This is the first time I've ever left a negative review for anything, just to provide some perspective. What I experienced was the most rude behavior I've ever encountered from a business. I needed a smog test. I saw their coupon online and, being this is my first time getting it checked in California, I wanted to confirm the additional fees on top of the advertised price. So I call and ask for a price check on the service. In an exasperated, defensive tone, he tells me they don't discuss prices over the phone. Strange, I thought. I told him I saw their coupon online for a certain amount. He irritatedly responds that the coupon price is the cost. I then ask, "but what about the fees?" (which, again, are not stated on the coupon). He tersely states the California and ETF fees. I'm thinking okay great, and confirm by saying the total amount is about 40. He rudely tells me to do the math, followed by angrily stating he has a customer and to call him back, immediately hanging up the phone. I'm sure there was no customer there. I was left shocked. I don't know what got into him to behave this way. I simply wanted to know the price in advance, to avoid getting back-sided with outrageous fees. The conversation could have lasted ten seconds, and I would have been there in ten minutes. There is very little that can differentiate one place from another when providing a routine service like smog checks. Other than some relatively minor differences in price, you can go anywhere to get it done. The one thing you CAN do, however, is provide courteous, friendly service to your customers, who are in and out in about 5 minutes. In that regard, this place failed miserably. The reviews on this establishment are quite poor, and it's easy to see why. read more

I have brought my 2000 Chevy S-10 into ARCO Smog Pros twice in the past two years, since they're within walking distance of my home. The first time I needed a battery but couldn't afford a new one. They offered me a clean, slightly used one at a good price. That battery is still going strong. The other day, I brought it in for brakes because the front one had been squeeking for a week. Vahan got back to me quickly with a diagnosis and price. He answered my questions without talking down to me. I used to work on cars, so I know what questions to ask. Since it's a 20-year-old truck, I asked him "Is there enough metal left on the discs and drums?" He said I could replace the drums if I want but that there's enough metal left, he would just have to "turn" them (a process which ensures the inside of the drum is perfectly round. Cutting corners on brake jobs is a liability for an auto shop and many shops probably would have tried to upsell me drums and rotors with force. Vahan also found a coolant leak and sent me photos via text so that I could see which hose he was referring to. Really great service and a fair price. A good neighborhood mechanic that I highly recommend to my Glendale neighbors. read more

This place is great! I stopped in , and they did the smog check quickly . He was nice , quick and reasonable price . Very happy I want here .. I recommend Arco to everyone ! read more

First off, this is my 2nd time here. I used the coupon, the tech at Arco Smog Pros, accepted the coupon. And I got my mom's Honda Civic passed, no problems. He did write on the receipt, and told me verbally, "You need an oil change, or put one quart of oil in." To the B R. 3/24/2014, your review doesn't even make sense. So you were in a SUV, and the coupon wouldn't work? Well duh, read the fine print, which isn't even that "fine" to begin with "*Trucks, SUV, Vans, RVs Extra" So obviously that shows you that it's not going to work with the given coupon. And YES, it is a car, but in logistical terms, it is an SUV. Unless you came in an SUV, and then brought a regular coupe or sedan later. Then that makes sense. And your post is not a similar experience as Richard O.'s review. It is completely different! Stop trying to use someone else's review to try to make this guy look like a bad person... Because every time I've gone there. He would greet me, saying "Hello sir! How may I help you today?" He would let me know there is a waiting room, and he'll get it done, right away. Of course, he does talk to some of the other customers who come in, including the fellow mechanic, but that's how you multitask and get the job done. As long as there's no mistakes right? And other places, they would call you by your first name, he calls people by Mr or Mrs so-and-so. This is an honest guy, he lets you know, yes or no. And if you need to fix something. Besides, for a man, in which, this is how he feeds/clothes himself and his family, you really think he would refuse business? There must be really something wrong with your vehicle, in which he said he can't smog it. Maybe the Honda Civic that Richard O drives, has a swapped motor in it, that doesn't match the vin #, who knows right? The bottom line for me is, this man, is honest, friendly, courteous, and gets the job done, in a timely manner! Coupons are accepted, if you go to smogtips.com, and find Arco Smog Pros, there is a coupon for $28.75 PLUS certification fee. Which he charges about $10, making your grand total $38.75, or in my case was $38.80. That's a whole lot better than going somewhere else, and paying $55 total, $45 for the actual smog and $10+ for the certificate. I've recommended, and I've been recommended to this smog shop, and it's my place to go, each and every time! read more

First and last time here. I came here to get my car smog tested. While I was waiting the mechanic accidentally handed my DMV paperwork to another customer that was checking out. So by the time my car was done they couldn't find my paperwork. Long story short they called the customer who came back to the shop and I ended up waiting for quite awhile. And no apologies what so ever. read more

I needed to have my car smoged. Husband said that the O2 sensors were bad in the car and replaced them with new ones. We were still getting the check engine light and the car diagnostic device said there were several other air system problems that needed fixing. We were running out of time. So, we took the car to the ARCO Smog Pro shop in Glendale, CA. The mechanic who took car was Vahan Pogosian. Husband told him that he had just replaced the two O2 sensors with 2 brand new working ones. He said he would fix the air system and smog the car. Several times, He asked me if I would like to sell the car. Six days later, he called me to say I could settle the bill and pick up the car. The bill was for $992. $525 of the bill was for the cost and labor to install two new O2 sensors that husband had just installed. Pogosian had kept the car 6 days, put 150 miles on it and used up half a tank of gas. I paid the bill with a credit card. And later disputed the $525 charge for the O2 sensors. We submitted a report to the credit card co. with a copy of the receipt for the new O2 sensors Husband had put in. I believe Pogosian lied and never replaced the working sensors. The credit card co. agreed with us and removed the $525 from our bill. If I hadn't had the money or credit to pay his bill, I think Pogosian would have told me to just go home and get the pink slip and sign the car over to him. Then he would have forgiven the bill and become the new owner. The car Blue Book value was $4500. I think he has pulled this scam before with people needing to get their car smoged. You either pay his outrageous, jacked up bill, or if you can't afford it, you sign over your car to him. Either way, he is rolling in your money. This man is corrupt. Save yourself a lot of grief. Don't let Mr. Pogosian anywhere near your car!!!! read more

