In November we had a door-to-door salesman come to our house selling Auto Care Super Saver cards. The card was $80 (due right then) and had services including 5 free oil changes and multiple discounts for other auto services to a local auto shop. It had a big note on the front claiming it was an over $800 value. We thought this seemed like a good idea, but were worried that once we locked into it, we couldn't get out. The salesman informed us that we had 3 days to cancel it if we changed our minds.
Realizing 3 days was not a long time, especially since we bought the card on a holiday weekend, my husband took the card in to get an oil change on the 1st business day after the card was purchased to the Big O Tire that would redeem the card. After the oil change, the manager punched the card and told my husband he just needed an $8 service fee to be paid. My husband refused saying that there was no such fee listed on the card. The manager and my husband got into a yelling match and he would not give him the car keys. It was only when the manager saw other customers starting to leave the store because they were uncomfortable that he finally gave in and let my husband leave with no fee.
For the next 3 days, his car leaked oil. When we took it to another place to check it out, they said the cap was not put on tightly. It was tightened and the oil topped off, with us paying $12 out of pocket.
We called Top Gun and told them of the experience and that we wanted a refund. It took over 2 weeks and multiple phone calls to get anything accomplished. At first, they were not going to do anything for us, but other customers started calling in to complain about the same Big O manager, so they said that since we werent the only ones to complain about him, they would give us a new card. It took almost 8 weeks, and two reminder calls from us to them, for the new card to be mailed to us. The new card was to a place farther away from our home (about a 30 minute drive), and located next door to a XXX adult bookstore. Not exactly what I had envisioned, but we figured that there was not much we could do about it they only have cards to certain places.
I took my car in for an oil change, and after hearing the wait was almost 3 hours that I could not spare, I had to go to a place down the street and pay for an oil change. I decided calling Top Gun to complain again would do me no good, so I would try the place again when the next oil change was due.
This morning, I made the trek into town with my two young kids in tow. When we arrived, we had to park in the aforementioned bookstore's lot as a truck was blocking the entrance to the Goodyear shop our new card was to. I walked in and was told there was a 2 hour wait, and that I could use the card, but due to oil prices going up, would have to pay an additional fee. I just walked out.
I have called Top Gun and left a message, though I am doubtful I will get a return call or my money back, no matter how hard I might try. This has taught me an invaluable lesson: to not purchase things from door-to-door salesmen, no matter how good the deal is. I have found many other complaints about this company on multiple websites, and shockingly, a few people raving about the service. I have no idea how an experience like this could be good, but after mine; I felt it was important to let others know to think twice before purchasing one of these cards.
*Note the only contact information on the card for Top Gun is a phone number, so I had to look them up to get a local address, as this number is located in Texas.
0 comments