Let's all learn together. So the next time we go to any mechanic we know what we're dealing with car wise.
This experience was a huge education in customer service & car knowledge.
On 5-18-22 CHS "Mr. Tires" had replaced my old battery with a new one (159.99 + core 22.00) I bought at O'Reilly auto parts.
On 1-13-23 CHS "Mr. Tires" replaced my ignition switch. My car wouldn't start again.
I had it towed there. The written itemized bill shows ignition switch, actuator, labor, shop, & tow; with tax: $250.30 At that point I thought I was good to go.
On 4-5-23 they ("Mr. Tires") had to fix my battery b/c my car wouldn't start again. ($31.96)
On 12-7-24 CHS "Mr.
Tires" had to replace the battery (there was a "draw") plus a "cable end battery". The written itemized list includes: cable end battery, labor, shop supplies, & MT-26R Battery ($176.95); including tax: $231.59
At that point I thought, surely I'm good to go, new battery, new battery cable, and new ignition switch ($29.24) & actuator (most expensive thing on the ignition list: $92.78)
During this time my car would fail to start. A neighbor came over & jump started me. I also noticed the key would jiggle in the ignition switch.
I could remove my key while the car was running. I thought maybe it was a "feature" & didn't think it would be an issue considering the ignition switch was new.
On Thurs. 6-12-25 I was starting my car to go to work &, you guessed it, my car wouldn't start again. The lights worked but the car wouldn't turn over.
Not even a little "RRRRR". Nothing. With the lights working I'm thinking "It can't be the battery (6 months old), the lights are working. Everything was closed at that point & I wasn't going to miss work.
I called for a ride & decided to walk or get a ride until Monday when I was off.
Everything in me said "Don't go to CHS again." I googled around & Big E Auto Service had 5 stars. I called them Monday morning 6-16-25 (8:55am) & 2 men came to jump start my car & check for the "draw" (9:13am). It started. I told one of them that the ignition switch was replaced but that it was jiggly & the key would come out & that I already had an issue with the battery before.
They took it to their shop that day. I called them at 4:42pm to see the progress of the car. & he said the battery is "bad" & needed to be replaced. I asked again about the ignition switch & they said they'd look at it.
At 5:01pm he called & said the ignition switch needed to be fixed b/c it was draining the battery. "Loose ignition switch" They needed to rebuild the ignition port where the key was locking b/c it was loose. (They had "Ron" from another place rebuild the ignition switch b/c they don't do that.)
They called Wed. 6-18-25 (5:57pm) They called me with the run down of what needed to be done & a quote.
Battery core & lock cylinder $397.69. Itemized printout: 26RECO Battery: 156.34; Battery core: 22.00; Battery R&R: 56.00; lock cylinder 55.01; electrical ("battery tested and draw tested to find what was draining battery") 78.40; labor 134.40; shop supplies 6.72 plus tax =397.69.
On Thurs. 6-19-25 (10:41am) I called to check the progress of the car & to also see if I'd be able to get it by Friday. At 4:46pm he called back to let me know my car was done & that they would bring it to my house.
I wrote them a check, they handed me the keys & said I could get the receipt from the office. I asked for the battery back (6 months old, under warranty...get a refund). I could get the old battery from the office as well.
I went to work & was going to deal with phase 2 Monday on my day off. Monday came & I just wanted to rest.
I went into CHS "Mr. Tires" on Thurs. 6-26-25 (10:29am) after I had picked up the invoice, & the battery from Big E. I asked about a refund for the ignition switch and the battery.
He said he couldn't do it b/c he doesn't have the part (ignition switch) & that he'd have to check the battery 1st. I told him that I have the paperwork from Big E. He couldn't do it with paperwork, he needed the part & test the battery himself. I showed him all the paperwork from what he'd done & the paper work from Big E.
He made copies.
He wanted to keep the battery, "charge it", & give me a call. I was leery. But going against better judgement I said "Ok".With instant regret, I grabbed a pen from the counter & asked for a piece of paper. I wanted to write down any info the battery had to tell me.
He flung a yellow post it pad at me & said "I'm not going to screw you over." I put two fingers on the old invoices from him & said "Twice". & I said it says a lot about your attitude flinging the pad at me. He said he didn't fling it at me, he thought I needed a pen. Riiiight.
He said he'll charge it & call me.
As I was in my car I was taking notes. Less than 5 minutes, he came out to my car after I left his shop & said his battery tester said it was fine & he's going to call Big E.
On Friday 6-27-25 I missed his call at 10:29am. (I don't answer the phone when I'm sleeping or at work. I don't keep my phone bedside & I was raised no phone calls at work.
Reasonable.) He called again at 1:56pm & said Big E said the "ignition switch is causing a drain on the vehicle." But CHS said the "battery is good" no refund. I called Big E at 2:03pm & he said the "loaded tester said bad battery" & that they have a print out. I went to Big E's 1st to get the print out. They asked if I had the battery.
