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• Express? I Think Not

  March 16, 2009

  On a recent trip, my Change Oil light came on. I was in my daughter’s car so it didn’t surprise me to see that it was 5000 miles past due an oil change. Unfortunately, I wasn’t in my home town where I could take it to my usual mechanic so I had to ask the front desk of the hotel where I could get an oil change. Now, while these people were polite and courteous, what they weren’t is knowledgeable. I really think that a resort hotel should be able to provide their customers with basic automobile service information. Didn’t they drive to work? Where do they get their car serviced? Seems like basic handy information to me. So finally, I get sent to the “Express Lube and Service” of the local Walmart.

  I get to the Walmart and I’m 4th in line. A very courteous fellow checks my car in and tells me it will be 45 minutes. Now for my wife, 45 minutes in Walmart is a drop in her shopping time but I’d personally rather be beaten repeatedly about the head than spend 45 minutes meandering the aisles wishing they sold rifles so I could put some of the people I see out of their misery. After about 40 minutes of torture, I go back to the service area hoping to see that they were ahead of schedule. Unfortunately, my car isn’t done but it is next in line. I watch and when they complete the current customer’s car, instead of pulling my car to the service area, they drive it through and put it back to the rear of the line. What the hell is this? I go find what I think may be a manger and ask him what’s going on. He checks on his computer and let’s me know that apparently I’ve stepped into a time warp because those customer’s were here before me. Hmmmmm, so why was my car in front of theirs? I never did get an answer to that.

  So while they are servicing the 2nd of the 3 cars that were behind me but somehow got here before me, I catch the attention of the guy that checked me in and ask him what’s going on. He goes to check and at least looks very animated about my situation with his coworkers. It doesn’t save me any time but does make me feel a little better. Finally, I see them pull my car up and complete the service.

  So here’s my quesion, what should have taken less than 30 minutes, was promised as 45 minutes, but actually took 95 minutes. How can they call it “Express” Lube and keep a straight face?

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