Great Customer Service goes a long way!

 I own an older car with over 100,000 miles on it since 2002. I don't drive it long distances and usually stay in my general area for short distance trips and to keep mileage down on my lease vehicle.

I have moved since my last oil change at a local place and had no complaints. One of the people I work out with at our fitness center mentioned a place called "Grease Boys" located a few miles away and said he had a great experience and was very pleased. 

Yesterday, I decided to go to Grease Boys because they opened at 8:00 am and I went after leaving the fitness center. https://www.facebook.com/GreaseBoysOilChangeCenters/

As soon as I pulled in 4 people surrounded my car. A person opened my car door and began getting my information as I got out of the car (He also offered and ice-cold water and candy). The other 3 workers started to check air pressure and engine levels. I should mention the first thing a worker did was take a long squeegee and washed my front and back widows. 

After gathering my information, he asked me to wait in the lounge where coffee, water, candy and an assortment of baked good was there while I waited. I also noticed another worker under the bay in a tunnel who was changing the oil. I later found he stayed under there and could work on 3 bays at the same time moving from bay to bay in the connected tunnel.

Within 15 minutes my car was done that also include vacuuming the interior and spraying the door hinges. After handing me my receipt the manger gave a gift card for $10.00 dollars toward my next visit, and he also gave me a code for a free car wash at the place next door. 

Before pulling away they had me turn on all my lights and blinkers on and off to make sure they worked.

This morning, I offered my thanks with my friend at the fitness center, and I also shared my experience with others. I expressed how great I felt all day yesterday and that I had not experienced that much excellent customer service in a long time. 

Amazingly, this does not take a lot of effort to treat people nice and it's a lost art with many American businesses. Years ago, this was the norm and now it's the exception. I asked if Greae Boys was a chain and the manager said no but they are planning on opening some new locations in Michigan.

Thank You Grease Boys!

Michigan’s students are still struggling with reading and math, according to the most recent 2024-25 state test results released by the Michigan Department of Education.

Michigan’s scores have worsened since before the pandemic. They decreased in reading for both grades and in math for the eighth grade. There was no significant change in fourth grade math compared to before the pandemic. https://www.chalkbeat.org/detroit/2025/01/29/naep-reading-scores-michigan-have-not-improved-since-before-covid/

I have written/blogged about this type of results many times over the years. I have friends who have been subbing non-stop in local schools because the teachers are constantly out of the room testing students in reading and attending conferences on a variety of topics unrelated to the core subjects. 

Also, many of the test results do NOT come back in the same school year. That means the student has been passed to the next grade level with a new teacher.

Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice wrote in a statement that the results of the assessment mean there is more work to be done in Michigan. DUH!

More money and the same old solutions with changing testing methods don’t work (Unless they are provided in same school year in a timely manner). I stated after the pandemic that students should be going to school for 10 months out of the year until students (Especially those in grades 1-4) are at grade equivalent in reading, writing and math. Additional assistance should be provided in tutors and trained paraprofessionals to support the students and teachers.