Great Neck

Customer Beware I went to the Valvoline location in Great Neck for an oil change and New York State inspection. While I was waiting, an employee approached me and recommended several services and repairs totaling several hundred dollars. As I usually do, I politely declined. A short time later, the assistant manager, Kevin, came out and told me I was “all set.” I assumed that meant I had passed the inspection. Instead, he told me I had failed because my windshield wipers needed to be replaced. I asked if they could replace the wipers right then and rerun the inspection. He said yes, but explained that with Valvoline you pay the inspection fee whether you pass or fail, and I would have to pay another inspection fee to have it reinspected. He also said I could buy my own wipers elsewhere and come back later for the reinspection. What frustrated me most was that I asked Kevin why no one had told me about the worn wipers before the inspection began. I asked whether it was against New York inspection regulations to point that out beforehand. He told me it was his discretion whether to say anything. He also mentioned that he was tired of doing inspections. Therefore he stated that he decided not to tell me and allow me to fail. It was totally his discretion. Would you trust a service station that can decide on how they feel that day , how you look , or how much you send there to decide your inspection? Because years back when I went to the very same place another gentleman who isn’t there any longer, told me I will fail the inspection because my tires are wore out. Anyhow Kevin’s response didn’t sit well with me. It would have taken less than a minute for someone to tell me, “Your wipers need to be replaced or your vehicle will fail inspection.” I had already been approached about hundreds of dollars in recommended services, but no one mentioned the one inexpensive item that would cause my inspection to fail. Because of that, I was left wondering whether my earlier decision to decline the recommended services influenced how my inspection was handled. I can’t say for certain that it did, but that’s how the experience felt to me. Had it been a friend or family member, I believe they likely would have been given a simple heads-up. After I raised my concerns, Kevin ultimately did not charge me because I made a stand. However, when I explained why I felt the situation was unfair, his response was essentially, “I apologize you feel that way,” rather than acknowledging that the situation could have been handled better. My issue isn’t with failing an inspection if something legitimately doesn’t meet the requirements. My concern is that a simple warning about the wipers could have saved everyone time and frustration. I’m sharing this experience not because I hold a grudge against Kevin, but because I hope other customers will ask questions and be informed before their inspection begins. Whether you’re a young driver, a parent, or a senior citizen, don’t be afraid to ask what items could cause your vehicle to fail before the inspection starts. What happened was unethical. Don’t go to a place where they lie and there is a pattern of being unethical.

Great service and staff!