DEFIANTLY COVID NON-COMPLIANT and servicing rip-off. Despite Meineke's statement about being COVID…read morecompliant, this establishment is not. Perhaps they are now but they weren't yesterday 12/16/20.
When booking I was quoted that an oil and filter change was $69.95, discounted $15 with the coupon I had. At the appointment, I first presented the coupon and mentioned the discount to the clerk, Rod, but he did not reach for the coupon or make any clarification that I needed to hand it to him in any particular way. He definitely heard me, so I took his response as meaning it was understood and that he knew what I expected of him. I was told to return in an hour.
Upon my return, I handed Rod an unused paper mask and asked whether, as a personal favor to me during the transaction, he would wear it. Again refused to wear a mask and then went further mouthing off about Governor Mill's mask order, his "rights" not to wear a mask, and other unrelated political observations about COVID. This despite the rampant COVID outbreak in Kennebec County at the moment. As far as I could gather, Rod decided that despite his working before the public in a small office during the worst public health crisis in 100 years, his preference to not wear a mask outweighed those of the public and Meineke's customers in particular. I was appalled.
When I presented my coupon, again asking about the $15 discount, Rod then stated that I was too late, alleging that I was, apparently, supposed to force it on him, not just show it to him and mention it. I reminded him that I had shown it to him and mentioned it but that he refused to take it. What a customer service champ.
Examining the bill, amounting to an astounding $99.67, I found charges for labor, filter, oil disposal, and a charge for two additional quarts of oil for $13.98. Five quarts are included in the $69.95 quote. My car takes 6.3 quarts. Whatever. The subtotal was $95.44 + $4.23 tax = $99.67... plus a $3.93 fine print charge for using a credit card bringing the total to a whopping $103.60 for an oil change.
Bait and switch, hidden charges, uncooperative staff, defiance of public health orders, overcharges, surly Rod, all needlessly complicating a simple oil change in Meineke's favor.
Meineke: German for don't go there.