Les Schwab Tire Center — Attraction in McMinnville

I had a very poor experience dealing with this location. I brought in an aluminum wheel/tire combination that had a nail in the tire. The wheel/tire are off my wife's 5 month old Subaru Outback with 4,000 miles on it and are in pristine, like new condition (except for the nail of course). Upon inspection by the service writer, I was told that the location of the nail was such that the tire couldn't be repaired and a new one had to be ordered. I left my wheel/tire at the store and waited a couple of days until they called and said the new tire had arrived, installed and ready for pickup. I picked up the wheel/tire the same day and took it home only to discover that the wrong tire had been ordered. I also noticed that the technician had gouged the aluminum wheel when taking off the balancing weight from the inside of the wheel. It looked like someone used a screwdriver to pry the old weight off and physically gouged the aluminum.

So, I called and spoke to the service writer who ordered the tire who admitted his mistake and ordered the correct tire and said it would arrive the next morning. Okay, no big deal, mistakes happen. So, I drove back to the store and left the wheel at the location so that it would be available to them when the tire arrived in the morning so that i could pick it up early.

However, the call to pick up the wheel/tire did not come until mid-afternoon the next day - too late for me to come pick it up so I made arrangements to pick it up the following day.

Upon arrival the next day, I noticed that a few scratches had been added to the front of the wheel, two a couple of inches in length and through the clear coat and one a few inches long and on top of the clear coat. These marks were not present before so I brought it to the attention of the service writer. The service writer called the manager who looked at the scratches and remarked that they could not have scratched the wheel because they were not located around the rim where their machine operates. My response was that something must have happened during the handling of the wheel. His response was a flat no, it couldn't happen and I couldn't prove otherwise. I then showed him the screwdriver gouges from the inside of the wheel he said those couldn't happen either because they use a plastic tool to remove the weights. I asked him how did the gouges happen then and he just maintained that it couldn't happen.

After it was evident that the manager was disregarding physical evidence and logic. He simply refused to acknowledge what was before his eyes. I realized that I wasn't getting anywhere with this individual and left immediately, incredibly frustrated by the whole experience.

Bottom line: this location does not treat their customer's property with respect and will not assume any responsibility for damages they incur, despite the evidence. Management does not seem too concerned about taking responsibility for their mistakes and taking care of their customers.

If you care about your vehicle and want service done without worrying about damage to your property, I would go elsewhere. I know I won't be giving Les Schwab any of my business...

I would give zero stars if I could. This has been the most unethical experience I've had with a mechanic in my life. My husband agrees. I'm in my 50s and he's in his 60s, so that's a lot of experiences.

The mechanic at Les Schwab, McMinnville, stated that we needed 4 rotors, 4 calipers, 4 break pads. We went to three mechanics that were unaware that they were additional opinions. They unknowingly confirmed for me today that we were being conned. The second, third, and fourth opinions ALL concurred that we only needed pads and the pads we had could last a little longer.

We called the McMinnville's Les Schwab branch and they said, "it's just protocol to suggest everything be change with every break replacement. It's the bid they give everyone!"

We have gotten our breaks done before on another car at the Newburg branch. They never stated that that was protocol and we had no issues. It's a McMinnville Les Schwab morality and dishonesty issue.

If it is true, that their company/branch policy is to tell EVEYONE, regardless of needs, that they need calipers, rotors, and pads changed during every break job, then this is unethical and misleading. They were not presented as an option, but a necessity. I can only assume that they do this knowing those unfamiliar with mechanics will take them at face-value and pay $1000.00 for an over the top break repair when all they needed was pads.

Unless a customer is willing to take a chance being charged for bogus work, or they are willing to aquire a second opinion, take your car elsewhere for breaks and tires. I would not trust them for a fair and honest assessment after this experience. There are other brake repair places in town that are truthful. Take the drive to Newburg, Les Schwab, but I recommend to avoid the McMinnville branch. I don't want anyone else falling for this schtick.

Again, all I needed eventually was pads. That's not the bid received from them.

I crossed out the invoice number and the employee name, because this review isn't intended to get somebody fired. It's intended to point out that their policies are unethical and need...

I am giving two stars because the only good experience I had at this location was I was offered a ride home while my jeep was being fixed the first time. The second time I brought it in was to get four brand new tires, which was almost $1000. I had to bring it back because there was a metal grinding noise that was not a “squeak” or just a “squeal”, it was metal on metal. Richard said I needed an alignment when an alignment was already done when I brought it in for my struts to be installed. I told him that and he just shrugged it off. He also said maybe the noise was because I needed brakes, but didn’t need to worry for at least 7 months. As I was pulling out, it did it again and the technician said that’s normal. Now look, I grew up with brothers and I’m far from being a pushover because I’m a woman. I know the differences in the sounds. The technician was rude and I decided to take it to another Les Schwab. They said you need front brakes within the next few weeks. I also keep my jeep in pristine shape and when I went to do a look over, which I always do after going to mechanics, my front passenger rim was damaged. Those are brand new rims and I have not had any mishaps that would cause that on my end. I will never go here again and Richard and his technicians need some manners on how to...