Review: Gainesville Goodyear

[GvilleMomma]

Sorry if this post is in duplicate - I'm not sure if Gainesville Goodyear has been a topic previously.

I am FUMING and wanted to let everyone in the area know what happened to my vehicle, stemming from a simple oil change service.

I have always been a patron of Gainesville Goodyear (for oil changes only - and an occasional tire that I need in a pinch). I took my car in for the scheduled oil change first thing in the morning on 4/23. I patiently waited the normal 30-45 minutes for them to complete the service, only to have one of the mechanics come out to try to upsell me on a few things that he said I needed; 2 new tires (at $250/each), an alignment, and a brake line flush. The tires and alignment were out of the question, as I know I can get both somewhat cheaper elsewhere. I inquired about the brake line service, as I wasn't sure why my 06' Cadillac already needed one (I have never had to have this performed on any of my previous vehicles - ever). The mechanic proceeded to tell me that the pH strip that they used to "test" the fluid was showing "dirt" build-up, which could clog my brake lines and create a bigger problem. For $90 - I certainly didn't want to pay if I didn't need this, but I took my chances. Of course, my husband went off when I got home as I "should have called him first"...!

Long story short - about a week after this was performed, I noticed a weird noise that sounded like either a belt, or something under the hood. Thinking it may be the fan belt, I ignored it as we are planning to trade my vehicle this month. Another week passed - and the noise became increasingly louder and more noticible. When idling in traffic, my car sounded like a racecar.

I took my car in last night to have it appraised for a trade. When the service manager at the dealer came back from driving my vehicle - he said something was wrong with my power steering - and that I needed new brakes....???!!!

I took my vehicle home and told my husband what the service manager said about the steering. My husband popped the hood - and low and behold - ZERO POWER STEERING FLUID! NONE! The fools at Goodyear drained my power steering fluid, and didn't even touch the brake fluid. NEVER, EVER, EVER trust these idiots! Luckily my husband added the power steering fluid, and my car is running (and sounding!) like new. I will NEVER go back there as long as I live in Gainesville. Beware of their service scams - they were going to reject my husband's truck inspection a few months back because his HEADLIGHT was out of alignment, and needed adjustment. I hope everyone uses extreme caution when using these people - and checks immediately that what they said they were doing was really done. It could have cost us thousands had we not caught it ourselves.

[bristowmom]

We've had a similar experiences there in the last year. Their service in the last year has not been good.

[Fred]

I've been there a few times for oil changes and never had issues. However I wonder... do oil change places really put in the good oil (synthetic) when you pay for it, or do they just put in the cheap stuff?

[Gainesville Greg]

On my first and only visit they tried to tell me my little Toyota took 8 1/2 quarts of oil and wanted to charge me an extra $18. Needless to say, I will never go back.

[Bobo]

I have never been there, but have talked to many that had unpleasant experiences.

[Richards_Daddy]

Thanks for the tip. I've never had a bad experience there, but now I'll think twice.

Believe it or not, your headlights can go out of adjustment. The adjustors are either inside or outside the headlamp "bucket" and make sure your beam is pointing dead ahead for safety reasons. They were broken on my commuter car and Piedmont Tire and Auto failed my car for inspection for that reason. Hopefully these adjustors just need to be, well, adjusted, on your husband's car to meet inspection. It's hard to find a manufacturer that sells the adjustors as a single piece; usually you have to buy the whole headlamp assembly. Also, some places that do inspections just ignore this step altogether *lol*

[You have been duped by O]

I was recently scammed by them also. Was selling a lightly used 06 Chevy, when the buyer asked to have the vehicle checked out by a mechanic. I recommend she take the car to Gainesville Goodyear. After they, "thoroughly" went though the car, they tried to push $700 of "critical services."

Actually, they were trying to sell a 30k mile service that included everything such as brake line fluid flush, transmission fluid flush and radiator flush. All of these items did not need to be changed according to the GM service manual. They scared away the buyer because they made it sound like this car need hundreds of dollars of service, when in fact it was perfectly fine - they were just trying to generate business.

I'm going to Piedmont Tire next time my car needs work.

[JD From Piedmont]

Count me among the former suckers of those knuckleheads.

Now I'm a Piedmont Tire and Auto guy, all the way. They are fair, honest, and much quicker than Goodyear.

[GvilleMomma]

Wow - I feel like an idiot! I had no clue they were that bad!:(

It sounds like Piedmont Tire and Auto is the way to go. I'll definitely try them next! I still want to tell Goodyear what happened - but think at this point it is a waste of time :(

[Gainesville Greg]

We recently went to the new Curry Automotive on Wellington at University. They did a good job and were upfront and honest about everything.

[Trey]

As I was waiting to have my vehicle inspected there, I watched as a Goodyear service guy placed the lift arms below the fiberglass running boards on someone else's SUV. He proceeded to lift the SUV by the running boards, crushing them under the weight of the vehicle. When he finally noticed, he let it back down and looked around to see if anyone else saw it. He repositioned the arms and raised the vehicle up properly. By then the damage was already done. I went inside the waiting room and told the owner.

[Mike]

Went to Goodyear once with a nail in a tire. Of course of course I "needed" 2 new tires, they wouldn't simply plug it, said it was in the sidewall, which is wasn't. So I had to replace that one and of course the other needed replacing, not cause the tire was bad but because I was replacing the other one - it's a symmetry thing you see. The nail was close to the sidewall, but far enough away that I knew it could be plugged. Went to a gas station, paid about $15 for a plug and the tire lasted another 2 years. I suggest always going to a gas station or something when you have a hole, tire places just want to sell you tires and BS the hell out of ya.

[CJ from Gainesville]

I had similar upsale comments from Gainesville Goodyear and will never go back. I am a Piedmont customer now.

[undisclosed- haymarket]

JD From Piedmont wrote:

Count me among the former suckers of those knuckleheads.
Now I'm a Piedmont Tire and Auto guy, all the way. They are fair, honest, and much quicker than Goodyear.

Every one comes up with something. but i know for a fact none of you have been able to prove any of your claims as you lack the automotive knowledge to do so, and they will physically show you and prove it to you !!!! Go gainesville Goodyear Go !!!

[Mary]

undisclosed-haymarket: Do you happen to work there? How would you know for a fact that these ignorant clients who "lack automotive knowledge" couldn't prove anything? Anybody can "prove" something as physical evidence - it's the honest solution to the problem, the respect and courtesy with which it is addressed that sets apart the scammers who try to upsell you with unnecessary gimmicks and the honest business owners that I would rather support.

[Gainesville Greg]

Can't prove our claims? They tried to tell me my car that holds 5 1/2 quarts of oil took 8 1/2 and tried to charge an extra $14. Then they tried to argue with me and say I was wrong. When you see and hear stories like mine over and over you know people are not making things up.

[Sonnyboylethalst ein]

Can't prove our claims? Ask the woman whose SUV running boards were crushed by their lift. The proof is right there!

[JD From Piedmont]

Yeah, undisclosed, you 'know for a fact'....

if you have just one brain cell you can see that there's a trail of evidence against Goodyear. The fact you're ignoring it means you either work there or have a relative who does.

[Me too]

A couple of years ago they used the "scare tactic" on me -- told me something critical was wrong with my car and that they couldn't guarantee I'd even make it home that day. To this day, the work they strongly recommended has never been done on the car and it's running fine. I, too, am now a customer of Piedmont Tire and Auto.

[Iain B]

We took my Saturn in there a few weeks ago to take advantage of a free oil coupon we got in the mail.

It was a Saturday and they were busy but we had an appointment and were in and out.

They didn't try to push an extra services on us which I did appreciate.