Guy's Oil Service Station Inc - Niantic, CT 06357 - 6/14/2015\r
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Having spent the last 34 years in the Automotive Industry, I have a pretty good sense as the what questions to ask and what general procedures are as it relates to anything Automotive.\r
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My wife, who has no experience in the car business used to take her car to Guy's for service before I met her. She was not aware that their charges were quite a bit higher than what I was accustomed to paying for similar services elsewhere. I realize there is sometimes an up-charge for convenience but there is a limit to what that should be. Needless to say she no longer services her car there. I tried to negotiate a maintenance package for both cars there for routine service but this garage does not seem to be interested in any new service business as they never returned my call.\r
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We used to also buy our gas there until one day in monitoring my gas consumption, they seemed to have put in more gas than my tank was able to hold. At that point we stopped buying our gas there as well.\r
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Being AAA members, I purchased the better plan which includes battery replacement on each of our accounts along with long distance towing should the need arise. In January my wife's car needed a battery and AAA dispatched Guy's because they were closest. They replaced the battery but at the time the service manager refused to disclose specifically which battery they put in the car. I wanted to make sure they put in the heavy duty but he, thinking I was unfamiliar with cars told me there was only one- not true. AAA may only cary one but generally there are options. Therefore I'm assuming it was the cheap one and that's why he wouldn't tell me.\r
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Today, I loaned my car to a friend who left the car on in the accessory position by accident and my car being as smooth and quiet as it is, didn't realize the car was still on. I called AAA for a jump start who once again dispatched Guy's Service who upon examination determined that my battery was also in need of replacement but because we had one replaced in January, we'd have to pay for a replacement. Hmmmm... Interesting since in November of 2013 I had replaced said battery with an 800 CA 6 year heavy duty Interstate battery.\r
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I explained that that battery was on a different account but he said I'd have to take it up with AAA and left. I called AAA back and they acknowledged that yes, the battery was covered and that they would dispatch another truck to replace the battery under the terms of my agreement. They also assured my that the heavy duty similar to what was in the car would be installed. An hour later I get a call from a AAA driver who was coming to replace the battery. At this point I had him verify via the part numbers which I looked up online to verify they were bringing the heavy duty battery. It was at that point I was told they don't cary that one so needless to say I will go back to where I purchased the last battery and have them check that I in fact do need to replace the battery, and if I do, put in the same caliber battery as purchased...\r
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I think in light of the poor history with Guy's, I will request another garage should I need roadside assistance going forward. Theyve wasted almost two hours of my time and I still have to get it taken care of on my own. Unbelievable!
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