All posts by stuart

From Our Customers: Can’t Beat Good Customer Service

Oil Can Henry's in Gresham, Oregon
Oil Can Henry’s – Gresham, OR. 750 N.W. Eastman Parkway.

Gresham, OR

5 out of 5 stars on Yelp.

I’ve been going to this location since I first started driving. 9 out of 10 times great service!

They check everything and it’s an enjoyable yet short experience getting an oil change!

I actually drive a bit out of my way because I tried going to another one and it wasn’t as great!

You just can’t beat good customer service. There is also a car wash next door so you can pull right in there and feel like your car is all nice and new again

~ Charmaine S.

14 Essential Items for Your Vehicle Emergency Kit

Essential Items for Your Vehicle Emergency KitWinter officially arrives December 21st, so now is an excellent time to double check the contents of your vehicle emergency kit.

Don’t have a kit? Don’t feel too bad; according to an AAA survey, 40% of drivers don’t carry an emergency kit in their vehicles. But do take this opportunity to prepare for an unforeseen emergency.

To determine the items that should absolutely, positively be in your emergency kit, we surveyed several state transportation and emergency preparedness agencies as well as our friends at AAA.
There’s a clear consensus that your vehicle emergency kit should include:

    • Shovel
    • Windshield scraper and small broom
    • Kitty litter or sand (the non-clumping kind)
    • Flares and reflector
    • Tire chains
    • Jumper cables
    • Tow cable
    • Flashlight
    • Warm blanket(s)
    • First aid kit
    • Gallon of water
    • Non-perishable food
    • Cell phone adaptor
    • Extra set of clothes, including coat, hat, gloves and boots

It’s also a good idea to include a deck of cards or a board game to keep yourself occupied if you need to wait for help to arrive.

While the natural inclination is to store your kit in the trunk, ReadyWisconsin recommends that you carry it in the passenger compartment of your vehicle because the trunk could become frozen shut or inaccessible in the event of an accident.

If you become stranded, what you do or don’t do next could mean the difference between life and death. The ReadyWisconsin website provides valuable survival tips that could help save the lives of you and your passengers. Be sure to check them out.

Now that you’ve assembled an emergency kit, do a little prep work to help ensure you never need to use it.

Before you leave, confirm your route, get updated road conditions and check these items on your vehicle:

    • Lights and turn signals;
    • Battery;
    • Brakes;
    • Radiator fluid (antifreeze/coolant);
    • Heater/defroster
    • Ignition
    • Windshield wash (use a winter mix that provides freeze protection if you’re headed somewhere temperatures could drop below freezing)
    • Tires  (overall condition, tread depth and inflation
    • Gas tank (be sure your tank is full)

 

Happy – and safe – travels!

Valuable Resources:

 

From Our Customers: Full Transparency

Oil Can Henry's in San Francisco, California
Oil Can Henry’s – San Francisco, CA. 300 7th Street

San Francisco, CA
5 out of 5 stars on Yelp.
I have a sports Honda that I’ve serviced at the Honda “stealership” for the past 10 years since I bought the car.  I’ve documented my mediocre experiences on Yelp, but despite my love-hate relationship, I keep going back.  Well this time around, I couldn’t. Tried to book an oil change, and whatddya know, booked for 2 weeks out!!!
So a friend mentioned Oil Can Henry’s. I was thinking it’s a shot in the dark. I know *nothing* about cars. In fact, chances are, I’ve been taken advantage of on more than a few occasions.
But as soon as I pulled into this spot, I was put at ease. Here’s how it works:

  • You pull in, and tell them what you need.
  • Wait in your car while they do the work
  • FULL TRANSPARENCY, the best part  🙂

They have TV screens that show you the work while it’s being done.
Oil changes, fluid-top offs, tire pressure, wiper blade changes are all on the list. (They did sell me on a couple of other recommendations, but they were good about justifying why I needed it. Case in point – when you see your air filter is BLACK as mine was, then it’s time for a change.)
Prices are disclosed before you sign on to do anything.
***TOTAL TIME IN AND OUT: 25 MINUTES***!
All in all, this is probably the best experience I’ve had changing my oil.  Customer service is so on point, I have to recommend to my girls (and guys) who may be moving targets like me.
~ Angella S.
San Francisco, CA
 

From Our Customers: Truly Refreshing

Oil Can Henry's - 9702 State Avenue in Marysville, Wash.
Oil Can Henry’s – Marysville, WA. 9702 State Avenue.

Oil Can Henry’s – Marysville, WA:
I want to compliment you on your professional employees.
The prompt and professional customer service had a profound effect on my husband and myself. The customer service and care that these employees provided is truly refreshing.
I will continue to have our vehicles serviced here in the future and I will recommend this establishment to my friends and family. Thank you so much!!!!
~ Charmaine J.
Lake Stevens, WA

5 Tips for Worry-Free Thanksgiving Travel

och_enl_image_1116_family-no-borderAre you headed over the river and through the woods this Thanksgiving?
You won’t be alone.
AAA is predicting the heaviest travel since 2009, projecting that almost 49 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home November 23-27. Ninety percent will travel by automobile.
To help ensure worry-free Thanksgiving travel, follow these tips from AAA:

  •  Ensure your vehicle is properly maintained. If it’s been a while since your vehicle was serviced, take the time to have your vehicle and tires inspected before you go.
  • Map your route ahead of time. Be prepared for busy roads and consider leaving earlier or later to avoid heavy traffic.
  • Remind your children not to talk to strangers. Go with them on bathroom breaks and give them whistles to be used only if the family gets separated.
  • Keep a cell phone and charger with you at all times. AAA and many other companies offer smartphone applications that enable motorists to request help without making a phone call.
  • Keep anything of value in the trunk or covered storage area.

