Meineke
MEINEKE sold me a knockoff of a flowmaster for $115 and welded poorly. Exhaust pipe broke and damaged my vehicle

On March 31 I went to MEINEKE to replace my muffler (which was a glass pack) and two pipes. This was a simple task. I chose MEINEKE because they are widely advertised and claim to have excellent customer service.

Well, the manager of the meineke, Bobby Kimbleton, told me that they did not have any glass packs available. So I asked, "what do you have?" He said all we have is Flow Master's. He told me it would cost $115 just for the Flow Master muffler. I told him that I thought that was pretty expensive. He then replied, "well... You're getting a Flow Master that's why they're expensive." The full price was $200.67 for installing a Flow Master muffler and running two pipes. That's pretty expensive but I just figured I was paying more because MEINEKE is a widely advertised company, also there were no other muffler shops open on this day. So I said ok.

I left my truck there, first mistake, and came back in a couple of hours to pick it up. When I returned the truck was done. It started raining so I did a quick once over and paid the man. When I started up the truck it didn't sound much different than it used to.

Well, a couple of months go by and I notice that one of my exhaust pipes are hanging lower than the other. Also my wife told me that she noticed that same pipe swaying when I drive. I looked at the pipe and saw that it wasn't welded or secured properly. I called MEINEKE and told them the situation. I could tell that the weld was done with a torch, or something similar, instead of a typical MIG welder, etc. It was barely holding up the pipe. Also the support ring with the nuts and bolts was pushed up the pipe so it wasn't even being used. The other pipe was done correctly so I wondered why not this one.

The man on the phone asked for a receipt. I told him that, "the receipt was very small and I misplaced it, however I can get the bank transaction from online. And surely my name would be in your computer system." The man basically said no recieipt... No service.

So today, June 24th, the weld broke completley... Then went the pipe with my exhaust tip, and then the pipe hit my truck and did some minor damage to it in the back. So I went to the nearest shop, paid $50 and got a new pipe put on along with new welds. This time I actually stayed at and watched. The guy was nice and worked fast! As I was waiting at this shop. The manager waved me to my truck and told me that the weld was done poorly. He also had another surprise. He asked what kind of muffler I had recently purchased and I told him it was a flow master. He said I might want to take a closer look... So I did.

The muffler did not look machine welded, that was the first clue. The second clue was that there was no stamp or emblem that said flowmaster any where on the muffler. So not only did MEINEKE do poor welds, they also sold me a knockoff of a flowmaster, at a high price, without telling me. That is misrepresentation.

I called the MAnager today and he told me that I should have brought my vehicle in and they would have fixed the weld but now since I went to another location it voided my warranty. Imagine how pissed off I am after he told me that. I told him that I tried to come in and they said no receipt no service. He pulls my name up in the computer and says, "Here you are." He continues to tell me that they could have helped me.

So then I ask what the computer shows. He said it showed me purchasing an install of a FLOW MASTER muffler with two pipes, etc. So I ask him why did you sell me a knockoff of a flowmaster then? He was hesitant to answer my question until I told him that I know it's a knockoff. So, all smug, he explains how they only sell knockoffs unless the customer request the "Dealer Flowmaster." He also said that I ONLY paid $114.95 for the knockoff and the Flow Master would have been $159.95. After hearing that I asked him what crack he's been smoking because no one pays that much just for the flow master muffler unless it's a top of the line, performance, etc. Kind. A basic flow master does not cost that much. So our conversation ended with him not being able to help me.

I called the customer service dept., for MEINEKE, and spoke with a lady. I explained my situation and asked for a manager to speak with or anyone else that could help me. She said it is up to the owner or manager of that specific MEINEKE that I had service to compensate me in any way. And she also said that they typically sell knockoffs unless the customer request the dealer version.

Needless to say, I wasn't helped at all. My question and biggest problem with this whole thing is: "Who in the hell asks for any name brand and puts the words dealer in front of it? Also, who in hell would pay the same price or MORE for a knockoff?" Do you go to Foot Locker and ask for a $60 of Nikes and recieve a knockoff pair... Hell no you don't... You would say what in the hell are these. Imagine if the employee told you, "Oh... You wanted the Dealer Nikes... Well that'll be more money." What the F#@k!

Anyway, this will probably never be resolved but at least if you read this you'll know what to expect... At meineke.

Company: Meineke
Country: USA
State: Texas
City: Baytown
Address: 1215 Decker Dr
Phone: 2814270451

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