Dennis Grover, Author

2790 Wrondel Way #41

Reno, Nevada 89502

775-741-7028

December 24, 2011

Via email to Meineke and hand delivered to 2825 Kietzke Lane #1, Reno Nevada

Dear Meineke

I own, drive and am restoring a 1988 BMW 635 CSI, a well engineered automobile and a classic of sorts. It is a car I am continuously excited to own and I drive it almost daily.

On 07/08/11 after 24 years and 179,000 miles of service the suspension of the muffler system failed and the complete system fell to the ground, I was alerted by hearing it drag beneath me. I called a tow truck and went to a mechanic shop that I know to be familiar with the BMW automobile. They informed me that the muffler system was a single unit from the engine exhaust header to the tip of the tail pipe. They searched and found one available but indicated a 10 day delivery period and the cost was $1,300 plus shipping. The tow truck driver suggested I leave my car on his truck and go to Meineke because as he said “They can fix it now and for less expense.” I agreed and we went to your store at 2825 Kietzke Lane #1 in Reno Nevada. They said they could make it like new, I said OK, and they went to work, the final bill that day was $604.20. Invoice #9158

3 weeks later the welds and hangers gave way and the system once again hit the ground. I returned and they made repairs to hang it up again. 4 months later the same repairs failed again and I returned. New faces were at the counter, I was treated like an enemy rather than a customer, they hung the system up again but not before the insulting person acting as if he had some intelligence told me that I was a lousy driver and going to fast over speed bumps bottoming out my car. He told me they would not fix it again and not to come back. I have owned several automobiles, maintained them properly and had only one traffic ticket for 35 mph in a 25 mph zone in my 50 year driving history with never once having an exhaust system fall to the pavement.

Today is the day before Christmas. For the past twelve years a group of my friends and I visit the hospitalized Veterans at the Reno VA Hospital with a second group organized to serve the Palo Alto VA Hospital, we distribute good cheer and gifts to approx 300 stricken Veterans. After a day of emotionally charged good cheer my complete exhaust system once again hit the ground when I left the hospital. I had my car towed home after my day of distributing gifts donated by local businesses.

 A little bit about me; I am a decorated Vietnam Combat Veteran, after surviving Vietnam I was privileged to be asked to serve a two year tour with the USAF Aerial Demonstration Squadron “The Thunderbirds” traveling the entire free world performing air shows. For 8 years I owned and operated a general automotive repair business (Lifetime Service) in Reno and sold it after a massive heart attack caused partly from managing lazy and incompetent employees. I am the author of “Knowledge Equals Freedom, the True American Resource Guide” and am in the middle of completing my 11^th edition. I hosted a television talk show for 12 years with over 300 guests focusing on problems and mistreatment of the American citizens and have had countless articles published across the nation. As a positive result, I have a very large audience across America.

 At this point to exclaim that I am frustrated and disillusioned by Meineke service would be an understatement; I have three courses of action if Meineke does not care enough to properly fix my automobile. (1) I will get the necessary and proper repairs done somewhere else and pay for it, adding to my already accumulated damages. (2) I will relay the negative service and repairs of my automotive experience to my audience nationwide with a huge concentration in Reno Nevada to help insure that they do not subject themselves to such Meineke non-professionalism and abuse. (3) I will immediately file a civil and public law suit for damages, time lost and mental anguish stemming directly from Meineke. Please do not consider the foregoing to be threats, they are simply very real manifestations of faulty business practices and I promise that I will aggressively carry forth the reality of these manifestations.

 Let me know your thoughts,

 Dennis Grover, American

The above letter received no response from Meineke corporate offices but was obviously forwarded to the shop in Reno on Kietzke Lane which upon my appearance at that store to try and resolve this issue I receive a barrage of insults regarding my sabotage of their work and incompetent driving habits. Which led to the following letter...

December 29, 2011

Emailed to Meineke Corporate with a hard copy via registered USPS on Jan. 3, 2012

Dear Meineke,

I went to your store at 2825 Kietzke Lane in Reno, Nevada on tuesday morning with a calm resolve to get the problem rectified with my (Meineke installed) BMW exhaust system dropping to the pavement for the third time in less than 6 months. I was met with a barrage of accusations that I had somehow intentionally coupled with extremely bad driving abuse to my car sabotaged Meineke’s work. Your counter person with the sharp tongue told me he had read my complaint and it was total crap. On the last three visits I had been accompanied by witnesses but since I was short of time today, I only had my pocket recorder to document his words. I am having these words transcribed to a written affidavit by a court reporter.

Your employee told me he would look at my automobile but it was obvious to him that I had caused the problem. Having had enough unsubstantiated verbal abuse I left and went to 2 other exhaust specialists in Reno and found total agreement as to the shoddy work and improper parts used for the original repairs from Meineke. Affidavits from these professionals are being prepared now and the proper parts have been located and ordered.

Strictly for your information if you desire, the entire system was suspended by 2 hangers; one was a tack weld to the muffler itself without any reinforced support and the second was a hanger connected directly to the frame. Neither of which had any shock absorbing grommets to protect from engine and normal driving vibrations. Both hanging methods failed completely on 3 occasions. Underbody integrity was compromised when metal was bent out of the way to allow an improper muffler to fit.

The following is my request to make this incident end.

1. A full refund of the original invoice #9158 in the amount of $604.20 paid for “repairs.” This amount can either be credited to the original credit card used or a cashier’s check payable to Shirley Grover. A company check from the Meineke location at 2825 Kietzke Lane, in Reno, Nevada will not be accepted.

2. An apology or in its absence, a written affidavit signed by the franchise owner of the Meineke location at 2825 Kietzke Lane, Reno Nevada explaining the theory of, my perceived intent to sabotage Meineke’s work, waste my time, and abuse my own automobile.

3. A proposal to financially compensate me for time and transportation losses on 3 separate occasions.

I would be happy to discuss this situation in an intelligent and civil manner should that be your intention, my steadfast alternative if necessary would be to release my documented experience with your company to the American consuming public accompanied by judicial litigation.

Sincerely,

Dennis Grover

775-741-7028

My suggestion or request to you is to call Meineke Customer Service at1-800-447-3070 ask them if this is really true and relay their response to me. It could be handy if this ridiculous scenario reaches a courtroom.

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