'I'm Shaking Right Now!:' Tucson Man Calls Midas Auto to See if They Have a Battery. Then He's Told He Has to Pay the Driver

A Tucson man’s viral TikTok rant over a botched battery sale at Midas Auto is striking a chord with drivers, and raising questions about whether national chains are doing enough to uphold basic consumer rights.

The post from creator Ray (@rayrayari89) shows him stammering and occasionally struggling to contain his anger over what seemed like a bait-and-switch tactic that led to a huge price increase for a desperately needed battery.

“Why didn’t you check when I was on the phone with you 10 minutes ago before I left?” he recalls of his conversation with an unconcerned store employee. “It’s not my [expletive] job to tell you to make sure it’s there.”

A Frustrating Battery Chase

According to the video, the saga began around 8:00 a.m. when Ray called the Midas Auto Service location near his home in Tucson to ask if they had a compatible battery in stock. The store manager said there was one left and quoted a price of $216.

Later that day, after receiving a voicemail from the store confirming the online request, Ray called back and was encouraged to come in. Initially planning to visit at 4:00 p.m., he instead headed over sooner, only to discover the battery had already been sold.

Despite speaking to the manager twice within minutes of leaving his home, no one had verified that the battery was still available before his arrival.

Once on-site, Ray was offered a replacement battery sourced from Casa Grande, more than 70 miles away, but at a $130 markup plus a delivery fee to the driver to bring the battery to the shop. The manager reportedly acknowledged making an error but said he couldn't offer a discount or waive the delivery fee.

Upsells, Fees, and Lack of Transparency

A 2022 settlement between the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and two Tucson-area Midas shops offers important context for understanding ongoing consumer frustrations with the chain. The case highlights patterns of poor communication, surprise charges, and inadequate oversight, which echo the concerns raised in the clip.

Although the consent judgment did not involve battery sales specifically, the following practices highlighted in the AGO case are instructive and relevant to consumers in general:

• Charging for services not performed (e.g., claiming parts were installed when they weren't)
• Misrepresenting the necessity of a repair (e.g., telling customers false diagnostics)
• Upselling or pushing unnecessary add-on services for profit, without transparency
• Failure of oversight, such as not verifying inventory or failing to follow through on price quotes

In the TikTok case, these practices manifest as a lack of confirmation that the quoted battery was still available before he arrived, a sudden and unexplained price increase of $130, and an unexpected delivery fee.

Based on both the AGO case and Ray’s incident, here are practical tips to protect yourself:

• Request written confirmation upfront: Ask for availability, price, and any applicable delivery or sourcing fees via email or text. This creates a record you can reference if terms change.
• Ask about holds or reservations: Explicitly ask, “Is this part reserved for me until I arrive?” Don’t assume verbal assurances are binding.
• Demand full disclosure of fees: If a part is sourced from elsewhere, request the full cost breakdown before agreeing—don’t accept surprises at checkout.
• Document all communications: Keep time-stamped records of calls, texts, and voicemails. In case of disputes, this documentation strengthens your case.
• Know the regulatory backstop: Under Arizona’s Consumer Fraud Act, it’s illegal to misrepresent services or charge for unnecessary work. Consent judgments can impose restrictions and penalties on businesses.

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Still needing to give his car some juice, Ray responded to comments on the clip that he’s going to visit O’Reilly’s or another auto parts store in hopes of a more satisfying experience.

Motor1 reached out to Ray via direct message and to Midas’ corporate office via online contact form.

 

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