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From: jimb@amd.UUCP (Jim Budler)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Re: Sears batteries revisited, and m
Message-ID: <432@amd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 16-Oct-84 17:48:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: amd.432
Posted: Tue Oct 16 17:48:56 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Oct-84 06:25:17 EDT
References: <57@umcp-cs.UUCP> <69600009@hp-pcd.UUCP> <2243@ihnss.UUCP>
Organization: AMD, Santa Clara, CA
Lines: 66

.
.
.
> Determined to try something new and looking for a bargain, I bought
> K-mart 4 year battery the next time around.  They checked the car
> out thoroughly and didn't try to stick me with anything.  
...
> years it got hard to start the car in the cold, and I took it back. 
> They checked the car and battery, finding nothing but tightening the
> alternator belt as a precaution, but they took the battery and
> recharged it, leaving me a loaner for a week while they did it, at
> no charge (cost).
...
> After another 2 years, it was again getting hard to start, so I took
> it back at the first sale of the fall, thinking I would buy a new
> battery.  Before they would sell me one they tested the car and
> reported the alternator was bad.  I didn't believe them, having
> tested the voltage myself, but the mechanic was happy to show me
> what the trouble was on his scope, It seems that I had a failing
> diode or two, which meant that the peak voltage was just fine, but I was
> only getting it on one phase, which showed quite clearly on the
> scope.  The peak, however, was good enough to fool my voltmeter and
> the regulator and guages into believing that everthing was fine. 
> They indicated that they thought the battery would go another couple
> of years.  They didn't have the proper alternator, and sent me home
> with no charge for the diagnosis.
...
> Normally I wouldn't dream of recommending K-mart to anyone 
Why not??? You just did.
>							     for auto
> service, and I suspect that what you get depends more on the local
> operator than on K-mart policty, but these folks were clearly out
> to provide good service.  (I also once bought tires from them for
> the same car, wanting only something that would hold air for another
> year or two, and though I came in for their current bottom of the
> line tire, they found a couple of tires left over from a previous
> supplier which were better quality that he would sell to me for less
> money.  A bargain for both of us, since they were only taking up
> space in his shop).
> 
> The bottom line is that it pays to find someone you can trust and
> stands behind the product.
> 
> 	Warren Montgomery

My mother (76 years old) being a prime candidate for shady mechanics
to rip off, has had very much the same experience at the K-mart in
my home town.

I had exactly the same experience concerning tires here in San Jose.

Maybe, just maybe, K-marts' control of their auto service is a
little better than Wards and Sears.  Unlike Wards and Sears a
majority of employees seem to be experienced.
-- 
 Jim Budler
 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
 (408) 982-6547
 UUCPnet: {ucbvax,decwrl,ihnp4,allegra,intelca}!amd!jimb
 Compuserve ID: 72415,1200

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