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Groovy Lube
Rating Details »
Categories: Gas & Service Stations, Auto Repair
Neighborhood: University of Texas3511 Guadalupe Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 275-0535
24 reviews for Groovy Lube
Going to Groovy Lube was sad experience all around...
Being a newcomer to Austin, I decided to do the "local" thing and have my Texas state inspection at Groovy Lube. I got there on a weekday at around 8am and they told me the "inspector guy" doesn't come in until 10am. I drove back at around 11:30am and asked again for a state inspection. The guys took my keys and I went into the adjoining cafe to wait. 10 minutes later (after I'd already ordered lunch and called my husband to meet me there to have his car inspected as well) they tell me that they can't inspect my car. They said it was too new... a 2005 Volvo. They said the car was too new for their computer because it hasn't been updated!
Okay....
By this time, my husband had checked his car in and ordered lunch as well. They finished his inspection and we paid ($20 more than what I ended up paying at Jiffy Lube for the 2005 Volvo), but when I got to the Travis County tax office to register, they hadn't given me the right forms. We went back to Groovy Lube to get the correct form, and they acted like it was a huge favor for them to fill out the paperwork. They finished another car, checked another customer in, and finished their lunch before taking the 30 seconds required to fill out our inspection form.
I'll never go back there again... their attitude isn't worth the trouble.
Terrible experience.
I picked this location because it's near the laundromat I like to use and I figured that would give me something to do while the inspection was done.
1. There was no one in the office and it took them 30 minutes to show up in the office. I was one of four people waiting, two of whom said they'd gotten there at least 20 minutes before.
2. They "forgot" to ask me for my insurance before taking my keys and telling me they'd call when it was done. This was the only high point of the process, actually, as the guy who'd done my check-in showed up at the laundromat (told him I'd be there) and asked me to come back and get the paperwork. Umm, that's nice that you found me, but I've got a bunch of laundry half-in and half-out of the machine that I don't know what to do with. I went back and gave him my insurance and he said it'd definitely be done by the time my laundry was.
3. It took way longer than my 4 loads of laundry.
4. I went into the office after being called, and it took 20 minutes for someone to show up in there. He checked me out for the standard fee, and I went out to my car to drive home.
5. There was NO STICKER on my car, and NO ONE TOLD ME I "failed" the inspection.
6. I ran back into the office, pretty furious that I'd paid and not been told my car was unfit to drive, or why it was.
7. It took 20 minutes to track down the mechanic who'd failed me. Then he finally told me I failed because my brakes were "too squeaky"! (Mind you, I'd never noticed them squeaking.)
8. He said this location doesn't do brakes, so I'd have to go to their other location to get the repairs done, and I'd have 30 days to get back in and get my sticker for no additional fee. "Oh, and if they say they're not too squeaky, come back here and maybe we'll give you a sticker."
9. I drove to the other location. A little over an hour later, they'd checked out my brakes (by driving the car around, taking the tires off and so on). The guy told me that he could make an appointment for me for a $100 diagnostic in the future and that my brakes were a "little bit squeaky, kinda" and that repairs would cost me $600 or so if the issue was what he thought it was.
I asked him if the work was immediately necessary. It wasn't.
"Should I have passed inspection?"
"Oh, yeah, dude."
"Can you call the other location and tell them that?"
"Sure, I will. Just tell 'em _____ sent you, they'll give you the sticker."
10. I drove back. After waiting 15 minutes, I got someone's attention. Ten minutes after that, I got the mechanic who'd failed me, told him his buddy said I should have passed, and asked to pretty-please get my sticker.
11. He FINALLY said "OK."
12. Ten minutes later, I had my stupid sticker.
Just FYI, I didn't need to do anything to my front brakes and got the rear pads replaced at Brake Check for far less than Groovy said it might charge. ... Four months later, shortly after I finally heard a tiny bit of squeaking start.
If theses guys can stay in business; anyone can!!! I don't know how they do it!
Went there to have my oil changed. The next day I was getting my brakes done at Brake Check and I saw that my oil filter was dirty and had a date written on it from the previous oil change back in November.
