Meineke Car Care Center

Reviews 3

LA

Laura Manning

I originally came to this meineke because of the reviews. They were very thoughtful and customer oriented at first, then as time progressed I felt things change. They became more like chain places that try to get you to buy things. I decided to try another place to get my oil changed after this, then it became time for my inspection in september. I decided to give them another try. I took my car to them and they failed my inspection because of my brakes. They said I needed front and back brakes done with new rotors, pads and calipers. He said it would cost me 300 for the front and 600-800 for the back. He told me that to pass my inspection I had to get the front brakes done. Well, he had me in a tough spot because I know you cant drive on a failed inspection sticker, or youll get ticketed. I didnt also have the 300, so conveniently he mentions the credit card to me. Im stuck so I open one; the only plus is that the card is interest free for 6 months. Im sure this is also how he snakes people. It doesnt end here though unfortunately. Ive been driving my car for about four months and i start to hear a weird noise with the front driver side brakes off and on. I know its the front driver side because the brake pedal vibrates in to my foot and you can hear a noise like the pad is skimming across the surface of the rotor unevenly, or even hitting it unevenly. I take it right back up to them on my next day off with my receipt. The guy has a knowing look on his face, maybe because he knows me from the inspection I had there. I tell him about what Im hearing and I wait. Its now 12:55 pm. Ive been there all day long and he comes out and tells me he cant replicate the noise. He now says that he thinks its a bearing that could be going bad, but he hears no tell tale signs of a bearing going bad when they do the tests. He said it could be that thr rotor is wearing unevenly like Im thinking it is, but that the pads on the front brakes look even and that there is no sign they are wearing differently. Then he tells me that my back brakes have gotten so bad that my "tubes" are bad and the repair is now going to cost me 1000 dollars. Then he says we can up my limit on the credit card to cover it. I said, "no way! Im not going to open more credit with you guys." At this point Im totally getting a second opinion. I kick my self that I didnt drive out of that parking lot the day I got that rejection sticker and go to another place. My story does have a happy ending though and I hope this helps any who read this review, I took my car to Big Als on Indian River Rd. Right down the street today and he did a free inspection of my brakes. He said that they looked good except for I did need a new brake pad on my driver side rear and that soon I would need a new rotor on that side, but that I didnt have to do that right away. I got my oil changed and a new brake pad, I spent 140 dollars. Huge difference! I will never ever go back to that meineke. They are total swindlers and whats sad about the whole thing is that they didnt used to be.

JA

Janey Smith

If there is a zero that is what I would rate them. I have been going to this shop for my car repairs because they are fairly close to my home. Each time I go there, there is nothing for me to do but just trust them. Each time they try to convince you that there is more work to be done to your car than what the original problem was. Almost $800 or more for bills at that place is normal and they even try to convince you to get their brand visa card. I wouldn`t mind paying a lot as long as the work is worth it, but my car just kept on having problems in areas that they have fixed in a span of a month to 3 months. One summer I had a load of work done including change all tires because I`m going on a long trip to take my daughter to College. On our way back the check tire pressure light went on. I had to call emergency road side assistance and they told me that the tires didn`t have the correct pressure. Yet again, not even 6 months after the front tires were already bare. Upon having it checked at another shop, they told me all my wheels werent even aligned, it was qll over the place. This is only one of the incidents as I kept giving them the benefit of the doubt. They would fix something then it would get worst of not even a week, then they ket you pay because it was another problem. Just 2 months ago with a check engine light, they said it was just a sensor going bad. So they just turned of the check engine light, let me pay for that and said, if it comes back to go back because its definitely the sensor. The light did come back but this time I`ve had enough, so I went to another shop which told me it was just all my spark plugs going really really bad (which in another story, it should have been what Meineke replaced before including the misfires they said my car had). The other shop just charged me not even a fourth of what Meineke (Indian River Road) would have charged me. So please just a warning - enter this Meineke branch at your own risk. I sure did learn my lesson that this Meineke does not even deserve the one star I gave here.

A

Anonymous User

First off I usually dont write things like this, but this place is a rip off. First off theres this one mechanic with a mustache who talks to you like a total douche, like he knows everything and wont let you talk. This is particularly irritating when your not incompetent about YOUR car! I also witnessed his attitude with other clients. The job I had done was very simple. It is a very common procedure done for this model. May I add done at other Meinekes in the area for a total of $40-60 dollars from 3 friends I know with same car. First they tell me $70, kind of high knowing about the other stuff, but it is what it is. So I tell them to proceed. One mechanic starts working on my car then stops in the middle to go home or something and so someone else takes over. Couple minutes later the manager comes in and said it is a DIFFICULT job?!! When clearly he doesnt know that I know that this is a well documented procedure and and even seen quotes and DIY from across the nation. The funny thing is that 75% of these people on forums recommended Meineke because of their price for the SAME PROCEDURE. He proceeds to tell me that it will be $150 dollars MORE when my cars on the lift and pipe halfway welded on?! Basically what could I do, my car was being held for ransom!! I would not have done the job if they told me that in the first place. I WOULD HAVE DROVE THE EXTRA 4 MILES FARTHER TO GO TO THE OTHER MEINEKE WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE HAD THEIRS DONE!!!

Other organizations