Walmart Woes

[seekermeister]

I just got back from shopping, and I left the car at the automotive service, while getting groceries, because I needed a new tire on the front. I don't shop very often, so when I do, it is somewhat of a chore.

When I had checked out the groceries, I returned to automotive to pay for the tire, but I was told that they had refused to service it, because it had a water leak. I knew that it didn't, but I had just filled the reservoir tank before going to the store, so there may have been some kind of overflow.

When I asked the clerk why that would matter, she said that it was a fire hazard. When I told her that antifreeze didn't burn (actually, it was just water), she wouldn't accept that.

When I finally found my car, which had been parked at the far rear of the store, I spoke with one man in the shop, and he said that it was just store policy.

I can't swear that there wasn't some kind of leak when I arrived, but there was no sign of one when I returned to the car, and there was no sign of one after driving home.

I will continue to shop at Walmart, but I will never use their automotive dept again.

 

[MWRed]

Store policy or not, that's a totally BS reason. All the work i've done on cars, and had done on cars, that's a new one to me. The only time I was ever refused anything was because my Camaro didn't have a cat-converter on it. I can understand the legal part of that one. The water "leak"....not so much.

What would they do if it was pouring rain when you dropped your vehicle off? They couldn't tell the difference anyway.

I've never had a vehicle serviced at wal-mart, and now i'll make sure that I never do.

 

[soho1]

Twitter it.

 

[seekermeister]

Sorry, I have never twittered anything before. I see the words Twitter, Facebook, etc. but I get the impression that it is nothing more than an organized advertising gimmick.

 

[Layback Bear]

I have been repairing cars for over 40 years. I am a Ford certified Master Mechanic and have never heard of such a B/S story in my life. Their must be something in the water in that store. Fix the tire and if time allows check out the leak and inform the customer of what was found. No charge for the check out.

 

[seekermeister]

Instead of twittering, I just send a somewhat direct statement of my feelings on the subject to Walmart corporate headquarters. I doubt that it will have any effect, but it did make me feel better for the moment.

 

[Zepher]

Does that mean that Walmart won't fix a car that needs a coolant leak fixed?

We do most of our own work ourselves on our cars,
here we are installing a 96 LT1 motor into an 82 Trans Am,

Black motor in the back went into the 82 and the red one went into my 86 Trans Am

 

[seekermeister]

Zepher,

Does that mean that Walmart won't fix a car that needs a coolant leak fixed?

I guess it must, I never bothered to ask. It is made even more annoying, because they have cordoned off the area in front of the garage entrances, and you have to wait or find someone that will let you in. I arrived during a break, and I then had to wait behind another chain, for them to decide to go back to work. Maybe it was all that waiting and idling that caused it to get hot enough to leak.

Too bad you don't leave nearby, it looks like you could handle a little job like mine easily.

 

[MWRed]

Does that mean that Walmart won't fix a car that needs a coolant leak fixed?

We do most of our own work ourselves on our cars,
here we are installing a 96 LT1 motor into an 82 Trans Am,

Black motor in the back went into the 82 and the red one went into my 86 Trans Am

That's awsome. I really miss doing that kinda stuff. Rebuilds and motor swaps were my pastime for years. Had a Chevelle, and 81 Camaro, an 86 Camaro, and plenty of trucks.

Friend of mine had a 79 TA, and an El Camino also that we had a lot of fun with.

Once we managed to stuff a Olds 455 into an 84 FBody Camaro. Needless to say, the half-frame didn't last long, but man, did it fly.

 

[WartHog]

Sorry, looks like the thread was hijacked and I'm just going to perpetuate it. Love the TA. I have had 4 Camaros and currently own a 1980 Z28. Love F-Bodies!!

So, back to Wal-Mart - that's messed up what they did! They just had to change your tire. It's not like you asked them to change the alternator or anything on the engine. Messed up policy!!!

 

[WartHog]

Does that mean that Walmart won't fix a car that needs a coolant leak fixed?

That cracked me up!