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Pep Boys Consumer Reviews - Page 6

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Questionable Service Practices
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APOPKA, FLORIDA -- I am very disappointed with Pep Boys complaint resolution system. I took my car to Pep Boys in Apopka, FL to tell me what was wrong with my a/c. They did a "System Check" and said it needed an evac and refill of the refrigerant. That was done and 3 ½ days later my a/c still did the same thing. It would blow hot air and refrigerant would blow out of the underside of the car.

I took it back and then they said the orifice hose and the accumulator can was blocked with trash. They replaced that (for additional money of course). I left and 2 days later the a/c did the same thing. I took it back and then they said the fan was not working. The only time the fan hasn't worked is when it was in their shop and the mechanic was hosing the engine down with water. We got nowhere with the store manager except getting treated like idiots.

I did ask if they checked both fan relays and I was told (contrary to the repair manual) that my car fan had only one speed. We were told that our problem was being taken up with customer service to resolve the problem. Customer service is telling us the store has to resolve the problem. Now the district manager has called and stated we have a cooling system problem (and my car does not overheat, now or ever).

We were told to bring the car back. Why in the world would I want to take a car back to a place that has done nothing but take my money and find something else wrong with the car every time they look at it. While my son was talking to the district manager they got disconnected (or he hung up on my son) so my son called back and was put on hold for almost an hour.

Now I'm out almost $600 and still have an a/c that isn't working properly. Apparently their "Satisfaction Guaranteed" policy is their satisfaction and not the customer's. I will be contacting every agency that I possibly can, TV stations, Better Business Bureau, and drive my car around with a sign on it about Pep Boys' service. I will tell everyone I know and come in contact with not to go to Pep Boys for parts or service. From the looks of the comments on this site, it is apparent that they need to clean up their image.

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Misquoted and Overpriced
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VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA -- I need to replace steering rack and pinion on my Pathfinder. I call Pepboys and they say they can fix it for 500 to 600 so I think great I will go there. They say they usually have part in stock when I call before I leave my house. I get there and they don't have it so I have to wait till 4:00 for part then they call and say I need bushing too and it would be 40.00 more and they can't get it till next morning. So I leave car there overnight. I go back next day to pick up vehicle. I was told 40.00 for bushing and charged 90.00 and they sold me warranty for another 45.00 that I didn't ask for BUT they gave me tire rotation free of charge (yeah right!).

I pay and I leave. Next day I drive on freeway and it shakes really bad so I stop at local mechanic and it turns out wheel out of balance and suggested I take it back to the place that did the repairs. So I go back to Pepboys to do wheel balance and they want another 40.00. I asked about the warranty charge on my receipt and they said the guy should have asked me first, so I got my money back for the warranty and went to BIG O for a wheel balance that cost 30.00 even.

Pepboys is a ripoff and they should explain charges and people beware of tire rotations that can throw balance off! I thought it was part of a wheel alignment for which I paid 67.00 as part of Steering rack repairs. NO MORE PEPBOYS for me. All they care about is money and overcharging!!! I complained to higher up and he was more in charge of damage control than concern for customer issues! These guys will not last long...

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Bad Managers and District Managers
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA -- I would recommend to anyone to check the prices before you got your car worked on, I believe we should do that as a customers. Now if you are expecting dealer quality parts, well go to the dealer. I'm a Pep Boys customer for over 5 years and the guys that work in this store are great. I know that there are some issues with parts but they don't make them or buy it, are their managers or district managers who know about these crappy parts and don't care. They don't even let their advisor get the parts from other auto part places with better quality. They force them to get them from their cheap store parts 1st.

I read about a bunch of complaints about the advisor and mechanics and how they take too long and perform bad. But for example, I bought 4 tires and alignment, they inform me would take 2 hrs. I was waiting and watching to the guy that was going to work in my car. He pulled one tire out and start writing in his work order. I asked one advisor what is he waiting for to remove the other three. These guy told me they are supposed to do 1 at the time then put it back torqued and go to the next 1. He said they just change the policy and they have to do it or they could get fired. Well after he finished writing the work order he told his advisor that I require belts.