Groovy Lube tried to rip me off!!!! Why would they change my oil but not my oil filter? They are in the business aren't they? You would think they would know to change it!
I went back over there after my brakes were done. I asked for a manager and of course the guy tells me there is no manager here, he went home for the day. Then I told the guy that I didn't care, I wanted a new filter, a new oil change and all my money back that I paid the day before. At first he tried to tell me they didn't have my filter in stock, I just looked at him like if he didn't fix the problem there would be an even bigger one!
20 minutes later, as I watched them do the work, I got my money back, fresh oil, new filter, and a lollipop!
Apparently from reading these reviews before mine, this is a company that is in serious need of a management overhaul!
I took my car here three times before they really severely messed up.
So, the last time I will ever go to this horribly ungroovy place, I stopped in for an oil change before a roadtrip. I came back to pick it up, drove it off the lot, and discovered within a mile that all the warning lights were coming on.
I took it back up there.
They "fixed" the lights.
I drove off.
I like to listen to my local radio stations, but earlier in the day, I'd been listening to some cds, one at a time and it was working fine when I left my car with them. The radio was on when I got back in the car and I didn't think anything of it till that night when I pushed "play" and the cd part of the stereo ERROR-ed and died.
This is highly irregular. I drive a Honda Accord which is a very reliable car, and I keep it regularly maintained. There's no reason for something like the stereo to stop working.
I took it to a Honda dealership. They ran a diagnostic for me where they discovered that somehow multiple cds were jammed into the player and that one of them had broken. This is a $1200 problem (if I use factory replacement parts) to fix and not one that was "my bad" or that insurance will cover.
When I went back to Groovy Lube to ask them how in the world that could have happened, (as in: WHY ARE YOU MESSING WITH MY STEREO DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE) the guy who came to talk to me was completely unprofessional: He HIT ON ME (as in asked me out), offered to buy my car, and continued to make inappropriate comments and act like I am an idiot even though I am far from it. If I were a man I would probably have punched him. As it was, I was so horrified I didn't even know what to say so I just left.
Though I would have liked to have been compensated for my stereo being messed up (or at least the loss of my cds), I feel like I can never go back to that place. A friend gave me a Zune and I've been listening to that and the radio and that works for now. I'm waiting on my economic stimulus package check, (heh) to see about fixing the stereo.
I am NEVER going back here again. Everytime I leave here, I'm incredibly frustrated! Today was no different.
After waiting almost two hours, being over charged and then them not doing what I asked in the first place, I've thrown my hands up in despair!
They do not treat their customers right here. I went in early this morning and asked them to do the early bird special full service oil change and please check why my "service engine soon" light was on. They said no problem, they would be glad to do it.
Well, more than an hour and half later they said my car was done. I went out and the bill was $15 more than it was supposed to be! Plus, they didn't check my engine light. They told me I would have to either come back when they closed or wait until they weren't so busy. WHAT?!?!? I've been waiting here an hour and a half BEFORE all those customers even got there.
GRRRR! My advice: Take your business elsewhere and don't hassle with them!
Here's a story about a bunch of incompetent **sholes who can't or are too stoned to do their jobs...la la laa laa laa la la
I was driving around one afternoon much in need of an oil change and looking for a place to get that done. I decided to do my part to help 'Keep Austin Weird' and support some local business. HA! The only one weird is me for going to this dump. Alright, they do the oil change and say they'd give me three bucks off simply cause I asked. Fine. It took a little longer than I thought, and the prices are a little high, but nothing to send you flying bat shit crazy off the handle. That part of the Groovy Lube experience comes later. When? you ask. when i see a puddle of oil on my garage floor because they didn't tighten the drain plug? or, later when I look at my accounts on line and see that they double charged me? Not this time.
It was when I was driving south on Mopac and I hear the craziest noise, like the sound of metal sliding across cement at 85mph. I didn't know if it was me, somebody else, or what. So the next morning I'm leaving to go to work I think "uh, wonder what that weird noise was" and decide to peak underneath my car. The whole filthin skid plate is gone... not there.
