Lesson Learned

Travelling 240km a day means I have to change the oil lubricant every month as the mileage easily reaches 5000km in a month time. When I first got the kembara, I was told to do the car service on my own and get the reimbursement directly from the car owner. So I asked my husband to take care the car service business when necessary. But then since only on weekends my husband would be able to do the monthly oil lubricants replacement, and we always engaged on some other things on the weekends, sometimes the oil lubricant service done when the mileage already at 8000km or more, which I understand not good for the car.

My colleague suggested that I send the car at the workshop in our office block as he also sends his car there. Yes...it's very convenient coz when you come to work in the morning, you just leave the car there and pick it up later. All I have to do is to leave the car key and tell them to get the oil lubricant changed. I never bother to ask what type of oil lubricant they use, or fight for the price. All I know no matter how much is it, I just get the receipt and claim from the car owner. But after few times, I started noticing that the price keep increasing. It's not so much, but still RM1 or RM2 involved in this matter. One time, I did ask the lady who processed the payment, all she said 'harga minyak hitam tu naik'. Well....ok, I didn't ask further...

My colleague who also send his car to the same workshop, later has to change his kembara and this time the car owner of the new kembara is the same owner of my car. So one day he asked me to fax his car service receipt to the owner as I was about to do it as well. And guess what....the same car service, he's paying RM55 and mine is RM67! The owner must be wondering why the bill doesn't show the same figure despite it is issued by the same workshop and same service. And I was like....hah? My colleague told me that he insisted the mechanic to use the 3 litre one for the oil lubricant instead of 4 litres. Apparently mine is 4 litres, and I knew nothing of it. What a shame! I'm such an ignorant person.....DUH! He further explained that if the workshop uses 4 litre, but the kembara only consumes 3 litre, the workshop can use the extra litre for another car. See! I know it's not my money as I always get the reimbursement from the car owner but it is not fair! Maybe because I'm lady, and I don't argue, so they are taking advantage on the situation.

So yesterday, another monthly routine of oil lubricant replacement and I sent the car to the workshop. This time I determined that I will insist them to use the 3 litres one. Upon seeing me, the mechanic quickly came to entertain me and I passed the car key. Here was the conversation:

Mechanic: Tukar minyak hitam kak?
Me: A'aa, tapi pakai yg 3 liter punya tau
Mechanic: 3 litre? Untuk kancil boleh la kak, kembara kena pakai 4 litre
Me: Apa pulak x boleh? Opismate sy hantar sini jugak, dia pakai 3 litre aje.
Mechanic: Tak boleh kak, tak boleh.....
Me: Tak tau la...suka hati la korang cemana pon

And I just walked off. Actually I have given up arguing coz I don't know so much on this thing. I was so sure that they will maintain the 4 litre one. So I told myself if I still receive the same amount as the previous one, I'll definitely stop sending my car to this workshop. It serves them right for not being honest! One of the reason why I send my car to this workshop it's because it's owned by Malays. So I think I should support their business. But if this is how they behave, I think I should teach them a lesson.

So by late afternoon, I came back to the workshop to pick up my car. Surprise! surprise! The amount shown on the bill is only RM55...hehehe. The lady clerk quickly informed me that they used 3 litre. Hmmm....at least they listened to me. They should! I'm the coustomer, and customer always right....don't you think? So I have realized that if you want you right, you have to speak up ok....and please get info, even though only basic info on the car service so you won't get cheated. Being lady and when it comes to car service and workshop, we are easy prey for being cheated. Wanna learn about timing belt now? Hehehe.....