The Pep Boys
reviews and complaints

On 4/14/08 at Dayton/Trotwood Ohio location I went to Pep Boys because my windshield wipers would not work and rats had gotten under my car hood. The rats had not eaten the wires that caused the problem but Bob, the manager without looking began to tell me that rats or mice ate the wiring and that it would cost over $800 to fix. I left the store and returned to look at the wires. Not one of the wires had been eaten or damaged at all. He just lied and when confronted he said he just assumed.

Pepboys replaced 4 new tires and in the process broke off 2 tire pressure sensor valves. Instead of telling me, they replaced them with regular rubber ones. Obviously the light came on. I took it back and said it must be a computer problem with the truck. I took it to Toyota who diagnosed it in 5 minutes and said they see it all the time with PepBoys ripping off customers. PepBoys had me buy the valves for 130.00, said I'd be reimbursed. A month later, still no money and they say "checks in the mail." Corporate could care less. They're liars and thieves. Go to AutoZone. Now I have to take them to small claims to get my money!

Let me start by saying I have been a loyal customer for a very long time. My father and I have been going to your store for many years now. I have spent more of my hard earned money with your company than I can count. With that being said I have never written an email to a company to tell them about the service I received from my experience at their store until today. I needed to get my car fixed because my car would not start or keep a charge. My father drove me by early in the mourning to see if the store would be open and saw a sign that said the store would open at 12:00 because of the Easter Holiday. That was fine because I understand that your workers would be with their families in the mourning as well as I. I wish I could have the luxury of missing work on Monday to take care of fixing my car but I do not due to the line of work I do. My experience started at 11:55 am when I called the store to find out if the service department would be open to work on my car today. A worker then picked up the phone and said "Pep Boys we open at 12:00 hang on" and I had to wait as I heard in the background a conversation between the person who picked up the phone and another co-worker. After about 45 seconds to a minute later the associate then said, "The system is not up and running yet, we cant look up any part requests yet, call back at 12:00". I then said but I just need to know if service is going to be open so I can get my car looked at and fixed. The associate then replied, "Nobody from service is here yet I don't know what to tell you". I then replied but it is twelve and the associate then replied and said "No, it's 11:57, were not open yet" and I then said so then I'll call back in a few minutes when your open ok and hung up the phone. If the store was not open yet why did the associate pick up the phone? Was it just to annoy potential customers? I then told my dad that we just need to go over there now so he gave my car a jump and I was on my way. Now when I got there I said to the service desk representative that "I was told by friend of mine that if I get a diagnostic on my car and fix what ever the diagnostic tells me that the diagnostic charges would be dropped correct" and the representative laughs in my face and say's "No", turned to a co-worker and asked "Have you ever heard of a diagnostic being waived" and the co-worker say's "Never" and turns back to me and say's "No, the charge for that is like a hundred bucks" and looked at me as If I were just some idiot and had a look as if I were wasting his time and say's "So what are you gonna do?" and I just walked out of there because I was insulted. Now I was pissed! We popped the hood of my car and started the car and my father said take the positive cable off of the battery and we can tell if the alternator needs to be changed. So we did and the car stopped. Now we have an idea of what is needed to fix the car. We called the other store location on Military Trail and Belvedere Road but they were only doing oil changes. I went around with my father looking for some other mechanic to fix my car. After no luck we had to go back the store that offended me anyway. Now this time I walked up to the counter and avoided the worker that insulted me and went up to another associate. Her name is "Arley". Now let me tell you first of all there was no thank you for coming to Pep Boys. There was no hello how are you. There was no Can I help you. There was no kind of pleasantry at all! I got a "Next!" and that was it! I told her what my problem was and that we pretty much know that the alternator needs to be changed. She then replied "The jobs not gonna be guaranteed because other things go wrong with a car, we need to find out what else is wrong with the car". I felt like I was talking to a robot. No emotion. No well were going to take care of you. No reassurance that the job would be done right at all! She said that the battery, the starter and alternator had to be checked and that it was like twenty bucks to do the check or the jobs not guaranteed. So I said "I guess I have to get it done then, my car doesn't start so you need to jump it" and she replied back and said "Don't worry we got a way to jump the car" then proceeded to do the paper work and when she was done said that "The job is in so you can sit down now". Now