I have a 2000 Toyota 4-Runner with 138,000 plus miles. The skid plate under the oil pan has been through 8 years and many an oil change. Then all of a sudden it falls off my car and slides across the highway at 80 miles an hour. I can't prove that they caused this, but I bet I could convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.
You want to know what I did about it? I did like Jim Carey in the movie Liar Liar and bent over and took it like a man. Why? Because nothing would have happened... not in this case. Trust me I worked at an oil change place once.
This place should be called Shitty Lube. Hey thanks for 'Keeping Austin F**king Weird'...asswads.
So after my last oil change, my decision to never go back stands firmly sure. My oil was changed about one month ago and ever since then, I have been seeing a little oil spot on the ground where I park my car. I cleaned it up and it returned. After about a week, I went back to Groovy and asked for them to check if anything was wrong. They did and said that he didn't see any leaking. However, he wanted to "warn me that my oil pan plug screw looks a little stripped." Oh really. That's interesting because it wasn't stripped the last 3 times you changed my oil and the one time I changed it myself. I wonder how that happened.
I'm sure now I'll have to pay to get that replaced when I bring in my car for another oil change. Just not here.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/12/2008
I normally write long winded reviews but those are about food... something I like talking about.… Read more »
I will never go to Groovy Lube again.
The staff at check in and check out was nice but unfortunately
nice can only get one so far...
Drop off car on a Saturday at 1 PM for an oil change and
inspection. The estimated wait is 1.5 hours.
I come back at 3:30 PM and my car is getting inspected and the
estimated completion time is in about 15 minutes.
When I am checking out, the front desk employee notices
that the oil change I asked for has not been entered in the
computer and checks to see if it has been done.
Nope, not done. My car will be the next one in.
I wait at Tazza Fresca (great place) and 15 minutes
later salesperson comes in to fetch me.
The oil change is still not done because they need to
know which type of oil to use (it's on the cap.. I point out..)
and recommend a radiator
flush which they promise will take them all of 20 minutes
to complete everything. The salesperson quotes me
$49.95 for the flush and a 20% discount on all services
for the day as it has taken so long to get everything done.
So I agree and will be back on 30 minutes.
30 minutes later....
Oil change is just finishing up. Did not use the type of oil I specified,
the flush has not been started.
I watch them flush my radiator and it is not pretty as they are
having lots of trouble doing it (hoses are not connecting right and fluid is everywhere) and I wait another 30 minutes
for everything to be done.
After settling up, I notice the receipt has the radiator flush
for $79.95. I ask for and do get a refund as a different price
was quoted.
Even after all the discounts, this was not worth it as
the services were not completed properly.
I really want to support a small business but this
was just too much to overlook!
Wanted to give zero stars...
I never really had an experience because they were rude. They acted as if they didnt want to help me. The wait was long so i left. But thank god i never got an oil change there. After reading everyones reviews it is scary about how bad they are. Please boycott these people. Boycott!
Being a new car owner, I'm definitely not an expert on what to expect in terms of service when it comes to getting an oil change. However, I've always been satisfied with the courteous service I've received at Groovy Lube.
Lines have never been an issue (I've come on weekday mornings) and during my last visit, my car was out within 10 minutes. I've also never had any problems with them 'discovering' extra work that needs to be done, but that could be because my car is still fairly new.
The neighboring Tazza Fresca is definitely a bonus (I'd rather wait in there with a latte then hang out in their 'reception area') as are the early morning and student discounts (20% off) they offer.
For a local, friendly, and quick oil change, Groovy Lube is the place to go.
I'm a big advocate of supporting local businesses and have been to Groovy Lube several times, each time hoping that the good of supporting a local business would outweigh the bad service and long wait. Unfortunately, I had to buckle to big business as it seems that Groovy Lube doesn't really care too much about keeping its customers.
When I went to Guadalupe location with my friend, they screwed up our stickers on our cars and switched them. So the next 3,000 mile reminder was incorrect on both of our cars. It's slow, the deals ain't that great, service can be friendly and helpful, but overall not worth the wait (it can get backed out onto the street regardless of how early you go on a weekend). I ran down to Groovy Lube on N. Lamar and they had a crazy wait too (all on Sat. morning).