CHS has it. They said if I got the battery back they would refund me the core charge. I went to CHS again & he asked to keep my battery over the weekend & test it. He wanted another store to check it.
He said he might be able to get me a refund for the ignition switch b/c of his "honor code" but reminded me he doesn't have to b/c I don't have the part. He said they can't do refunds over the weekend & he wants to test the battery 1st. So there's nothing they can do until Monday. I paused.
"It's Friday isn't it?" (this was mid afternoon) He took me over to the battery & had an electronic tester & printed out 3 tests "see it's good". I told him that Big E has a print out that it's bad. "How do you explain that?" He wanted to hold everything over the weekend. All I could do was wait until Monday.
I waited over the weekend & went to work.
On Monday 6-30-25 he called at 1:08pm & 3:59pm.
I missed those calls. (Again, I don't answer the phone when I'm at work or sleeping, more than reasonable.) I just want to be fair. He did call. I called him back at 5:16pm.
He reiterated that the battery was good & that he took it to someone else to have it tested. He printed out a photograph of a tester screen "Midtronics" "12.60V 687 CA GOODBATTERY". He said because of this he can't warranty it. But, he would give me $120 for the ignition switch even though he doesn't have to b/c he doesn't have the part; this is something he made sure I knew over & over again.
I could get it Tues. with my battery.
I called Big E at 5:21pm and left a message letting them know that CHS wouldn't refund me the battery. I'm confused how they both have two different answers.
Today Tuesday 7-1-25 I went to CHS. When I 1st arrived there were 3 men (including the one who I dealt with in this whole process) lingering in the office.
I could tell by their faces they weren't pleased with my presence. The man, "P" came over & gave me the paper copy photo of the test read & handed me $120 cash. Again, reminding me he didn't have to do it. He said he was doing me a favor b/c I didn't have the part (ignition switch).
Yet, he had the battery & wouldn't refund that b/c it was "good". I told this to him. He didn't want to hear it. He said it's not about the battery it's about the ignition switch.
I said I know, I understand. But if I get a refund for a part present, why not the battery? I was questioning why if the battery is present, can't I have a refund? He was adamant that the part needed to be present with the ignition switch.
There's the battery. I don't get it. He didn't want to explain, he just wanted me out of there. He compared this situation as a "return at Walmart".
You have to have the thing. I said it's not the same. He said yes it is. I said this is a service.
Then he put his hands up & said we're basically not on the same page ...dismissive. Either he's right or he doesn't listen. I asked for a receipt of the refund. He said I guess I can just...here...I can write a dummy ticket.
He photocopied my initial ignition switch receipt and wrote "warranty these back to customer $120.00 cash & his signature. The labor: 85.00 & ignition switch: 29.24 had an "X" by each pointing to what he wrote. I was getting ready to leave & he said "I'm going to carry the battery to your car." He asked me where I wanted it & placed it in the car. He told me to have a good day & walked away.
What was that? The switch in character threw me off a little.
Initial ignition switch bill: 250.30 refund: 120.00 loss: 130.30
Initial battery bill: 231.59 refund: 0 loss: 231.59
Total loss: $361.89 (This doesn't include the bill from Big E having to replace those things $397.69)
Now some irony: He brought up Walmart. On 4-9-24 CHS had put on 4 tires (I also got an oil change that day) Itemized written invoice: auto gold 5-30 (5 quarts): 22.50; filter: 4.95; service: 25.00; shop supplies: 2.00; 205/55/16 MCraft (4 tires): 415.00; mount and balance (4): 40.00; disposal fee (4): 20.00 plus tax $562.28
A few months after this my tires kept lowering, not flat but low. It didn't make sense, my tires were new...all 4.
I'd go put air in & it'd be fine for a little while. It wasn't just a single tire. I'd ask someone: what would make the tires goes down, they're new & there's no puncture. "oh, the weather" "oh, the cold", "they'll be fine, that's normal".
ok... I was at Walmart (2-14-25) & decided to pull up to the service station they have as my tires were lowering again, this isn't "normal". The mechanic noticed my low tires right away. "We'll fix that up for you." I left them to it & went in for groceries.
When I came back for the car the man said "Who put on your tires?!?" By his tone it wasn't good. I said "I'm not going to say their name. I'll just forgive them & never go back." There were loose lugnuts & the tires weren't sealed properly. When I went to the service desk to pay they said "no charge".
Someone had put it on their debit card. I said "Are you sure?" "Yes." They handed me the print out & I thanked them over and over. I was shocked. Not only did these Walmart employees have awesome customer service skills from the get go.
They showed genuine concern & someone behind that desk secretly paid the bill.
My faith in humanity was restored on multiple levels that day.
When the man from CHS mentioned Walmart, that day & those people immediately came to mind. When I told him "it's not the same", the meaning behind my words had multiple layers.
Isn't it funny how life will remind you of the good things in the middle of the bad.