TIRES PLUS TOTAL CAR CARE

BLUF: Incompetent, Expensive, Rude. Avoid completely. 

 11/5/11- This started with my truck needing a basic state inspection. Dropped it off and received a call a few hours later informing me the truck had passed its inspection and was ready to be picked up. I had previously purchased a Groupon for $100 of services at this store which I needed to use so at this time I asked about the possibility of replacing the exhaust tips which had rusted and broken off at the weld (the last ~18" of a typical dual exhaust on a truck). After a short pause to go back and check the truck I was informed that the entire last 1/3rd of the exhaust system ('cat-back' portion, from the muffler back out) needed to be replaced due to rusted holes and that it now would NOT pass inspection (DID THEY EVEN LOOK AT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE?). I inquired about the cost of having them install another Flowmaster (brand) system as that is what I currently had installed and was given a quote on the very high end of reasonable. I declined, stating I could do it cheaper myself and to simply flush the transmission so I could take advantage of the Groupon I had purchased previously. They performed this service and I shopped elsewhere for the exhaust work. ( I was taxed on the Groupon as if it were cash also, rather than the $100 being deducted from the total. Not sure if that's how that is supposed to work, but worth noting.)

11/23/11- Myself and a friend prepared to perform a tune-up on the truck, to include replacing the spark plugs and the front and rear shocks as the ride quality had deteriorated over the years. We are both mechanics in the Army Reserve with deployments as mechanics under our belt, and my friend also spent nearly 4 years working full-time as a certified mechanic (SAE and others) in similar shops (including a 6mo. stint at this very store when he previously lived in Columbia ) so between us this is a task we're well familiar with and qualified to perform. I hadn't given the truck much TLC over the past few years due to school (no time) so these things were due. 
 As we began on the front end, we hadn't gotten past removing the passenger side wheel when we noticed the sway bar link on that side was completely broken in half, with the broken ends still attached to the sway bar and lower control arm. This is NOT hard to miss if the truck is up on a lift (which it should have been to do an inspection) and I'm surprised I hadn't had a massive problem from this prior to discovering it. I have no doubt as to how it could have happened given the terrain I've driven the truck on before, but since the first 'inspection' the truck had not left pavement (I WOULD have noticed if this happened on pavement, the link is a rod of solid metal about as thick as a Sharpie), and Columbia's roads aren't NEARLY bad enough to have caused this. Significant off-roading and two Columbia blizzards ('07, '11), yes. Stadium Blvd? No.  
After finishing the suspension work we moved to the top end. As we began work on the engine, we discovered the overflow lines on the radiator had not been replaced, or at least not secured (the pinch clamp was halfway down the tube, these do not slide without significant pressure on the ends to open the clamp), and there was a shop rag found wedged in the frame below it. 

11/30/11- After completing the exhaust work I returned with the truck to complete the inspection. At this time I was questioned very rudely by the manager/owner of the store about the source of the work, asking if I 'knew how to weld' (I do) and 'where I got the parts' (none of his business). I made no mention of the other items found, as it would have made no difference, the work was already completed, and I had the impression it wouldn't have been received well regardless. I received my (passing) inspection slip and went on my way. 

To sum up: 
*They discovered my exhaust wouldn't pass only AFTER I mentioned it. At the time the tips were completely gone and would have looked strange enough to at least glance at, at which time any other defects should have been obvious. This indicates to me they may not have even looked at the rear of the vehicle during the inspection. 
*No mention of the broken sway bar link (a serious part and integral part of the front suspension) either after the initial inspection OR after performing the transmission flush and nearly NO chance it had happened since then. Indicates either he was blind or completely incompetent. 
*Shop rag found left in lower engine compartment. This is a roughly 12"x12" piece of red (but grimy) cloth. Not hard to miss. Sloppy at the least. 
*Hoses not properly secured or left disconnected. A 30sec double check before closing the hood should have caught this.  
*Rude upon returning to complete the inspection.