and he didnt know the prices and that we were being charged for a "full diagnostic" and not just a pressure check.Mind you this was a couple of years ago. Well aside from my better judgement and the convenience of them being within walking distance I decided to give them another try. I called yesterday and made an appointment for a "full diagnostic" with Danny and was told it was going to be a $49.99, I explained to the guy on the phone my previous experience and asked him to make sure that he was quoting me the correct price. He assured me that the price was going to be $49.99 and that the only time they could get it in would be the next day at 8:30 am. I called my wife and asked her to call just to make sure that I wasnt being jerked around. She called and spoke with the same guy (Danny) and was told a full A.C diagnostic would be $49.99. I called back once I got the information from my wife and made the appointment for 8:30 am the next day. I show up to the shop and check the car in for the appointment and before I signed the paperwork I asked if the charge would cover a full diagnostic. I was told yes and once I was about to sign the paperwork lo and behold, the price was completely different. Once I asked why the price was different I was told that the Danny guy I was speaking to was not a regular employee there and that he was on loan from a California store and that their prices in California must be different from theirs, also that he doesnt know the prices. Same ol story from the same ol store. I asked to speak with the manager and unfortunately for me the guy that was at the counter WAS the manager. The manager Lucas (if he even is the manager) shrugged his shoulders and said "too bad" when I told him what happened the last time. I dont mind paying a little bit more for the work, but what I do mind is the bait n switch tactics they use and the utter lack of care shown by the manager. I told him out of pure principal I would rather take my business else where and pay a little more to a much more reputable shop. Serves me right for giving them another shot.

JA

James Alan Smith

I started using this shop a few years back and had good experiences with them. I even wrote a good yelp review for them in the past. Than about 6 months ago things started going down hill. I took my car in for a break job that was supposed to take less than 45 mins and 3 hours later it was not finished. When it was done, I asked how the alignment they talked me into getting went and they said the "new" kid forgot to do it but than they started rushing around to setup a bay to do this on my car. 30 minutes latter the $89 they quoted me turned into more than $700 and I told them to take it down and forget it. As the "kid" was new as well as the service manager I just chalked it all up to a bad day with a new crew and forgot about it for the most part. Then a few days ago I took my car into pepboys to replace a bad battery. They sold me a new battery and said they had done a "complete" test of my car electrical system and I thought all was great until the next morning when I again had a dead battery. I took it back to them and after 3 hours they gave up and instead said a different system on my car (air, which works great) would need $2000.00 in repairs. They never figured out the issue but gave me the phone number to a business they said was great with car electrical problems. I called the number and it turns out they dont even work on cars. And was just giving this number to get me out of their hair as I was a bit concerned as to why their electrical check the day before found no issues. I found a different place in the end that was able to fix the power drain for $45.00 bucks It seems this location has had a big turnover in the past 6 months and is no longer a good place to take your car.