The other day I went to Jiffy Lube for an oil change. I had an awesome $10 coupon that the company had sent me, so I was psyched to get that much off. I drove up and they had a huge banner that said that an oil change was $24.99, so then I was extra excited--an oil change for $14.99, unheard of.
Well, I drove up and handed the guy my coupon. He said this will get you an extra dollar off. I'm not very good at repressing my feelings these days. I think it has a lot to do with my venting them so continually in this arena. I said, "You're totally kidding. Of course you're going to take my coupon."
The reply was, "No. As you can see we already have a $9 off deal going on, so if I take this too, how will I pay these four guys?"
I felt like saying, "That's your problem not mine," but I kept my mouth shut, asked for my coupon back and said, in a joking voice, "That really stinks." They weren't very happy with me for being honest but did their job. I realized, when they handed me my little decal jobber that the coupon would be wayyyy expired by the time I'd need an oil change again, so I went ahead and gave it back to them and took my extra dollar off--rip off!
So, was I completely off base in your opinion? I got on their website this evening and expressed my disappointment in not just the coupon issue but the customer service as well. We'll see what they say. I told them that in stores when an item is on sale and you use a manufacturer's coupon, they honor both. My feeling is that this should be the case if Jiffy Lube is going to send out coupons from their headquarters. Has anyone had a similar experience with them? We always go to Jiffy Lube. They have always been great to us. Am I just being a spoiled brat?
Monday, November 3, 2008
Am I Totally Out to Lunch?
Posted by Hesses Madhouse at 8:26 PM
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15 comments:
Don't you dare think of backing down from your position for even a second. I would have turned around and left after being told they wouldn't take my coupon. That's absolutely ridiculous. You are right, they should have taken your coupon in addition to whatever promotion they had going on at the moment.
About 5 years ago we had some major customer service issues with Jiffy Lube that ended up costing us about $200 in service to our car. It was obvious what they had done but they would not own up to it. We have never been back since.
Good for you for writing the company. Hopefully you will have a positive response back. Keep us posted.
I completely agree with Darilyn. You're not spoiled, and you're not off base. I would have asked for an 1-800 customer service number and called them right there from the store. And if things didn't go by way, I would have left just because of the crappy CS. If I'm going to be paying full price for something, I'll pay full price at a place where I won't get crappy CS.
It's great that you did contacted CS on the website, and I hope that you get a response and a reimbursement. Always contact CS, but try to do it BEFORE the fact instead of after - you might get reimbursed, but you could also get a generic "we're sorry but we value your patronage blah blah blah BS" email back.
If you DO get the generic BS email back, don't be afraid to email them back and demand your reimbursement. After all, they sent you the coupon. They gave you the discount. It's rightly yours.
Good luck - let me know how it goes!
Unless the coupon explicitly said something about only being $10 off a certain price limit or "this coupon cannot be used in conjunction with any other sales prices," then I think you are completely warranted.
Still, I have seen that sign at the Jiffy Lube on TV Hwy, and I figured that was their regular, everyday low price.
If you're looking for another place in the future, I'd recommend Oil Can Henry's. They took a coupon I had that had actually expired once (I didn't realize it had and they said, "No problem!"). And the employees wear cool clothes! :)
I used to go to this great place in Eugene called "Pit Stop" because for $24.99 (their regular price), you got the oil change and a free car wash. That was awesome.
If you don't hear anything back, I recommend calling their actual corporate number, and see if you can talk to someone in their PR/HR departments. As public relations professional myself, I can tell you that PR people love to solve this kind of thing... especially if the customer care dept. doesn't take care of it. The Jiffy Lube corporate number is (713) 546-4100.
Heck NO!! I would have thrown a fit until they gave it to me...but then again I am a stickler and my husband hates it. If they had a sale how is that your fault...the coupon did say if we are having a sale this is not valid...and that's what I would have said! Someone is always taking advantage somewhere...okay enough of my rampage! :) Oh and another thing...I would have said I am sure that the 20 people before me helped pay for the 4 men working on my oil change thank you very much!! ok...now I think I'm done! :)
How dissapointing. I hate dealing with car issues- even oil changes- I never know if I should buy into what they want me to. I am glad you e-mailed them- you might get your next oil change free- that is cool- right?
Oil Can Henry's is our place of choice. They are wonderful and take expired coupons. They have even given me a free tail light replacement just because they were havind a great day with sales. The manager there is great. I have had issues with Jiffy Lube in the past. One day I drove into one and they told me that I had the wrong kind of oil cap(don't know what they were trying to tell me) and that they wouldn't change my oil. I drove over to an Oil Can Henry's and they changed my oil no problem. I think it was just lazy guys who didn't want to work. Jiffy lube also tried to upsale me on a bunch of crud I knew I didn't need then looked at me like I was so stupid when I said I didn't want any extra service. Oil Can Henry's NEVER does that. I would make a change and good for you for writing their company. I should have done the same.
I agree with everyone agreeing with you—the $10 should have come off of whatever price they had going. I, too, would have turned around and driven away, just for the principle of the thing.
I've always preferred Oil Can Henrys' to Jiffy Lube. I can't point to a horrible experience with JL but just wasn't nearly as pleased with their service, plus (way back in the distant past) I had a really good experience with OCH as a new car owner, so that kind of stuck.
Still, there's a reason coupons say if they're combinable (I'll pretend that's a real word) with other offers, and if it doesn't have that disclaimer, you're totally in your rights to refuse to play along. These guys don't have the right to get away with bait and switch tactics.
That sucks! We go to a different place/dad does it sometimes, but we still have had problems with companies. If they have a sale then they shouldn't send coupons out, and if they do it should be useful of the hole value. No you are not being a spoiled brat.
The last time Jiffy Lube changed my oil was in 2002, right before a 7 hour drive. They screwed something up and I burned up my transmission and we had to get a new car. It was the costliest oil change I ever got.
Thanks for the snack recommendation!
you have the right to that COUPON! you should have gotten the FULL DISCOUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's similar to a "bait & switch" tactic. They get you in there with the coupon and then don't honor the coupon as it was originally intended. I think that is dishonest. Hope you get some a favorable response from your letter. Thanks for stopping by my blog :)
I think you have ever right to be mad! I hate when they use the coupon to bring us in, and then Ohhh Never mind once we get there! I think you had every right to email the company! I would have :)
Jiffy Lube is huge company, not some mom and pop garage, those guys will get paid coupon or not! Boo Jiffy Lube!
Thank you everyone for your input!!! I have heard nothing from them, so I just got off the phone with customer service. They said Jiffy Lube is a franchise, so they will contact them here, and they should be contacting me to let me know what their policy is.
I can tell you right now with all the negatives I've heard about them, I am soooo done with Jiffy Lube.
It'll be kind of fun to go into this phone call with ammunition. Thanks for arming me. Hee hee--maybe that should be more of a mwah ha ha ha.
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