I ask the advisor, "Where are my tires?" He called to his store next to them and nothing. The same guy that was working had to go and get the tires for me. I start thinking (wow must be tough work in this conditions). Well after 2h.30 Min my car was done. I tried to tip my mechanic and I was inform that they are not allow to take it. He was very friendly and polite. I ask why he said "policy". I just thank him, then my husband went for four tires to Goodyear and while we were waiting I went to check in the procedure and they pulled all of them at once which make them a lot faster. I ask them why Pep Boys does it differently?

I told him how they do it and he told me that their higher people probably changed their policy so they could slow down their mechanics so they won't be able to be faster and that would hurt their productivity and that is how they make their money. What I'm trying to say with all of these is that we shouldn't take it on these advisors or mechanics. They are trying to make their living and got rip off by their managers or district managers. I don't think any of us will perform at 100% if we were treating like them at our jobs.

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Do NOT trust Pepboys Technicians...
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SACRAMENTO- SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA -- I went to Pepboys in Sacramento on Arden Way to diagnose my car for a long trip I had planned. There was a problem with my power steering which I mentioned. After the technician evaluated my car, he told me that power steering needs to be changed: Cost $800+, breaks are in really bad shape: Cost $400, water pump is leaking and timing belt is in a bad shape in which it would be dangerous for me to drive the car! Fortunately, I didn't have time on that day but took the car to Honda and purchased oil for the timing belt.

The following sat. I took my car to Pepboys in San Carlos and told them about the problem. They agreed that all those problems exist. I asked them to fix the power steering and the breaks. Cost: $1300+ After waiting for 4 hours, they told me that I need to change the timing belt immediately but they need to order parts. Cost: $1600.

I was lucky that my son-in-law came over that night and informed me that I should not have taken my car to Pepboys..."they are crook". He recommended me his technician whom checked my car and told me that there is nothing wrong with the timing belt and there is no way to identify the problem without bringing down the complete motor which would take a week. He told me that Pepboys are famous for lying specially if they have a female customer. He also said that the breaks need to be fixed!! And are dangerous to drive.

Pepboys called me the following Monday and told me that the unit they ordered would cost me additional $400. I didn't trust them then but I had to take my car for the break problem. I took the car two more times and every time waited for 3 hrs. They said there was nothing wrong with the break but the noise and sponge feeling are normal!!

BUT...the interesting thing is that one of the employees approached me about fixing the timing belt. I told him I don't have money to spend any more on my car. He said we can give you discount...his offer: $970 instead of $1600!! My Advice: DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THESE GUYS. They offer coupons but give you false information. Good Luck.

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Mostly an excruciating experience
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MOBILE, ALABAMA -- Traveling through Mobile en route to Florida, I had a hose bust in my engine. I got towed to a Pep Boys because they were open on Saturday. I purchased a generic hose because they didn't have the right one in stock, and I installed it myself. At that point, upon leaving the parking lot, my serpentine belt snapped, so I turned around and got in line. A new belt was installed inside of 20 minutes for a staggering 108$ (I guess I should carry a ratchet set with me) and I was on my way.

Around the corner from the Pep Boys, my car stalled in the middle of an intersection. I had to jump out and push it out of the intersection because it wouldn't restart. I called the store I had just left and they told me to call the national hotline for a tow back to the store (less than a half mile). The national hotline told me it would be 90 minutes for a tow, and I promptly told them I could push it there faster, which I proceeded to do.

I was unable to get it over the final hurdle into the parking lot, so I solicited the help of a mechanic at the store, which he was glad to do. This was a few minutes after noon. That same mechanic said it was likely bad spark plug wires or a bad timing belt, but the diagnostician was needed to say for sure.

Long story short, I must have asked them for an update on my car a dozen times, with no updates available. After waiting all day, I finally booked a hotel and called a cab at 5pm. I still haven't received a phone call on the diagnosis, and I have grave doubts about actually receiving said phone call. Hopefully something happens before checkout time in the morning, though.

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Doing it for less? What a joke!
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MARIETTA, GEORGIA -- I have a 10 year old BMW with 101,000 miles on it. It crapped out on me for the first time in 10 years in a city I had only been in for six months. The tow truck driver recommended Pep Boys. I told the service rep, with a car as old as mine, there would probably be a lot of bells and whistles going off when he ran the diagnostic and I will get to all of those problems once I have bought my son a car. I only wanted him to perform the work needed to get my car back on the road as fast as possible.

