Steve L.
Posted
First-Time Experience at Take 5 Oil Change
**First-Time Experience at Take 5 Oil Change — Store #0997, 16590 W. Cactus Rd., Surprise, AZ** I decided to give Take 5 Oil Change a try after previously using Cobblestone Auto Spa. The prices are comparable, but when you consider that Cobblestone includes a car wash and an air-conditioned waiting area, the overall value was noticeably better than my experience at Take 5. When I arrived around 5:00 p.m., I was the only customer. A young man greeted me, offered me a cold bottle of water, and directed me into the service bay. He initially told me to keep the engine running so I could keep the air conditioning on because of the heat. After collecting my information and confirming the service I wanted, the technicians were ready to begin. I was then asked to turn off the engine and remain in the vehicle. I had seen that the service would take approximately 10 minutes, which seemed reasonable. In reality, it took about 15 minutes. That may not sound like a long time, but sitting in a vehicle with no air conditioning in the Arizona heat—especially in August—became very uncomfortable very quickly. Because I remained in the vehicle with the hood open, I could see what the two technicians were doing. It appeared that one technician was training the other. That is understandable; everyone has to learn somehow. The service was eventually completed, and I paid the bill. I had found a $25 discount, bringing the total from $132.74 down to $107.74. The discounted price was comparable to what I had paid for previous oil changes. Later, I reviewed the receipt to understand how a $109.99 oil change had totaled $132.74 before the discount. The posted price covers five quarts, and my vehicle required six, adding $11.99. There was also a $4.99 shop service charge, which I do not understand—if it is a standard operating cost, it should be included in the advertised price rather than added separately. After taxes, the final total made sense. The bigger issue is the value and credibility of the service. The receipt included a 15-point service checklist. I cannot speak to every item, but I do know that several listed services were not performed. Despite that, they were marked as completed. The items I know were not checked included: - #6: Air filter - #11: Wiper blades - #14: Windshield - #15: Tires The cabin filter was marked “N/A.” The photos I included support these concerns. The tire-pressure readings showed different pressure levels, which strongly suggests the tire pressures were not checked or adjusted. There was also bug splatter remaining on the windshield, indicating that it was not cleaned. The issue is not just whether every extra service was necessary. The issue is that a checklist was completed as though those services had been performed when they had not. If a company checks off work that was never done, how can customers have confidence in anything else on that list? The bottom line is simple: **Do what you say, and say what you do.** It is the little details that matter, especially when trust is part of the service. I have too many other options to return to Take 5 Oil Change.