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Jiffy Lube

Jiffy Lube • Jousting with Jiffy Lube   • The Company's Pledge   • If All Else Fails --- Consumer Complaints • Alleged Damages • A Consumer Victory • Billing & Pricing • Inside Jiffy Lube

Jiffy Lube is the McDonald's of the automotive service business. It has standardized, cleaned up and branded the hum-drum routine oil change, making it something that's now accomplished in a few minutes in relatively pleasant surroundings.

Unfortunately, things don't always turn out as well as one hopes, as the many sad tales in this section demonstrate. Defenders of Jiffy Lube will claim that if Jiffy Lube wasn't a big, coast-to-coast chain, all the incidents of alleged damage wouldn't even be noticed. Maybe, but they'd still be serious problems for those whose cars are turned into large planters.

We asked Automan, an ASE-certified master mechanic, to examine the damage reports. His response:

I have had to clean up several very expensive problems, caused by Jiffy Lube. J-L is a total disservice to the industry. The list of J-L woes are so long and well documented, I will not repeat them here. The basic recuring theme is that even after the victim sues them in court, excuting a judgment results in little satisfaction. J-L has learned how to lie straightfaced to consumers and depends on uneducated victims for its continued success. Stay away from them!

Good service is not quick, jiffy, speedy, or cheap, thrifty, inexpensive etc. Technicians are highly-trained, hard-working students of the automobile. We buy lots of overpriced tools and books, and spend late nights studying and making customers happy. We work hard and have the scars to prove it. Nothing about today's automobile is easy, except maybe putting in the key and turning on your radio.

I thought the consumers were smart enough to stay away from such establishments. How are the horror stories not making it across the dinner table? If you want a quick oil change, make an appointment with your local certified mechanic and bring him/her some coffee and a smile if you want it quick. Or if you must patronize a quick-oil place stick with an independently-owned operation that will not have the arrogance and a gaggle of lawyers to keep you from collecting damages should they do something harmful to your auto.

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