I get a call later that evening with a quote of $1960.61. I understand BMWs cost a little more to repair than other cars, but I knew instantly that I was getting screwed. With a little help from my big brother, we got the estimate from Pep Boys and ran a check on parts through the BMW dealer's service center in my area. Pep Boys was charging me 45% over retail cost of the dealership service center! Labor charges were $25.00 more per hour at the dealership, but it would have still cost more at Pep Boys and here's why. They estimated around 8 ½ hours of labor.

I had my car towed to the new destination around 1:00 in the afternoon. I left around 1:45. I was told not to expect to hear from them until the next day, but at 6:00 pm (4 hours later) I received a call telling me that my car was ready with the exception of the airflow box and vent Pep Boys failed to include with my car when I had it towed! It only took 4 hours to fix my car!

Remember that $1960.61 price tag Pep Boys put on the parts and repair? Well, the total cost to fix my car which included the upgrade to a hydraulic tensioner (much pricier than the one Pep Boys was going to put back on my car) came to $834.58. Over $1000.00 dollars cheaper! Work performed by a certified BMW technician and all OEM parts. Might be a good idea for Pep Boys to change that catch phrase about doing it for less before someone pelts them with a false advertisement law suit… LOL! Needless to say, I have found my new car doctor and it is NOT Pep Boys.

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Promises,promises, and misinformation
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As I moved through the hiring process at a Pep Boys, I found agreeable manager. After repeated specific comments regarding a low back and knee problem, I was told (promised) that I would be able to use a stool intermittently due to disc problems and knee issues, pain. As I began working, I found out that the $9-11 per hour salary and commission was in fact $7.25 per hour and 7% commission. On day 1 I read and agreed to a lesser sum of $72.5 per hour wage and 7% commission.

I liked the staff and the job, so I stayed. I was constantly quoted that the combined hourly wage and commission total about $11-12 per hour. When another service writer shared his sales and commission, it was paid out at approx. 2.25%. Ok, again this was a learning situation, and if the money did not develop, I could take my experience and move on to another company. So to recap...the store manager quoted $ 9-11 per hour wage and 7% commission, not bad for a hectic, angry public interaction sales job. Well it became $7.25 hour and about 2.25%.

Finally, the (we will work it out) promise/commitment was a completely denied by another "manager" from another dept. You see, everyone is the other bosses's boss when the other boss is not there. I was told no stool-no way. There are cameras watching. They will see you, and I will get it. This "manager" on duty from another dept. called the 'manager' that hired me and promised the "stool use" I was asked, "What is going on?" I mentioned the stool and suddenly the stool use was only during the time I was sitting in front of the computer terminal doing "learning modules".

That was absolutely not what was committed to me at the hiring/interview phase. I am not lazy. I have a particularly aggravated disc/sciatic nerve problem, that will not get better in spite of physical therapy, per the dr. and physical therapist. Now I understand why my co-workers curse the manager, and company "This is how they get you" is one quote...Some others can not be printed too much cursing.

In 6 days I resigned. The manager never admitted to an error, a misunderstanding or anything of the sort. It is policy not to allow employees sit at the service desk. It seems they hired me in spite of my physical problems, and made false ("lied") promises of "making accommodation", "working it out" etc. This was a loss. I liked the job, and the co-workers. From all I experienced and was told directly from co-workers, this false promises and outright lying are standard operating procedure at this store, and maybe company-wide.

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They Went All "Rack & Pinion" on Me!
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BAY SHORE, NEW YORK -- Despite hearing not-so-great things about them in the past, I'd go there frequently simply because the hours are convenient. I took my car there for an oil change and State Inspection. I also noticed some stiffness in my steering wheel; mostly while backing up, so I had them check that.

They quoted me $1400 and told me I needed a WHOLE NEW RACK AND PINION on a three-year-old car with only 58,000 (that has never been in an accident). They also FAILED my car on the safety inspection and told me this needed to be replaced before they'd pass me. They said it was, "a huge safety issue and I shouldn't be driving my car."

I definitely didn't have $1400, so I called my car's manufacturer all frantic and upset hoping for SOME sort of help. They told me they needed an official diagnosis from the dealer first, which is completely understandable. My car passed EVERY SINGLE DIAGNOSTIC TEST the dealer ran on the steering system. They found NOTHING wrong with my vehicle--other than my tires desperately needed replacing. I knew I needed new tires, but I didn't realize they were SO bad that THEY were causing the steering tightness! They increased the tire pressure at the dealer, which RIGHT AWAY made a huge difference in the steering.

