Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site amd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!amd!jimb 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 ********************************************************** * Advanced Micro Devices is not responsible for anything I * * say here and probably wishes I wouldn't. * * I'm not responsible for typos and homonyms. * **********************************************************