Meineke Car Care Center

Reviews 4

CH

Chris P

I specifically created a Google review account so that I could comment about this place. If I could rate them ZERO stars, I would. If I had work done there, it would either: 1) have been so bad that Id have to report them to the better business bureau, or 2) I would have been ripped off so badly and possibly not have known it. What a mistake it was to bring my vehicle here. Even for the simplest of things-checking the voltage of the cars battery-they dont know what the eff they are doing and are pretty rude about it. I call them up, and the guy assumes I know NOTHING about cars. Ok, no problem. As long as they do the work and are honest, I dont really care too much about them assuming I dont know things. I saw bad reviews here on google about them, but because the ONLY thing I wanted them to do was to check the voltage of my battery, I figured-how could they mess that up? I didnt get a good feeling from the guy on the phone, but again, Im literally bringing my car there for 2 minutes of the simplest task. I arrive and the place is beyond dumpish. Gaping holes in the ceiling, the place is nasty, etc. Ok, so the looks of place dont indicate honesty but still-really disgusting looking. I tell the guy that I want them to test the voltage of my cars battery. The guy and his mechanic go outside, and within 2 minutes (of eyeballing the engine), tell me that its the alternator of the car. Now I know that this is a lie, because Ive already brought my car to my HONEST mechanic who tested everything (before I changed out battery which was under warantee)-who said its not the alternator or starter. They told me its a short and to bring it to someone who specializes in electrical. I also brought vehicle to friend of family, who confirmed that it wasnt alternator, but see if can get battery swapped out b/c still within warrantee. Which is what I did. At this point, Im bringing them to this Meineke because its ridiculously close to my house (much closer than my mechanic in flushing), and and I just need to be certain that nothing is draining the battery after several days of non-usage. So I was bringing my car with the brand new battery to simply get a voltage reading, and the guy tells me that its the alternator and hell happily go inside and give me prices for a new alternator. I told them Ill think about it. Didnt want to confront them on their LIE, so I just wanted to leave. They go inside, and thats that. I get in my car and turn the key in the ignition to leave-and now there is NO turning of engine, and NO lights on dashboard-which it has NEVER done before. I go inside and tell them the mechanic made a mistake. He did something to my battery. The guy goes inside the shop, opens the door, and yells-repeating my exact words in a sarcastic voice to the mechanic. The two of them come out with smirks from the shop, and go to my car. Opened the hood-and as it turns out, the nitwit of a mechanic was so damned rough with his tools on the battery that he accidentally disconnected the battery from the car. WTF? Talk about incompetent. DOESNT say hes sorry, and the two of them leave and go inside. No apology, no erasing them from looking like incompetent people that Id never trust my car to, etc. Are all Meinekes this way? I have no idea. What an embarassment they are to the Meineke name. Moving ahead I wouldnt even bring my car to a Meineke because I dont know how guys like this remain in business. If you choose to bring your car to these dishonest nitwits-even for the simplest thing-then you are nitwit given what myself and other google reviewers have written about this place. Save yourself the headache. I dont know what planet any other reviewer is on to have commented that this place is attractive or comfortable in any way. They had a tv-whoopity do. They suck big time so who cares about a tv? I think they are writing favorable reviews for themselves.

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CA

Caleb Wilkes

I moved into the area. They were the most conveniently located to me. I did a safety inspection there. They told me I needed 2 new tires to pass the safety inspection. My friend had warned me that I was going to need to replace the tires to pass the inspection. So I tried them again when my car was running rough. He replaced my struts and some shocks for $840.00. That did not seem unreasonable, but when I went in to pay and pick up the car, the worker at the front desk offered to me that if I paid in cash he would wave the $70 taxes on the transaction, i.e. he made an offer that if I were willing to pay in cash, he would do an under-the-table deal with me that would not be reported on their income and that would save me $70 in taxes. Since I dont have a thorough way to double-check their work, it seems like they generally did good work for me. However, their strong willingness to be willing to work under the table when the government was not aware is a general sign of non-trustworthiness. If they are willing to screw the government when the government does not know, its pretty likely that they would be willing to screw me when I cant tell. I probably wont go back there.

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Bill Costello

The guy who notes some of these comments are made up is dead on. I am about to contact the Better Business Bureau to file an official complaint against these lying criminals. They pulled a bait and switch scam on me and removed parts on my car when I was only asking them to check for a problem. They tried to milk over $800 from me to replace my tie rod ball joints which in reality are two $45 parts. They have fake price points for all their parts, and they are literally thieves. I caught the owner in about 8 lies in a 2 minute conversation. Upon askin around, I learned that all the Port Washington cops are very familiar with this jerk-off as many people call the cops on him apparently. Another shop owner told me how one old man came for an inspection and they slashed his tires and tricked him into replacing all his tires and shocks for no reason. STAY AWAY.

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Anonymous User

Been to a few mechanics in the area, but they all were iffy with pricing. Ever since this Meineke opened up in Port Washington, I decided to give it a shot. First visit was to repair a tire with a nail in it leaking air. In less than 30 minutes, it was a flat $20 repair + taxes. Second visit was a few months later to repair a flat tire (different tire), and also do my yearly state inspection. In about an hour later, it was $19.95 inspection + $20 repair + taxes. Each time, they cleaned my tire, put away spare tires, etc... So far so good! Plan on coming back until they give me a reason not to. Update (09/14/2011), my car was running low on engine oil. I put too much into it and brought it to Meineke to drain out a quart. They did it for free on the spot. Tipped the guy who did it for me. All good now.

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