I'm not a third grader and you don't have to talk down to the customer in a demeaning tone of voice and make the customer feel small. I need my car fixed so I said nothing and walked outside where my car was. After a while someone finally came out and walked toward my car with no cables and just my keys and I told them that "The car is not going to start, I told the girl at the counter that it needs a jump" He the proceeded to try and start the car anyway. The car did not start as I told him and he said that "Your gonna have to wait, we need to charge the battery to our jump kit" and walked away! After waiting and waiting I decided to walk up close to the bay to just tell the guy that "We can just jump the car with my cables I have in the car, That is how I got it here" and looked at me as if I were bothering him and said "We can just push it in the bay". I'm thinking to myself, is this guy for real? He then walked up to my car with the keys and put it in neutral and we pushed the car into the bay! I couldn't believe it. 1, I'm paying for a service, 2 you don't expect the customer to do your job, and 3 it is just plain unprofessional! Now the car is finally in the bay and is going to get looked at to finally see what the job is. After they do the check on all three components I was told something I already knew. The alternator had to be changed. So there was my time and twenty dollars gone that I wasn't getting back. Now I had to talk to "Arley" again and nothing has changed. She still had no customer service. She still talked to me with a chip on her shoulder. She still was not treating me like a human being. I have feelings. In my line of work if I were to treat a customer the way I was being treated do you know what would happen? You loose a customer for life! Now while at the counter I see two displays of signs that said "Book Today! Call our service department to schedule your appointment. Free Pep boys Auto Car Care Check Up". So I ask "Arley" why did I not get offered this free check up on my car? She then replied in a demeaning voice again "You have to call the number and set it up, it's not a coupon". I can't believe how I was being treated but I still kept my cool. So I call the number to schedule a check up and the phone rings and a guy answers and I explain to him that I wanted to schedule a free check as the flyer says. He said to me "That was yesterday, you missed it and I don't know when the next one is" I then replied and said but I just got one of these flyers and It say’s call to set up your free check up. He then tells me "Sir, this is the third time I am explaining this to you people, I need to put the phone down and take a deep breath before I start to raise my voice at you". In my head I'm think I'm in the Twighlight Zone or something. He say's "I suggest you let me take a deep breath and then I can help you". I say, "Sure go ahead do what you have to do or we can talk to the manager or something". He puts down the phone and takes his deep breath, waits a little bit and picks up the phone and say's "Ok, now I'm level headed and can help you, the flyer you have was for yesterday! It's over! See the date that's on it?" I say, "No, there is now date on this flyer". He then replies to me and say's "Sir do you know how busy the service area is? We don't have time to take those down. Just call and speak to the managers tomorrow. Their names are Denny and Jeremy but they are out today". I then reply "Do you need me to just set them behind the counter for you since you guy's are too busy and would want this to happen to someone else" and believe it or not he said YES! Unbelievable! This has got to be one of your worst run stores in the country! I then tell "Arley" that I just tried to schedule this Free check up on my car and she say's " You just called the store sir, we don't know when the next one is". Just minutes before she told me to call the number to set it up. What is going on? I explain to her that it's misleading to have that display out and it should not be out if the customer can not actually set up this free appointment. She then grabs the displays one by one and slams them underneath the counter! Wow! Is this really happening? So I go outside to wait for my car to get done and decide to walk to Pollo Tropical, which is in walking distance from the store, and get some food so I can cool off and get out of that environment. On my way to get some food I see a coupon on the ground that says "10% off your next service ". Picked it up a kept walking to get some food. After a while I get a call. It was "Arley", "Your car is done". I say, "Ok, I'll be right there". I wanted to end my experience with your company as soon as possible. I get to the counter and "Arley" is working with someone. When she gets done she takes her time does a few things and says to me" That's $325.18, Cash or Credit?" I don't know about you but where I'm from most people don't carry that much cash. When I worked behind the register the question was "And which charge card would you like to pay with today?" assuming that was how the transaction was going to be paid because of the amount of the total. I say "Charge" and she starts to process my sale. As she is doing the transaction I remember I have the coupon in my pocket. I then proceeded to give it to her and she takes it. Looks at it and say's "This was for customers who attended our clinic yesterday". In my head I'm thinking how does she know if I attended the clinic or