Originally Posted by mrobinso
Okay I need to get something straight here... every year Advance Auto/Autozone/Pep Boys (one or any of the above) have this deal, and invariably every year someone on the forum raves about how they got oil and a filter for $29.99 or whatever the deal is for the given year.
This deal usually is held for a month at the beginning of the summer season. As I usually change my oil in July (however, as of this year I changed my oil in December and will be changing in July as well), last year I went in and purchased my 9 quartz of 0w40 Mobil 1 and filter and at the register was told that not only does Mobil 1 not make filters for our cars, but that all other filters are excluded from the deal, I usually buy Fram Paper Filter.
What is up with this?! I suppose some members are going to AdvanceAutos where the franchise owner allows any free filter with purchase of the requisite Mobil1 oil purchase?
Anyone have this shared experience?
The answer to your question(at least as far as Advance Auto is concerned) is: it depends who works with you and what they are willing to do. Your info about the filter(no Mobil 1) is correct and the special requires a Mobil 1 filter(up to $13), as I am sure you know. However, I was lucky enought to work with a manager who was willing to work with me and I just paid the difference between the K&N fleece filter and the $13 allowance(ended up to be $13). When I tried to buy another special a week later at a different Advance Auto store, that manager showed me a large black "X" on his screen which he explained meant they were not allowed to do it b/c they would lose money on the deal. Same chain, 2 different locations, 2 different outcomes. Don't know how it applies to Autozone, etc., but I imagine it would be the same. My only tip would be to go in confident that they have done this for other customers(though that didn't work for me the 2nd time, even when I showed him my receipt from the week before!)- can't hurt to try.