I came here a few months ago because I needed a smog check. I had a coupon in the mail for a discount on a smog check so I came here and there were two good reviews about this place. I arrived showed the guy working here that I needed a smog check, and then he checked my oil and said I had "no oil." He told me he wouldn't do the smog check unless I had an oil change. There was a sign on the store wall for $19.99 oil change, and then I asked if I can have the $19.99 oil change. He said "No, this special wouldn't work for your car." I drive a Honda civic, how can this special not apply to my car? I was so angry, I drove away and brought my car to an oil change place nearby. I asked them to check my oil, and the guy working there told me "Yes, you have oil." I came back to the arco smog pros and asked for a business card, and he gave me this card. It says Vahan Pogosian, smog pro. It's clear this man is a liar, and he may have given me a false card. I can tell you what he looks like, "Tall, kinda fat, Armenian guy." I'm willing to take a polygraph to state the entire statement is true. read more

I don't write many reviews, so when I do it's because I feel it's warranted. I want to recommend ARCO SMOG PROS (Glendale) to anyone looking for honesty and quality in an auto repair shop. I recently had to get my Toyota 4Runner smog tested and after failing at a "test only" facility I decided to stop in for a second opinion. Samir was a great help to me and gave me an honest assessment of the problem and my options. He did an secondary test and told me what he thought the problem was. He suggested replacing a part and then testing again. I really appeciated his candor and honesty. It's everyones fear, when your car can't pass "the test", that it will end up costing a fortune... that's what my worry was. I could see the potential $$$ adding up... Without going into a lot of detail Samir stated that he had a pretty good idea of where to start and based on his analysis and experience, he was right!! He replaced the part (an oxygen sensor) and it passed with flying colors..!! It feels like it even runs better now too! Granted, not everyone's problem will be as easy a fix as mine was, but I could have easily been "taken to the cleaners"... I wasn't and that makes me very happy..!! I appreciated Samir's genuine honesty and willingness to go the extra mile for me. Since I had to leave the car with him, he even paid to get my smog check done at the proper facility out of his own pocket!! (I paid him back, of course) This saved me a ton of time and the hassle of having to do it myself. That's what I call "customer service"..!! Service techs like Samir are hard to find and I will be returning to him for any future car troubles. Why..??? Because, I TRUST HIM..!!! He cares about making sure I'm a happy customer and he goes the extra mile and does a great job. That means a lot. I recommend Samir and Arco Smog Pros for any work you need done to your car. He's the real deal..!! read more

Friendly, fast and well priced service. I get my oil changes here and they always let me know what other stuff is going on with my car without charging me or trying to get me to pay for extra stuff. read more

Super friendly and courteous service! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a smog check!

I had a similar experience to the one written 10/23/13--my coupon for a smog check simply wouldn't work. I was in my SUV and I told the guy I was going bring in my car just after and he asked if the car was an SUV and I said, no, it's a car and he just shook his head and said the coupon was no good. Don't waste your time here. read more

I been to other SMOG check center and didnt pass EVAP test. Other centers asked to keep driving 50 mi, 100 miles.. I drove 300mi in total and still didnt have evap ready. Been to Arco and met Vahan and told him just to run diagnostic and see if evap is ready. He ran test, but still no luck. He guided what And how I need to drive. His valuable advise I followed today. After driving some 45 mi, went again to run n check smog. Guess what - passed smog. Vahan was very gud and helpful. I suggest everyone to go there. Finally got my California License Plates. Yeppeeeeee !! read more

I totally do not understand the negative reviews posted here. I had a great experience and was courteously and professionally dealt with through the entire process. Yes, I too had a coupon which clearly states, SUVs are extra and because my Santa Fe is an SUV as identified by the DMV, I asked what the charge would be. Vahan Pogosian, the technician performing the test quoted the price for SUVs but told me they were running a special this month which I still felt was a very fair and reasonable price. He gave me the total price of the test out the door so I had all the facts up front before any work was started. I had the same courteous and professional experience when I brought my 1988 Dodge Colt back in April of this year. Then, I had just found ARCO SmogPros Glendale on the internet because I needed a test and the usual place I took my car was closed. I had such a good experience then, that I decided that ARCO SmogPros Glendale at 144 N. Verdugo Road Glendale would be my station of choice going forward. When I needed my Santa Fe smog checked, I went to this site and was shocked by the recent negative reviews and thought possibly something had changed since my visit in April. Unfortunately, negative reviews do not always give the complete (two sided) story but because the one making it usually has an axe to grind, they will take the time to write one. Equally unfortunate is that those, like myself who experience great customer service and professional courtesy don't take the time to write a review because sadly, we expect that is what our experience should be. That is all changing and good service and a job well done is becoming the rarity more these days. Vahan Pogosian and ARCO SmogPros, Glendale deserve the praise and recognition for the great job, and from my two experiences, consistent courteous and professional treatment he provided each time. GREAT JOB Arco SmogPros, Glendale, keep up the good work! I know I will keep coming back. read more