On 9/14, at about noon, I arrived at the store with my towed car. I had been unable to start the vehicle since the previous night, even after having it jumped. About 1 hour later, Manager Dan said that my started had gone out, but that it had been caused by an oil leak. He then presented me with 2 proposals: The first for replacement of the starter (a little over $600). The second including repair of the crankshaft seal oil leak and oil pan gasket (this one for $1,160 including tax). Needless to say, I had not anticipated this cost Dan explained that they could just replace the starter, but if they didnt fix the leak, it would just go bad again. So, I agreed to the proposed repair of the leak.
I know nothing about cars, but my vehicle had just been in an accident a couple of weeks earlier. Another car collided with my right front tire and damaged the front end and wheel rod, so I aked Dan if this leak could have been caused by it. He said no. But, after telling me that the crankshaft is located on the right side of the vehicle, I insisted that he should note that on the receipt, as it made sense to me that it could have been a result of the impact, and I was going to file an additional claim with the insurance company.
I filed the additional claim with Allstate and was contacted by Mr. Roger Lawler (one of the supervisors). Mr. Lawler told me that he was very troubled. He explained that he was trying to help me with my claim (the driver of the other vehicle had been at fault, so it represented no loss for Allstate), but was perplexed by the Tire Kingdom receipt, because he knew cars quite well, and the crankshaft seal is not located anywhere near the starter, so it could hardly have been leaking on it! He said that he had called Dan and Dan had told him that it was a different leak (one located between the engine and transmission) that was leaking on the starter, not the crankshaft seal But, that they didnt repair that one because they didnt do that kind of work at the shop!
I was flabbergasted! Why then, did Dan tell me that my started would go bad again if I didnt repair the crankshaft seal leak? I immediately called Dan and I posed the question to him. Why would I spend over $500 fixing a small leak that didnt matter? He said that I must have misunderstood him. And, when I said, so while you fixed the crankshaft seal leak, the other leak that you didnt mention will be destroying my new starter? His unbelievable answer: Well But that will be years from now.
To add insult to injury, I contacted the corporate office and filed a formal complaint. A couple of weeks after, I received a call from someone who was just basically "justifying the expense" that I endured, because "well... The work was done!" After a lot of arguing, he agreed to refund me $100, which he agreed would be mailed to my home.
You know what? Two months later and I still have not received it! My conclusion: Be forwarned... Corporate is in on the scam! They know what their stores are doing and have no desire to operate differently. I will never set foot in another tire kingdom!
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