If I could give zero stars, I would…read more
I would like to provide an update to my previous rave review of this auto repair shop. My dad and I have been coming to this shop for years, but sadly a few years ago the original owner passed away, leaving the shop in the control of other folks. Ryan, who no longer works at this shop, was a wonderful mechanic that I worked with before at the time of this previous review, and recently I brought in my car thinking that he still worked there and that it would be similar experience. Sadly, I was mistaken on this assumption.
I brought in my 1991 buick reatta that was previously my dad's because it wouldn't start and was driving incorrectly. This shop, under previous ownership, had worked on this car several times as it is a rather picky car and the experience was great. This time the car was towed in I expected the same experience. My boyfriend had taken care of getting the car towed and talking to the shop cause in this regard he knows far more than me, so I thought it made the most sense. While he was discussing the car being towed there, he made it abundantly clear that we would like to be asked before any money was spent on the car as we were trying to keep within a certain budget, the woman on the phone thoroughly assured him that that would be no problem and was what they do as standard practice, so we said great, and agreed to have the car towed over for them to look at when they were available.
The following week, my boyfriend received the only phone call since towing the car from Bryan (who I am assuming is a mechanic or manager of the shop). In this phone call Bryan explained that in order to diagnose the car they first had to get it diagnose it which completely understandable, but the part that in no way is okay or understandable, is that they had already put on a new starter and electronic spark control module without attempting to contact us in any capacity or receiving consent to do so. Then, Bryan informed him that we now owe him $900 that we did not originally agree too. Then Bryan proceeded to inform us that the car also needed another $1400 to repair it. Shocked and feeling taken advantage of is understatement. My boyfriend, clarified multiple times that they did this without our consent to which his argument was "I had to start it to diagnose it" completely missing the point that he unceremoniously spent $900 dollars of someone else's money. He then asked Bryan "can I at least drive the car home," to which Bryan said "no, you will have to have it towed, it will not drive." So, he said that he would talk to me and get back to Bryan about what we wanted to do next.
The following day after hearing this, I decided to call myself just confirm that I completely understood everything and there was no miscommunication. In the phone call, Bryan again confirmed that he had, in fact, done $900 dollars worth of work on the car without our consent even though the woman on the phone was explicitly told to call us before spending any money. Again, his argument was "I had to start to diagnose it." I asked if we can have the parts removed and just take the car back and he said that he could take off the new starter, but not the electronic spark control module because the place they ordered it from "will not accept the return." At the end of this, Bryan stated that either we could pay the $900 dollars and tow the car away, or pay $500 dollars and tow the car away. Still stating that the car CANNOT drive. No option or remorse for taking advantage of us and the situation. No offer to fix the problem that was caused by the shop. No apology. Nothing. I asked him to send me an itemized receipt via email, so that I could review it in detail and consider what to do.
In the end, we were able to get a loan from family to pay the $900 as the other option was to be a part short than we came in. When we paid, suddenly, the car could be driven homeand no longer had to be towed home. The car drove 25 minutes home. While the drive was not perfect and taken very slow, it COULD be driven. Me, personally, I feel as though adamantly telling us on two separate occasions may have been a way of manipulating us into spending the extra $1300, so that we didn't have to pay to tow the car again.
In the end, I would NEVER recommend this shop to anyone. EVER. It is incredibly disheartening for a local business that has taken care of my family for many years to have gone down the drain like this with new management. If you feel like being swindled, taken advantage of, or like you want someone to spend your money without your consent, this is the place for you, otherwise steer clear. I wouldn't trust them with my worst enemy's car, let alone mine, my friend's, or my family's.
I have attached a copy of the itemized receipt (personal information crossed out) and highlight the portion of the work that was completed prior to us being informed, just so it's clear that I am not exaggerating.
