ML
Miyoashia Lane
Apr 15, 2026
I’ve been a loyal customer of Express for over 15 years, but today marks the end of my association with them. I’ve been visiting the Smyrna location for over a year, and I’ve always had positive experiences there. However, today’s encounter with a rude and unpleasant employee has left me deeply disappointed.
When I arrived, I was met with a long line. As the line moved up, the car in front of me was originally in my lane, but Express had two separate lanes. She decided to switch to that lane I assuming she thought it would move quicker. So I pulled up, after sitting in the left lane another 15mins, the attendant finally came up to me. I assumed he was going to move us up in each lane, so I pulled forward. However, he told me to back up and explained that he wanted me and the other car to switch lanes. I asked why, and he said that the car in front of me was there first and that her lane was going slower, so I had to give her my spot.
I told him that I had never had this happen before, and he insisted that the other people weren’t doing right and that this was the correct way to do it. I argued that if the car in front of me chose that lane and was in my lane first, why did I have to switch lanes? He repeated his reasoning and told me that I needed to move.
Frustrated, I backed up and parked to come inside to speak with a manager. Unfortunately, no one was at the front desk. I went inside and asked for the corporate number, but the same attendant told me that there wasn’t one. I explained that I needed to speak with someone above him, but he insisted that all of them were independent and that no one was over them. I reminded him that everyone has a boss, but he continued to be unprofessional and made a scene. He even went screaming over to the other employees and in front of the customers, telling them I was upset because the lady was in line first. I explained that it wasn’t that, Its because, I was being asked to move out of line, and that wasn’t fair. He came back over to me, still being very nasty and rude. I asked again, “I just want a manager’s name.” That’s when he said they were understaffed, and the lady was the assistant manager. She was busy, he said. I asked, “If she’s the assistant manager, then she has a manager. What’s his name?” He said “Express Oil” and walked away.
I stood politely at the counter, still not being irate. I talked over to the lady who he said was the manager, just trying to get her name. She came and stood next to me, as if I wasn’t there, and ignored me. I have never been treated so horribly at an Express Oil, and I never will again. I will make sure none of my friends and family go to such an establishment.
I went two minutes up the street to Valvoline and was in and out in less than 20 minutes. The customer service there was so refreshing after being treated so horribly. I will now start using Valvoline and wish I had known about them before I sat in that long line just to be disrespected.