I was forced to go to a chain, Precision Oil, down the road on N. Lamar near Dan's Hamburgers. The price was the same, very prompt, courteous, and you get your 5th oil change for free with them. I sauntered over to Dan's Hamburgers (cash only), had myself a lovely Migas breakfast with coffee in ceramic mug, read the paper, then they called me when my car was done. Relaxing, quick, friendly, and they did not screw anything up.
if you care about your car don't take it here. i went in for a routine oil change and they forgot to replace a valve and ended up ruining my engine. RUINING MY ENGINE. they had the audacity to blame me for the incident and said it was my fault for coming into the shop with no oil. the whole thing cost me a new engine ($8000) and calls to management went unanswered. no matter how many coupons they try to give you or how much money they claim you'll save, it's not worth it. this is by far the crappiest locally owned business in Austin.
After reading everyone else's reviews of this place, I was incredibly hesitant about going there, but since it was the only place that does inspections that were close, I had no choice.
I didn't have them do anything to my car that required them "fixing" or "replacing" so these four stars are ONLY for the fact that they do a fast job on inspections!
Go at about 8:30-9:00am to beat the traffic because we all know that there is always a line for inspections.... especially at the end of the month for fat lazy people like me. Fine I'm pleasantly plump.
Groovy Lube has really friendly employees who actually went above and beyond for me when I went there, so I can't really relate to the reviews below about poor service. They never tried to sell me anything, either. I've had some BAD experiences with places like EZLube and Jiffy Lube (the rare times I've used them. I always send my car to one trusted mechanic. I recommend all people do the same - it's just hard finding that trustworthy mechanic). I don't normally go to GL, but I trust them more than the national chains. Do the research: those places are full of pseudo-mechanics trying to scam you. Stories like these on the link below are everywhere:
http://www.knbc.com/me...
My qualms with GL is it is EXPENSIVE and the wait is friggin' long. At least they have a good setup with La Tazza Fresca, the cafe right next to it. You can go in there and get a coffee (or wine) and wait it out. They'll come into the cafe and call for you when your car's done.
GL's good, but not great. I wouldn't recommend using them on a regular basis.
Groovy Lube sent to the state incorrect mileage (they put a '1' in front of the correct number, claiming that I drove 100,000 miles in the last few months) on my odometer reading and now I'm in piles of frustration and holding on the telephone to remedy this.
Do I have to give them stars at all? I don't want to.
I'll never go back to Groovy Lube. They charged me for work that they didn't do! I asked them to change my oil, replace a wiper blade, change a headlight and a brake light and though they charged me for all of the services they didn't actually change my headlight. Lucky for me, my boyfriend noticed this later that night. Lucky for Groovy Lube, no police noticed before my boyfriend.
I went back the next day and they didn't want to give my money back so I went to O'Riley's and replaced the bulb myself. Shoulda just done it myself in the first place instead of paying someone $16 to do nothing.
The pretense! This place tries to play up the 'groovy Austin' thing...they didn't even give me lube before they screwed me.
My friend brought her car in for an oil change, and later discovered, after mysterious car behavior and a trip to the dealer, that A). there was double the oil in the engine that there should have been, and B). there was no transmission fluid. It seems Groovy Lube drained the transmission fluid, which is nowhere near the oil, and bright red instead of black, and added more oil. As seems to be the standard response, they refused to cooperate with her (she was hit with a substantial bill from the dealer). Oh, and upon some investgation, it turns out that they have been displaying a Better Business Bureau sticker in their window for some time, but are not cool with the BBB, having failed to respond to or resolve several complaints filed against them with the BBB. You can look them up.
Austin prides itself on having alternative options to traditional business services. Groovy Lube, an oil-changing and inspection station on the far northern end of "The Drag" is not much to write home about. The business offers competitive oil change prices, but nothing cheaper than the Jiffy Lube down the street. The service men are nothing exceptional...occasionally more friendly than your Midas Man. (Although, I have seen women working there, which is certainly more than other automotive places can say.)