We invite you to visit your neighborhood Oil Can Henry’s before your road trip. Our Famous 18-Point Full-Service Oil Change includes a safety check to help ensure your vehicle is ready for the road. Our service includes a check of your lights; check and fill of your tires; and a check and fill of vital fluids, including washer fluid, radiator fluid, automatic transmission fluid, and power steering fluid.
Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Oil Can Henry’s!
 
 
 
 
 

Anniversaries: Building a Successful Business from the Ground Up

Oil Can Henry's - College Place, WA
Oil Can Henry’s – College Place, WA. 325 N.E. Myra Road.

Husband-and-wife team Sid and Merrie West have literally built their successful business from the ground up.
Nine years ago, Sid served as general contractor for the construction of the couple’s Oil Can Henry’s service center in College Place, WA.
The project came in on time and under budget, a preview of the attentiveness and efficiency with which Sid operates his business.
Sid and Merrie opened their College Place service center on October 27, 2007, then promptly set about building a loyal customer base by providing friendly, personalized service that’s quick, convenient and a great value.
Today, you can hear Merrie’s voice on the radio as the voice of Oil Can Henry’s in College Place and Walla Walla. And, when you visit the center for an oil change or other preventive maintenance, you’ll experience firsthand the commitment to top-notch service that has made Oil Can Henry’s a hometown favorite.
Our congratulations to Sid, Merrie and their incredible team on nine years of providing trusted vehicle maintenance!
We’d also like to acknowledge the hard-working teams at these six Oil Can Henry’s, which are also celebrating October anniversaries:
* Cottonwood, AZ. 19 years (10/22/97)
* Issaquah, WA. 8 years (10/30/08)
* Klamath Falls, OR. 16 years. (10/20/00)
* Prescott, AZ. 26 years (10/22/96)
* Salem – Lancaster Drive N.E., OR. 13 years (10/1/93)
* Soquel, CA. 5 years (10/4/11)

From Our Customers: Such Excellent Service

Oil Can Henry's on Commercial Street S.E., in Salem, OR
Oil Can Henry’s – Salem, OR: 4957 Commercial Street S.E.

Oil Can Henry’s – Salem.
Ordinarily I would not take the time to look up a business’ website to leave a comment about service, but I received such excellent service it needed to be mentioned.
I noticed that all of the men working there seemed to take great pride in their customer service, and even though I do not know their names, I assure you that from now on even if I have to go out of my way, I will be sure to go to this specific location.
It is obvious that the manager hires with these traits in mind, and trains the employees to put the needs of the customer first. They were just flat amazing. I have had thousands of oil changes over the years, but this was the first time I actually thought to notice the people who were doing it.
First rate.
~ Rae L.
Independence, OR

From Our Customers: Super Nice and Quick

Oil Can Henry's in Lacey, WA. 197 Marvin Road S.E.
Oil Can Henry’s – Lacey, WA: 197 Marvin Road S.E.

Oil Can Henry’s – Lacey (Marvin Road), WA.
5 out of 5 stars on Yelp.
First time here. They were super nice and quick!!! That honestly was the best part.
They don’t pressure you and only do what you want to.
They make it so much fun to get your oil changed! So polite and just a great group of guys working on your car.
~ Stephanie C.
Spanaway, WA

Anniversaries: A Blooming Success in Woodland

Oil Can Henry's in Woodland, Washington
Oil Can Henry’s – Woodland, WA: 1489 Pacific Avenue

Woodland, Wash., enjoys several claims to fame.
Incorporated 110 years ago, it’s one of the oldest communities in the state of Washington.
It’s home to the renowned Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, a National Historic Site that attracts thousands of visitors from across the globe every spring to enjoy its fields of beautiful lilacs, other flowers, shrubs, and exotic trees.
It has hosted Planters Days, the longest continuously running civic celebration in Washington state, every June since 1922. Residents and visitors gather to celebrate the completion of dikes along the Columbia and Lewis rivers that stopped what had been an annual flooding of the Woodland area. The fun includes a parade, Fireman’s Barbecue, bed races, frog jumping contests, and a car show.
And, it serves as the southern gateway to Mount St. Helens, the active volcano that erupted in 1980. When you’re in the area, be sure to set aside time for a visit to the spectacular Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument.
Oil Can Henry’s in Woodland has bloomed into a community favorite since opening its doors 15 years ago, on August 6, 2001.
Owner Eli Fields and his team of friendly, trained technicians have built a thriving business by providing quick, convenient and thorough vehicle maintenance services that drivers trust. All of us at Oil Can Henry’s are proud of the superior service provided every day by the team in Woodland. Keep up the great work!
We’re also pleased to congratulate the ten other Oil Can Henry’s service centers also celebrating August anniversaries:
* Bend-N.E. 3rd St., OR. 2 years (8/15/14)
* Boise, ID. 6 years (8/19/10)
* Kingman, AZ. 21 years (8/1/95)
* Lincoln City, OR. 18 years (8/22/98)
* Oakley, CA. 13 years (8/8/03)
* Sammamish, WA. 24 years (8/11/92)
* Seaside, OR. 11 years (8/13/05)
* Tigard, OR. 22 years (8/22/94)
* Woodburn, OR. 19 years (8/18/97)
* Yakima-River Road, WA. 17 years (8/17/99)