06/30/09

Just Plain Honest Folks

by rainman12

I personally own five (5) vehicles currently with model years of 1970, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2006. So, needless to say I am always having to have car repairs done on my "fleet" (lol). After patronizing a vast number of other repair shops around Houston over the past 10+ years, I now almost exclusively use Meineke on Kirby for all my work. I have been a customer there for over four (4) years now, and it is only for repairs that they do not perform (e.g. tire repair, state inspections, etc.) or more simple jobs that I decide to perform myself that I do not use them. Mykhaylo is a very honest and customer-service oriented shop manager and I have been treated with nothing but respect by him and his staff each time I have been in to have one of my cars worked on. Historically, on each visit, Mykhaylo (or his assistant, Carlos) will troubleshoot the problem(s) with my vehicle and will then personally show and patiently explain the problem to me. Knowing quite a bit about cars and car repairs, I know when I am being b.s.'d and so far I have been in agreement with their diagnosis each and every time. In addition, if there is a least-cost solution, it will be presented to me, along with whatever downside there might be to not doing a more exhaustive system rebuild...it is then up to me as to whether to take a chance with a simple fix (knowing I may have to return later for more exhaustive repairs) or proceed with the full-blown system overhaul at that point in time. I appreciate having such options, as well as having the final say-so about what I have or don't have done to my car. On those instances where I am unsure as to what "route" to choose, I ask for Mykhalo's opinion and trust it to be in my best interest.

Like most people I presume, I don't normally go to the time/trouble of posting reviews on companys which perform good work. However, in this instance I specifically wanted to make a point of voicing my own personal satisfaction with the quality of work and the professional treatment I have received at this Meineke location and I will continue to use them until proven otherwise.

• Pros: Customer Service

05/05/09

Do NOT go to Meineke on Kirby

by Houstonlatincub

I am not that pleased with the Meineke at the Kirby location. I was referred to this location after my jeep began to overheat. I went in for a flush and $592.47 later my jeep is still not fixed. Mykhalo and David informed me that I needed to replace the upper hose, lower hose, fan clutch. They asked for a good number so they could call me, and I never received a phone call. Both days I left my jeep I had assume it was ready for pick up. The upper hose they tried to replace was the incorrect hose. The anti-freeze and water splattered all under my hood because of the new hose they replaced. Mykhalo then re-attached my old hose after I paid for all parts plus the expensive labor. After I left my jeep overheated on the way home and throughout the weekend. I returned on Monday and David assured me they would fix the problem and the hose has been ordered. On Saturday, Mykhalo informed me that parts being ordered can be delivered from across town in 50 minutes, but the part he ordered would be delivered by Wednesday. I do not understand why after I paid close to $600 that my jeep was still not fixed. He then later told me that it was the head gasket. So I assume more money. After I told him to please refund me for the part I paid that was not put in, he said he would give me 3 oil changes. Why would I continue doing business with a place that could not fix my car on the first try?

Sadly both Mykhalo and David are very nice, but the business side is shady. I usually let things slide, but the amount I was charged to still have my jeep not diagnosed correctly the first time is unacceptable. This was my first time to Meineke and it will be my last, and you can be assured I will inform people of the shady business I experienced.

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: Shady business, expensive charge and car still NOT FIXED.

10/20/08

Stay away from this garage

by LASDISC

I took my car into this Meineke location to have my some repairs done to my brakes. This same location had worked on my brakes a 2 years prior, replacing the pads and rotors. After inspecting the vehicle, the manager told me I needed new rotors and pads, noting that the rotors had been improperly installed during the early service work. Despite acknowledgement that they themselves had screwed up the first installation, only my brake pads were replaced free of charge, and even then only because I bought them with a lifetime warranty.

Four days later, I left Houston to move to grad school. Several hours into my trip I suffered a breakdown on the side of the interstate and had to be towed to a repair shop 2 hours from my intended destination, and was stuck with a $250 tow bill. The crew at the Firestone found that one of the bearings on the left front wheel was gone and the rotor was ruined, so I paid to have them replace both parts. Their mechanic said the breakdown was most likely caused by shoddy workmanship at Meineke. Naturally, the manager denied any responsiblity, and told me to contact the corporate office.

After about a week of leaving messages, I was finally contacted by someone who claimed to have researched my problem and determined that there was no way that the mechanic could have made in error in reinstalling the bearings, and they were thus not liable for the extra repair cost or for the cost of towing. He did note that ?if the bearings were dry, the mechanic should have recommended that they be replaced,? however, they were not responsible for potential issues that they did not bring to my attention. So basically, they admitted they screwed up, but in a way that doesn't make them legally liable.

Overall, a horrible experience, which ended up costing me an additional $400. If you want your repairs to last more than 4 days, don't go to this place.

• Pros: none
• Cons: left my vehicle unsafe to drive, gave me the corporate run-around when confronted with screw-up