I went to a trusted independent mechanic (recommended by two of my co-workers) who installed four brand new tires and told me--AGAIN--there was absolutely NOTHING WRONG WITH MY RACK AND PINION! He also told me that even if there was, NO WAY it would ever cost even close to $1400 (Oh, and by the way, he PASSED my car on the state inspection--which I should have passed in the first place at Pep Boys!)!

I am FURIOUS!! Pep Boys not only caused me three days of stress and money worrying, but they had me second-guessing my car's manufacturer that I've been loyal to and trusted for many years! Plus I was scared to even drive my car! Shouldn't someone who "knows about cars" simply at least suggested tires FIRST before going all "rack and pinion" on me? Moral Of My Story/Lesson Learned = NEVER GOING TO PEP BOYS AGAIN!

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Rip Off Parts and Service
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MESA, ARIZONA -- In May, 2009 I took my van to Pep Boys on Country Club Drive in Mesa, AZ for a replacement alternator. I declined the extended warranty for $16. Here it is September, 2009 and I'm going to have to pay a little over $100 in labor to get the three-month-old alternator replaced again because the bearing is going bad.

I find it very interesting that this bearing failed a few days after I had an air conditioning compressor package installed because the compressor bearing was going bad. It was dropped off Friday evening with the understanding it would be ready Sunday. They waited until Saturday evening to start on it and they discovered they needed a hose they didn't have. It took 2 days (Sunday and Monday) to get the hose. When they got it on Monday the mechanic was out sick and they couldn't finish it until Tuesday.

I just got off the phone with the guy about the alternator. He wanted to sell me the extended warranty again. I told him that if I needed the extended warranty again, I would be going to another shop because they sold crappy alternators. He said, "It's not the alternator. It's the bearing in the alternator." Geez, can you believe that? I asked him if they were going to replace the bearing or the alternator. When he said the alternator, I said, "Then it's a crappy alternator, I don't care what part of it failed." Idiot!

An alternator, or any part for that matter, should not fail in 3 months. There should be no need for an extended warranty and Pep Boys should be replacing this for free. THAT would be good customer service and THEY don't have it. Pep Boys used to be good, but I've seen a decline in their parts and service across several of their stores in the past few years. I'm done with their "service" department.

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Poor Service, Needless Parts
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QUEENS, NEW YORK -- My muffler was making a lot of noise, so I took my 1997 Nissan Sentra to a Pep Boys at 38-50 21st St, Queens, New York. The mechanic who took my keys told me to wait inside the store while he takes a look at it and provides an estimate for the cost to repair whatever is the problem.

An hour and a half later, I am tired of waiting and go up to the service counter to ask about the estimate. The guy at the counter (Jermaine) told me he is typing up my estimate "right now," and that it'll be ready in just a few minutes. Then, as I'm patiently waiting, he proceeds to take calls and get distracted. After asking him for my estimate once again, I finally get it -- THIRTY MINUTES after he told me he's typing it "right now."

They said there was a crack in the exhaust gas pipe, and the estimate to fix it totaled about $250, NOT including labor. However, they also included a handful of parts or repairs in the estimate that I absolutely did not need or ask for. They tried charging me to replace my front struts, when they are just fine; replace all my tires, which are also fine and have plenty of tread on them; replace the rear motor mount (g-d knows why); replace transaxle mount (again, didn't even explain why); and computerized wheel alignment, for which I did not ask and did not require at the time.

The total amount for the NON-REQUESTED repairs or parts is almost $900! NOT including labor! Interestingly enough, they failed to mention anything about my oil leak (which I know for a fact that I have). I suspect they hardly even looked at the car -- instead just glancing at it and writing down whatever repairs they think they can get away with. After such terrible customer service and an estimate full of b. s., I'm never going there again and I will warn all my friends to stay away from them as well.

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Pep Boys Rating:
Star Star Empty star Empty star Empty star
1.9 out of 5, based on 54 ratings and
145 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
Pep Boys
3111 West Allegheny Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19132
215-229-9000 (ph)
215-229-5076 (fax)
www.pepboys.com
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