not? I say to her "What makes you think that I was not here?" She replies "First of all I would not have had to explain to you earlier about how the check up works and second I heard you calling before trying to set yourself up with the check up". I then said "I found it in the parking lot, now who's not to say that a friend of mine was here yesterday and then gave me the coupon to use, you wouldn't know that". I say, "So you're not going to honor the coupon?" She replies "No!" in a nasty voice! And say's "I could, it only depends on the situation". I then say, "So if you wanted to you could but your not cause you don't like me or something?" She then replies "No! I'm just not gonna honor the coupon for you and that's that!" I even asked to get the coupon back because I did find it on the floor and it should be mine and she said "No!" and kept it! The coupon was for ten percent! Do you think that the $32.52 would have saved my life? Do you think this amount could make or break me? No. I do think that this young lady has a little power trip with her position, thinks she has a safety net, thinks she knows it all, and gets off on doing things like this! You NEVER tell a customer that you could do something and don't do it! Don't say you can do something and don't deliver! You know what? You have just lost my father and I as a customer for LIFE! I am going to tell everyone I know to boycott and stop spending money with your company! I am paying for a service. Customer Service IS A BIG PART OF WHAT I PAY FOR as well! If this is the kind of people you want in your organization I am going to do my best not to ever have anyone in my family or any of my friends experience what I have experienced today! I could not even tell a manager about the incident because THEY BOTH WERE OFF! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! What type of service orientated store gives both managers the day off? How does it affect the work place? I'll tell you how, PURE CHAOS! Everyone showing his or her true colors! The associate you think is a good worker is really a goof off, irresponsible, and not even worth giving a paycheck. Do you even spot-check the service with secret shoppers at this store? I bet if you did, this store would fail every part of the questionnaire! The Service was horrible! The people unprofessional! The environment Chaotic! No sense of store pride or even showing that they like their job or what they are doing! I love my job and that is why I do it. If I didn't then I would go find a job that made me happy! BOTTOM LINE, This was the worst experience I have ever had at any store! I had to write and let someone know about this! That is why I am sitting at my computer at 3:05am Monday mourning typing this. I have to work tomorrow but could not sleep until I wrote this and hit the send button. You have better believe I am going to start a blog about this! Who knows maybe start a website dedicated for customers who have had a bad experience with Pep boys to all come together and show you how bad your service is! Maybe then you will realize you have a big problem with the culture at your store! Only then when I am able to get a buzz all around the Internet about this and get some people to help with the cause you will see WE ARE FOR REAL! I am going to forward a copy of this email to all of my contacts. I have some good contacts TOO! Once this starts rolling and gets big like a snowball going down a mountain heads should roll in your store. How does this even happen? "Parts, Service and So much More". Please. How about Horrible service and the so much more must mean a headache, stress, treated poorly, and a bad taste in your mouth! You get a ZERO on the score from me. You may think that this ends here. It doesn't. You will hear from my contacts and I soon. Might not be tomorrow, might not be the next day. But you have definitely not have heard the last from me! I will recommend to others to speak up about their experiences and see where this goes. For now just know that you have lost a loyal customer who has spent a lot of money with your store but no longer. I will take my business elsewhere! And I know that your company is big and that maybe losing me as a customer will not even make a dent in profits, but I am going to try my best to get the word out and see if I can at least make this one stores numbers go down the drain. Maybe who knows even get it shut down because the locals will be going to your competition. Thank you for giving me the chance to vent and have a place where I can let at least one person know how I feel. All I can say is you, the one person that is reading this email, get this in the hands of Pep Boys President & CEO Jeff Rachor and let him know of this. If he still is the President & CEO by the time I get done with my campaign! They say Pep Boys has over 560 stores and approximately 6, 000 service bays in 35 states and Puerto Rico. Well If I get my way soon it's going to be 559! One store at a time! Starting with the store on 4301 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth Florida 33461. A Store Where managers have let the stores culture and integrity of a place to get good service be replaced with horrible service, crappy training, and just plane lack of respect for the customer. As I end this email now and it is approaching 3:15am I have one more question, What ever happened to the customer all way's being right? I guess at Pep boys the employees think they are always RIGHT!

