I was a loyal Jack Williams customer, until this week. I've had hybrid cars for 5 years and took them to Jack Williams for normal maintenance, such as oil changes. This week I was charged an extra $38.00, just because my car is a hybrid.
Jack Williams has a brand new policy which requires them to power down hybrid cars before service, including a simple LOF, and power them back up afterwords. They charge the customer $7.60 per 1/5 hour and claim it is for their safety.
When I questioned it and complained that I'd never been charged that before, they said it was a new procedure being done because a mechanic was electrocuted to death during an oil change on a hybrid. This is a complete lie!
I talked to my dealership service center, who laughed at the thought of having to power down in order to due an oil change. They said that all that was needed was to make sure that the key wasn't in the ignition. I called several service centers and none of them power down a hybrid for something so simple. There is no extraordinary danger doing an oil change on a hybrid car, as long as the key is not in the ignition. Removing the key is the only recommended precaution.
Jack Williams claimed to have "proof" from the internet. I scoured the internet, reading anything that was even remotely related. I found one story where a young, inexperienced mechanic left the hybrid car on, because he didn't hear the engine, and proceeded to do an oil change. The result was an oil mess, not an injury. I read their so called "proof" and it was an article about powering down a hybrid before working on it for collision repair. Collision repair is a far cry from normal maintenance.
The bottom line is that while Jack Williams did refund my money, they refuse to even consider that they are ripping off customers due to their unfounded fear of hybrids. If I had found a shred of evidence that supported their claim, I would be writing to the manufacturer, instead of filling out this report. I find it outrageous that I should be charged extra, just because I happen to own a hybrid.
Is it discrimination against hybrids or just an unfounded fear? I don't have the answer, but I do know that, whether I have my hybrid or another car, I will not be going back to Jack Williams. So, if you are reading this and own a hybrid, steer clear of the extra charges at Jack Williams.
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