I had hoped to have a different experience with Groovy, but unfortunately, I still got that feeling that so many women get at the mechanic that causes them to drive around much longer than they should without changing the oil. You're never sure if you're being taken advantage of. Maybe I'm just paranoid?
What I'm trying to say in too many words is that Groovy Lube is just okay. You can get new oil there, get a radiator flush, and you can pass inspection, but there's nothing in their slightly uncomfortable lobby that makes them exclusively Austin. Maybe grabbing coffee at La Tazza Fresca next door, or dodging traffic to hit up Amy's Ice Cream across the street will make your experience more unique. Don't go for their coffee...that's one area where they are EXACTLY like every mechanic I've ever been to! They do seem to be involved with the community in occasional sponsorships, so I should give credit where credit's due.
Worth a visit?
Groovy Lube is right down the street from me, so I try to go there to support local business. The guys are nice enough, but their customer service stinks.
My car is a Toyota that's three years old; I've never had a problem with it. Well, I took it in for an inspection, at Groovy Lube, never suspecting there might be something wrong with it. After I have waited for over an hour, the guy tells me that I have some kind of indicator in my car that needs to be looked at by the dealership before he can approve it. He said that when I brought it back they'd finish the inspection, no charge. Great. So I call Toyota, arrange to drop it off the next day, coordinate with my husband to get us both to work, etc. Big pain in the butt. So we do that, they say it was just a malfunction, nothing is wrong, blah blah.
We drive the car directly over to Groovy Lube, tell them we came straight from Toyota, and drop the car off for an inspection. We go wait at home. Over an hour later they call to inform us that in order to properly inspect the car we needed to drive it I think 30 miles or something, so that the gages would reset. Okay. They didn't tell me that, Toyota didn't tell me that, but okay. They then tell me that they couldn't do the inspection because of it, so I'll have to pay another $30 if I want it done.
I was livid. I understand that they couldn't do the inspection the second time, but if they had any type of customer service they would have listened to me when I said it came from the dealership, only miles away. They could have told me the day before when they told me to take it to the dealership. Very long story short, they suck.
Would have been 5 stars except for the unnecessary flirting and tattoo ogling. Let's just say this: if you didn't pass inspection elsewhere, YOU WILL HERE. (Did I just ruin that for everyone? Sh*t)
i have always had good service here. they let me bring my own oil and filters and they just charge for labor. very nice staff.
I got in a big fight with these guys once. I thought they were gonna be all 'groooovy' and everything and I'd take my business local and away from 'the man' over at Jiffy Lube. Well, the guy broke my brand new AC compressor. OK, it wasn't 'brand' new, it had recently been replaced just a few months before. It was fine when I took it in, but when I started my car to leave it started making this horrible sound and I lift the hood and the compressor is straight up crizzacked right down the front, on the top, where a person would be leaning or dangling over if they were working on your car and happened to accidentally (?or purposely?) bash it with some kind of hard object like a tool, or something someone who's working your car would have in their hand while they were working on your car. You know, when someone lifts your hood, and then closes it, and gives your car back to you WITH A BIG CRACK ACROSS THE TOP OF THE AC COMPRESSOR. So I stayed and argued and argued with the guy how it could be possible that something was fine when I brought it in and 20 minutes later after I take it away from their care, a big old CRACK appears across the top of my Brand New AC Compressor that had only been Replaced a Few Months Ago, how something like that could not be considered their fault. He was a big scary lookin' dude with tattoos all over and was mean and rude and I stayed and fought with him until after they closed and he wouldn't budge. Refused to take any responsibility, insisted it was all my fault and generally treated the whole situation like he couldn't care less about the fact that he just broke my AC. He was going to deny any wrongdoing until I just gave up and went home, in my AC-less car, making the knocking sound, and start saving up my $300+ to replace it again.
So yeah, I'm sticking with those jerks at J-Lube, at least they're not as jerky as these jerks.
they had me wait 2 1/2 hours!
work is o.k. not excellent. but there really isn't much of a choice for oil change shops! humm, catch-22!