Daniel M. Vivar
3854 Chickasha Road
Lantana Fl, 33462
[protected]
[protected]@hotmail.com

I brought my car in for an overheating engine. I was quoted 215 dollars to replace a thermostat.The The mechanic that looked at it ran a diagnostic test and informed me the thermostat was good but the water pump had failed and needed to be replaced. This would cost me 525 dollars. They disassembled my vehicle and I received a call stating I needed to replace a water distribution hose that ran from the top of the engine to the bottom at an additional cost of 200 dollars. When I complained he said they would stop work and I would be responsible for labor costs and would still have an inoperable car. I was forced to authorize the work. In my amazement I received another call for labor that was done and they said I needed to replace the timing chain at another 500 + dollars. I had enough and refused. The service manager then suggested I replace the plugs since my car was apart and would only charge me 24 dollars their cost. I agreed for fear of my refusing any other additional work. My total bill was 954 dollars in the end. I drove my car off the lot only to come back 3hrs. later complaining my heat and ac did not work. Their first reaction was... we did not touch the ac in any way and I had not let the carrun long enough for the heat to start working. I hold a masters license in HVAC and a universal refrigerant license also. I told them it wasn't working and informed them of my certifications but they still refused to look at the ac yet they gave me a rain check to look at the heat. I am certain they were both working perfectly. I am yet to see if they fix the problem but doubt their competence. I have never had such Piss Poor Service in my life as I did at Pep Boys!

I started my business with them by stating i've been taught to ask, whatever gets replaced on my vehicle, i want in a box when i pick up the car. I needed brakes. Long story short. 3 days later, and $685. They said 2 of my calipers were frozen. I needed an air cleaner because ' it looked like something was living in it' and an oil change. They didnt have the old air cleaner for me, so i made them, after much complaining remove the air-cleaner from the bill. So i got it for free. But thats only $25 so its a very small win for the informed consumer. 2 of the pads didnt really need to be changed. The seized calipers are probably due to the fact that the pads showed a big gouge on one side from where they used a single screwdriver to spread apart the caliper, instead of a caliper spreading tool. This probably caused the alleged caliper seize. I've done my own brakes numerous times in the past, i'm no pro, but i know if you dont apply even pressure to both sides of the pad while spreading it, it can cause damage. Anyway, they also lost my remote locker/unlocker which was initially with the key. ( they did eventually find it, but still ! ) they have a charge ( sku#4120 ) for, and i quote: costs and profits to the motor vehicle repair facility for miscellaneous shop supplies (and fluids).

I know that when dealerships charge you $6 for a can of brake cleaner, ( for example) they use 3-5 squirts and put the can back on the shelf and charge the next person the same, and the next person. Using the same can. So i've been taught to get the remainder of the said cans or bottles. This is your lawful right. Pep-boys gets around this by the computer automatically figuring in a percentage. This also includes, according to them. Compressed air, hydraulic lift, rags. Wear & tear on their equipment, grease etc. This is such a total scam its preposterous. And i am in the process of writing to their ceo and complaining. Their is no shortage of complete horror stories about pep boys. And no surprise they are not part of the b.b.b. Save your time, and aggravation and go elsewhere for your service. Talk to people and find a local mechanic thats trustworthy. It may cost a few dollars more from time to time, but its worth it. I know, my dad used to be one of those trusty mechanics who didn't make a whole lot of money, but never had an unhappy customer.

And to top it off, they still charged me for a bottle of brake fluid. Brake jobs require brake fluid, it should be part of the price. But alas, pep boys loves money, anyway they can get it. Always ask for your old parts and remaining fluid/spray beforehand. Good luck.

Pep boys#89 white marsh md i purchased a razor elec scooter at this store and charged the battery 2 times on the third time it would not take a charge. So i switched the battery with another scooter that belong to my other grandchild. It worked fine. Then i took a look at the battery it was not a razor battery. So i called razor and they told me that all of their scooters leave the factory with battery clearly marked with the name on the top of the battery. This scooter had a battery made by some generic manufacturer and was switched by someone at pep boys or they sold me a used scooter either way i was ripped off by them. They will not even call me back. I filed a complaint at the bbb of md lets see where it goes i think this is the last nickel of my money they will get from me and i advise anyone to avoid pep boys like the plague.