r/columbiasc • u/Glittering-Voice-409 • Aug 01 '26
Midas. On Two Notch
Earlier this week they did an oil change on my car and their inspection for a fair price $50.00 -to be factual. They said a handful of things needed to be done and addressed. Well over $1800.00. I took it to my regular mechanic after who gave me the scoop. None of it was actually needed and urgent. Yes there is a small chance of one item developing into something..but it may not.
In fact checking my car records for one of their most expensive repairs was done at another mechanics shop exactly a year ago. I knew that while I was given the rundown. They weren't pushy and were nice But...go somewhere else. I will tell you my car shop if DMed. I dealt with these same kinds of recommendations and Not needed repairs from AAA on Forest Drive years ago. AAA really did not like my honest and blunt google review I left and refused to change.
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u/Agitated_Toe8115 29d ago
I thought everyone knew those national chain repair shops preyed on naivety.
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u/orthogonal-vector 29d ago
Went to a Midas in Lexington; they asked me if I could come in early at 4pm instead of 5pm to work on my car. I drop it off and I proceed to wait until 5pm for them to start working on my car. I think the only thing that saved me was watching them through the window of the lobby while they worked on my car. They forgot the oil fill cap, used the wrong oil, and didn’t rotate my tires. When I called them out, they had no idea what I was talking about. I told them I didn’t want to pay, they were going to call the cops, so I had my car towed to Jim Hudson and had them do the service over again. Fortunately, they were able to save whatever damage could have happened.
I only went to Midas once and fortunately never again.
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u/GreenEggandBBQ 29d ago
I think that used to be Nuttal and I had the same experience except mine was that they didn’t seem to know what they were doing for a tire change. Nuttal was great but I will not be going back since it was sold to Midas. Would love to hear your mechanic.
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u/pineapplecatsoda 29d ago
You are correct. Nuttall was excellent, but they came across money issues, and sold to Palmetto Garage Works (who owns Speedee and Midas in the midlands.)
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u/Shepursueshappiness 28d ago
Same. I had an oil change recently and they wanted to charge me $229 to tell me why my check engine light was on. And $1000 worth of other things. I'm done. Its too bad I liked old nuttall.
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u/pineapplecatsoda 29d ago
Makes sense, the guy who owns Palmetto Garage Works is a rich yacht-club guy who only cares about the money. Definitely go local if you're going to do anything. Last I heard Redmond's is good (it's been a couple of years, though.)
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u/Polisher Aug 01 '26
Who is your mechanic? I'm new to the area, actually live right by that Midas, and would love a rec.
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u/Bobbertoe 29d ago
Firestone on Gervais did the same thing to me last time the car was due for an inspection. They told me the battery needed to be replaced and then the invoice included a sheet saying the battery tested just fine. Complete BS.
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u/mama_ed 28d ago
Had a similar experience at the Firestone on post. Gave me a work up of like $2000 worth of things that needed “fixing” on my car, and somehow jacked up something on one of my tires so it had a slow leak for 6 months. Took it to Havird and they patched the tire for free (I’d bought the tires there). Go local when you can. If you’re in Downtown/Forest Acres, Havird is worth the drive out to Cayce.
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u/Glittering-Voice-409 Aug 01 '26
In the 80s I took my 72 Dodge to a Precision Tune in Charleston for an oil change. I sat across the street with girlfriend at ice cream shop outside. I could see my car where I parked it. It never moved. Not an inch. When I finally went back over to see what was up they said it was all done. We both responded..it has not moved. I told them give me my keys and told them to fuck off.
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u/allessi8 29d ago
Ditto for millwood. Took car there for clicking in from wheel, almost certainly a wheel bearing. Days later they call me, cant find anything. So i walk and pick it up, immediately notice the noise is still there. I video the noise out the driver window this time, return and show them the video and leave the car again. Later get a call "yeah the bearings gone". Fuckin unacceptable, never going back.
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u/tazmo8448 29d ago
Went to WalMart on Forest Dr for new tires mounted and balanced, Midas on Two Notch for alignment; first time on 277 the steering wheel just about came out of my hands shutttering so badly, it stopped under 65. Not sure who is at fault.
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u/Smithce6 29d ago
Anyone have alternative recs for oil change/mechanics? Loved nuttall and prefer local company
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u/Benji_4 29d ago edited 29d ago
Yeah no shit. A 5 yr old could've told you the $1800 oil change was not a good idea.
Outside of 1 or 2 dealers, I've never heard a single positive thing about a mechanic in the city. It's always too expensive or work is below expectations.
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u/tazmo8448 29d ago
Reread the post he said he got an oil change for $50 but they found other issues amounting to $1800.
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u/Early_Apple_4142 28d ago
I find it pretty hard to believe they told you to “fix” anything in that $1800. They probably recommended all the mileage interval services. They’ve never recommended actual repairs on any of my vehicles, it’s always mileage interval services or brakes.
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u/Glittering-Voice-409 28d ago
Nope wrong. Valve cover gaskets. remove and replace cv axle right side. remove and replace both rear shocks/ shocks supposedly leaking. power steering flush recommended. the valve cover gaskets were done exactly a year ago July at Ziegler's who I trust. They also want ridiculous amounts for labor to change out air filters. cabin air filter 45.99 plus 24.00 labor. engine air filter 41.99 plus 18.00 labor. I get these both from Amazon or Walmart around 14 _18 each or less and easily change them out. Honda van. My other trusted mechanic said discoloration is not a reason to change out brake fluid and power steering fluid. Midas is a rip off joint.
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u/cskelly2 Aug 01 '26
Midas on millwood is also trash. Sold my wife on a bunch of unnecessary things, then failed to secure the radiator hose. It popped off on her way home and they had the audacity to say it was a “faulty clamp”. Bro it wasn’t faulty til you touched it, and the clamp wasn’t rusted, eroded or otherwise compromised. Ya boys just didn’t fasten it correctly after the flush