Got a coupon in the paper – actually, TMBWitW found it – for a $14.95 oil change through AAA Auto. Cool, I thought – it requires you to make an appointment, but other than that, what could go wrong? Up to 5 quarts of 5W30, standard oil filter, some level of safety inspection … make the call, luck into a 1300 slot that was vacated just moments prior to my call, and we’re all done but the waiting to go.

I got up there a little ahead of time – about 10 minutes, plenty of time to get checked in and wait for the oil change. Now, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can change the oil in my car in about 20 minutes if I take my time. That includes checking other fluid levels (tranny, radiator, differential) and making sure all the parts are still bolted in the proper spots.

The young man at the check in counter told me it would be from sixty to ninety minutes for the oil change. “Really? It takes ya’ll an hour to an hour and a half to change the oil and check a few things?” He started in on how comprehensive the safety check was, when I asked him if there would be a test drive by the mechanic. Nope, not included. I asked how they could make any money if they burned a repair bay for $15 for an hour and a half. He looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. I rephrased – “How can you make any money if you only charge ten dollars an hour for an oil change and safety check? Do your techs only get paid minimum wage or less?”

I politely declined the opportunity to sit in the waiting room and be bombarded by AAA commercials and sales pitches. I’ll be hitting a locally owned franchise oil change shop a little later today instead.

Chat ya later…

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