Customer complains about $140 oil change, refuses to pay, demands mechanic put his old oil put back in: 'Take it out and put the old oil back'

"The customer is always right," or so that commonly spread variation of the quote would have you believe. Just as often as you see the quote, though, you'll see some smarmy internet user jumping in to "correct" whoever posted it that the "original" version of the quote should actually be appended with "…in matters of choice and preference." Bringing the full quote to be "The customer is always right in matters of choice and preference." Not in all matters like we'd commonly use it today.

The thing is there really isn't one clear origin of this quote, it seems to have popped up throughout the early 20th century as the steam train of marketing-based consumerism really got rolling and manufacturers figured out that the best way to sell more product was through "new" models and colors in order to make perfectly fine existing products seem obsolete. 

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Author image for Brad Dickson Brad Dickson
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  • The other thing here is that customers often aren't right about anything—even their own preferences… and all it takes is a little time working in a customer service role to know that this is certainly the case.

    Whether or not $140 is a lot for an oil change is a matter for debate. Still, demanding that the mechanic put your dirty oil back in your engine is just plain foolish, but that didn't stop this customer experience from going in that direction with the entire exchange, with predictably terrible results.

  • 01
    4-5470 取付要 1. フィルターのガスケットが満に入ってい ことを確認しながらエンジンオイルを ぬって下さい。 12. ガスケットが取付面に当ってから さらに3/4回転専用工具 下さい 3. オイル注入後、エンジンを3分以上 して油もれのないことを確認して下さ
    via Jimmy Nilsson Masth

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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  • 02
    140$ seems steep but keep in mind this was a 22 year old Chevy SUV. No only did it need a oil change but its already suffering from bad piston slap which we documented. It got dropped off for overnight oil change and first thing in the morning the customer showed up for his truck. When he heard the price he got upset and said he wasn't paying that and to put the old oil back he doesn't care how after explaining it wasn't possible.
    via ZZZ-Top
  • 03
    He gave off huge Cunty vibes, and judging from the condition of his truck he's always been a . When he left I had a talk with the other tech and he was confused about how we're putting the old oil back when it I was so bad it looked like burnt oil. I told him we're gonna pump the top of waste oil enough to fill his truck. All the waste oil is mixed synthetic, axle, and standard oil is mixed was waste and generally not a good idea to reuse it but he insisted when he said he didn't care how.
    via ZZZ-Top
  • 04
    We put his old filter back and put desert heat aged old oil back in it and as added measure one of the techs he p ed off put axle grease on the top of his catalytics (doesn't damage anything or smoke, it's smells horrible when it's heated). We put his truck down and put it outside and gave the keys to the owner of the shop. When
    via ZZZ-Top
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  • 05
    he came to get his truck the owner was outside waiting and told him not to come back again. The boss is still worried we might be on the hook for his engine if it blows and we showed him all the paperwork and the documented piston slapping. We figure. his truck might last another year at best if he changed the oil by now.
    via ZZZ-Top
  • 06
    Edit for those wondering about the break down in cost 12 Quarts of T6 70ish (you keep the extra) Oil Stabilizer 10$ filter 12$ Oil plug 12$ (only part he left with for free) plus labor and disposal fees
    via ZZZ-Top
  • 07
    E TEX
    via Jimmy Nilsson Masth

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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  • 08
    Revonin Had a friend who worked at Valvoline some ten years back and I went to pick him up and hung out in the waiting room. This old dude comes back to get his car and went BALLISTIC at the...50? Dollar price tag. "I won't pay it put my old oil back!" "Sir, drained oil is placed in a barrel with all other used oil for disposal, we can't do that"
    via ZZZ-Top
  • 09
    "I don't care put it back! PUT IT BACK I SAID" At this point I am trying so hard to I bust out laughing at this old my friend is trying desperately not to laugh after seeing me in the room shaking uncontrollably, and the manager walks in and tells the guy if he doesn't pay and leave they'll call the cops. Finally the guy pays and throws a giant fit yelling at everyone while he gets I to his car, which he peels out into a busy intersection and slams into a truck. I've never been in a room so loud
    via ZZZ-Top
  • 10
    pyromaniac1000 As someone who works in parts at a dealership, Im scared for your boss. How many quarts did it need?
    via ZZZ-Top
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  • 11
    speculatrix Why wasn't customer aware of the price beforehand?
    via ZZZ-Top
  • 12
    Lieutenant_Scarecrow $140 American? Jeeze.....
    via ZZZ-Top
  • 13
    cthompson07 To be fair, thats outrageously expensive. I get mine changed at a dealer and it's still only $90 for 10 quarts of full synthetic.
    via ZZZ-Top
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customer service malicious compliance customers terrible customers karen-customers entitled customers mechanic malicious compliance reddit workplace malicious compliance
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