# I called to schedule oil change at carmax this is what happened **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 29, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138 "2023-09-29T23:13:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/21 "2023-09-30T16:42:28Z")
> [@old\_mopar\_guy](#): > > That was the most diplomatic post I’ve ever read. Yeah, we should hire @db4690 as our union rep or something. You know, us long-time knuckle draggers in this business need someone to present a polished image for us! 😀 ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/22 "2023-09-30T16:53:49Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > Yeah, we should hire @db4690 as our union rep or something. You know, us long-time knuckle draggers in this business need someone to present a polished image for us! 😀 A little while ago, I had my opportunity to be union rep . . . I turned it down 👎 That is truly a mixed-bag . . . the union rep has to constantly walk the line, because not only does he have to turn wrenches and perform his regular duties, but he also has to field TONS of phone calls from low-life, thieving, inefficient, willfully disobedient, etc. mechanics who are hoping the union will step in and save their bacon from a rightfully deserved termination and if you’re not good at time-management, those phone calls can eat up a lot of time, at which point you may actually be a decent union rep . . . but an inefficient mechanic who’s not pulling his weight You don’t want to be the guy NOT pulling his weight in the shop . . . the other guys will HATE you and rightfully so, imo union rep has way too much baggage, imo I’m fairly liberal . . . but NOT very liberal I feel that incompetent, dishonest, thieving, willfully disobedient, physically violent, etc. guys don’t deserve to be saved . . . they should get thrown out on their \_\_\_ and learn from their mistakes, just the same as guys in a non-union shop ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/23 "2023-09-30T17:42:10Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > I feel that incompetent, dishonest, thieving, willfully disobedient, physically violent, etc. guys don’t deserve to be saved . . . they should get thrown out on their \_\_\_ and learn from their mistakes, just the same as guys in a non-union shop Right on I agree with you all the way. ---
**Author:** ![itouring2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@itouring2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/itouring2010)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/24 "2023-09-30T18:30:04Z")
whats funny about this is that i am a former mma fighter and there is zero chance some old guy is gonna whoop my behind. i will say what i think and nothing is gonna change if its some old clown that thinks he can fight LOL i do this all the time at work nobody steps up. had two clowns quit at my last iob cause they realized they werent gonna do nothing with just their attitude cause i come right back as for the service writer ive been putting synthetic oil and yes i know what viscocity its right in my owners manual in my desk. if anything runs well in this car its the engine. i get routine PMCS done on my car i am actually a maintenance worker by trade i was also trained in the us army as a 91B so its not like i dont know anything i prob know more than most of these tire and lube technicians that fill power steering fluid over the max line. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/25 "2023-09-30T19:09:18Z")
> [@Renegade](#): > > Right on I agree with you all the way. That’s a fatal weakness of unions, imo . . . They want to save everybody, even those that DESERVE termination, being charged with a crime, imprisonment, etc. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/26 "2023-09-30T23:01:06Z")
> [@itouring2010](#): > > this guy told me my car doesnt take synthetic engine oil. “take” is ambiguous. IMO you have a valid (albeit minor) complaint if that is what they actually said. Service writers should be trained to not use ambiguous terms when talking to customers, as the customers may feel they being purposely misled. Next time you go there, ask if they actually mean that while your car doesn’t require synthetic, you always have the option to select a synthetic oil if you like. If this sort of problem frustrates you, you have three options that will minimize this oil-change frustration. 1. Sell the car and use public transport. 2. Change the oil and filter as a diy’er, yourself. 3. Select a good independent shop that has been in business for years, using recommendations from friends, co-workers, shop-manager interviews, etc. And always use that shop for your oil & filter changes, expecting to pay somewhat more. If you have the time & a place to do it, and the tools and know-how, option 2 is your best bet imo. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/27 "2023-09-30T23:22:13Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > They want to save everybody, even those that DESERVE termination, being charged with a crime, imprisonment, etc. More accurately, unions work to assure that in a dispute, their member 's rights under the contract are fairly upheld and that the procedure is conducted fairly. Most employees, union or not, want to work in a decent workplace with decent management and decent fellow employees. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/28 "2023-10-01T01:21:17Z")
I read everything you just wrote . . . But I’ve CONSTANTLY seen unions try to save even those who don’t deserve it Sure, everyone wants a decent workplace But I don’t want to work hard and watch my coworkers steal in broad daylight, tell the boss what he can do with himself, read the newspaper instead of working, work on their own projects instead of their assigned task, etc. . . . and the union STILL saves their job No, sir ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 1:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/29 "2023-10-01T01:45:49Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > But I’ve CONSTANTLY seen unions try to save even those who don’t deserve it I watched the International Electrical Workers local at my Delco plant do this again and again. One example; The prototype shop fired a machinist for stealing tools out of others tool boxes and taking them home. He was fired. A year later in contract talks, he was rehired and paid for the year off to settle a stack of bogus greviences. No one in the shop wanted him back, but the union “saved” his job. The UAW local in our other plant was worse. Kept a heroin addict on payroll. You couldn’t drug test a worker unless an accident occurred. They didn’t let this guy touch things when he was high at work. Unions can be their own worst enemies. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 2:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/30 "2023-10-01T02:13:32Z")
