Grismer Tire & Auto Service Center

UPDATE 8÷3÷15: I received a call from the district manager to discuss my review and resolve my issues. Considering that they did attempt to work with me, my experience may be a fluke as opposed to being the norm.
Original review:
I’ve previously used this location and have had very good service. However, that all changed when I went in for a tire rotation and oil change last week.
First of all, they recommended a transmission fluid flush and concluded with «I don’t know when the last time you had it done.» Well, they should know because I had it done there about 10,000 miles ago. (It was actually 11,000 miles ago.) I’m no idiot and know that you do not change your transmission fluid every 11,000 miles. Also, the technician didn’t sound confident while he told me this. When I told them that they did it 10,000 miles ago, they tried to convince me it needed to be changed and that they recommend changing the transmission fluid every 15,000 miles.
Then, they pointed out that I had a punctured tire. However, I had no air leaking from it.
They also said that I needed an alignment although I had recently had that done, and my car wasn’t veering either right to left.
They also pointed out a brake issue that didn’t quite make any sense.
After pondering on the transmission issue for five to ten minutes, I became skeptical over what they were advising me and wondered if the punctured tire was merely something just wedged into the tread (since It wasn’t leaking air). For all I know, they could have stuck something in the tread themselves before showing me.
I asked to go back out and look at the tire. When I mentioned that if it wasn’t leaking air that it must not have punctured the wall, the technician said it was close, that he forced it through the wall, and already fixed the tire. (Huh? Why would you puncture a tire that hasn’t been punctured? Fortunately, I had road hazard coverage from the place I bought the tires and will be reimbursed for the repair.)
When I started to leave the facility with my car, I found grease in my seat, around the door handle, on the console, and on the cloth ceiling next to where they put a reminder sticker on the windshield. I also had a couple of sizeable grease spots and smudges on the outside of the car.
As I drove the car, I noticed it was riding rough. I then looked at the tire pressure readout. Both rear tires were at 34 psi, but one of the front tires was at 37 psi and the other at 40 psi!
As soon as I could find to pull over, I bled the tires down to 34 psi.
Then, I decided to call the manager and inform him of the situation. Essentially, I got a «dance around» where he found a way to validate everything they did to my car. He asked that I return to the facility so he could go over what was done with me. Why would I do that? I already knew what was done and corrected the situation. I was just extending the courtesy of letting him know there was an issue with the service. Secondly, after this conversation it was clear I was being hosed as opposed to being a victim of a lackadaisical technician.
Feeling quite leery after this experience, I went so far as to check under the hood to ensure my oil had been changed during this visit and that my transmission fluid had actually been changed when I had it serviced for that months back. It had fortunately. I did see though that I had rivets missing that were holding down the plastic panels that cover the components.
The car continued to ride rough, in particular, when I got on the highway the next day at higher speed on my way to Fort Wayne for the weekend. I determined that they didn’t balance the wheels when they did my tire rotation.
So, I took the car to an auto repair shop in Fort Wayne. They confirmed that two of the wheels weren’t balanced and in fact, were way out of balance. They balanced my wheels, and I also had them do a complete vehicle inspection. They found no other issues, but for the balancing and inspection I was out another $ 38.
I’m not sure what has happened since my last visit. I didn’t recognize the technicians from my past visits. I’m thinking that location has had a staff turnover since then.
I no longer trust this location to do work on my car.

Just came in for an oil change only and it’s been an hour and 30 minutes already and I’m still waiting…

This Grismer is awesome. I bring all of our family’s cars here. Staff is honest, friendly, and best of all… Not pushy at all! Highly recommend this location!

They do my oil changes since they are tough to screw up and I usually have a coupon from the mail circulars. The other reviews pretty much have the vibe of this place down. I will say that my interaction with the Grismer employees has never been strained or unpleasant. My beef is with them always trying to sell me something. I swear that I could take a brand new car off the dealer lot and they would tell me I needed a tire rotation! WTFG? (That is «What The Frick Grismer?) Anyhow, they can continue to do my oil changes, but anything else, I’d shop elsewhere. Unfortunately I think true automotive care is something only trusted to a friend of a friend or a handy family member. You just never leave these joints feeling like you did the right thing.

Ok so far as servicing your car — BUT they will try to hard sell you on lots of other things you «need» for your car– they are really pushy about it too! Then if you can’t afford it they will try and sell you on a Grismer no payments for 6-​month card — great now you are in debt to them forever for fixes to your car. Good service — just wish that the hard sell was not so pushy!