> [@itouring2010](#): > > they also pay these oil change technicians $12.50 an hour to start I highly doubt that. Now that a studio apartment costs over $1100/month, the lowest living wage is $20/hour, and it is pretty much impossible to hire a sober, honest adult for less than that. In fact, if I was at a job interview and a wage of less than $20/hour was proposed, I would tell the interviewer very bluntly that it costs more than that just for me to set my alarm and get out of bed. Around here, even fast food starts at $18/hour, so I can’t imagine anyone would agree to spend thousands of dollars on tools and equipment to work as a mechanic–even a “maintenance-only” mechanic for less than $20/hour…and that would be the wage floor for someone with zero experience. > [@itouring2010](#): > > where do i go to safely get an oil change out here??? I take all my vehicles to a small, privately-owned shop called My Driveway. The “mechanic” at My Driveway charges $0 for labor, and buys the parts online to keep costs down. All work is done to the highest quality standard, using the highest quality parts, fluids, and materials. There is no need to book an advance appointment, and there are never any attempts to sell unnecessary repairs. I suggest you take all your vehicles there as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 2:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/31 "2023-10-01T02:53:48Z")
> [@bcohen2010](#): > > Around here, even fast food starts at $18/hour, All depends on you demographics, In rural Ky, you start around $12 an hour at a saw mill less at fast food… Around my area, a little north of Nashville where the median price of a house is about $438,000 and fast food close by starts about $12-$13 and hour and GAP distribution center NE of Nashville starts about $17 an hour… > [@bcohen2010](#): > > I take all my vehicles to a small, privately-owned shop called My Driveway. The “mechanic” at My Driveway charges $0 for labor That took me a second to sink in… 🤣 🤣 🤦‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 3:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/32 "2023-10-01T03:02:04Z")
> [@bcohen2010](#): > > take all my vehicles to a small, privately-owned shop called My Driveway. That sounds like a great place! Do they work on hybrids and late-model SUVs or are they limited to pre-2002 economy sedans?😄😄 ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 12:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/33 "2023-10-01T12:17:31Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > That’s a fatal weakness of unions, imo . . . > They want to save everybody, even those that DESERVE termination +1 The Board of Ed for which I worked had one electrician, who would be dispatched for relatively minor problems. (Big electrical issues would result in an electrical contracting firm being brought in) Anyway, our in-house electrician–Ernie–was an incompetent, and things would frequently be worse after he put his hands on something. Case in point: One of my colleagues reported a lot of noise and static on her intercom phone, so Ernie came to “fix” it. When Ernie left, the intercom phone no longer functioned–at all. I got my Swiss Army knife and some electrical tape from my car, and after stripping some wires and taping everything back up, I got her intercom phone to work without any problems. Despite almost constant complaints about the quality of Ernie’s work, he kept his job because of the union to which he belonged. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/35 "2023-10-01T20:40:42Z")
Who ever is flagging my comment better go back and flag about ten other ones before me. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/36 "2023-10-01T21:12:03Z")
> [@bcohen2010](#): > > My Driveway charges $0 for labor, and buys the parts online to keep costs down These types of shops can still make a go of it, charging nothing for labor, b/c they don’t have to pay any income or payroll taxes … lol … ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/37 "2023-10-01T21:35:12Z")
I think you missed it. I do believe he is talking doing it yourself, in his driveway. No one else involved. Except I have to do it in my garage or the neighbors might complain. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/38 "2023-10-01T21:50:33Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Except I have to do it in my garage or the neighbors might complain. do you belong to an HOA . . . ?! ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/39 "2023-10-01T22:00:23Z")
Some folks these days seem to feel it is beneath their place in the social order, not their station in life to do manual labor; and likewise don’t want to see it being done in the driveway next door either. In days of yore most folks would say “who cares what my neighbor does in their driveway”? Times change. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/40 "2023-10-01T23:16:27Z")
Nope. I would not belong to one but we have covenants that are mostly expired now but still try to abide by them. No signs in yard except snort term political, quiet hours 10 to 7, no home businesses, etc. No pools but since we were the first and only owners in the development had that changed. Cost $100 fir the lawyer but no one has one anyway except the neighbor. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138/41 "2023-10-01T23:23:57Z")
Aren’t we getting a little off topic again? The flag police are out in force. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-called-to-schedule-oil-change-at-carmax-this-is-what-happened/193138.md?page=3)