Note I am a returning customer who probably would have left a 4 star review in the past--if I ever wrote those. My most recent experience w/ New Strife Auto Salon was horrendous. Caitlin answered the phone and is pleasant enough but not terribly knowledgable about their services/products. Whatever, I can deal with that from an appointment clerk. Besides, she was friendly and courteous upon my arrival. Good stuff here.
What I won't deal with is sh**ty attitude from the owner who's supposed to care about good client relations. Sherisa (sp?) is a total sweetheart but her counterpart, Sloppy Joe leaves a lot to be desired. He was a curt, barely tolerable cheap salesman of the worst sort. Want an idea of his "type" go look at any review of a timeshare salesman and then imagine them without all their class and wit. After giving me a price range well in excess of what my last car cost (and my last car was in WAY worse shape--remember I'm a returning customer) I'm told that they'll give me whatever $$ amount of detailing. "You want $225 worth of detailing, that's what we'll give ya." Direct quote. Great, you'll work with me? I'm so honored.
Now on to the actual detailing. I don't expect much. Really, I don't. The only friggin' thing I specifically asked for was a bit of unsightly gunk and glue to be removed--something I was assured would be handled. After that, as long as the carpets looked washed and clean (stains notwithstanding) and the interior's shiny bits are wiped w/ a damp towel, I'm a happy camper. Of course, after paying $225 w/o being offered a walk around post cleaning, I notice the specific gunk and glue had barely been touched. It was the ONLY thing I SPECIFICALLY asked for. When I bring this issue up, Sloppy Joe perturbed at having to pacify the situation with his excellent people person skills, tells his son (Adam? Nice enough kid) to do a once over on the offending glue. Sloppy Joe doesn't acknowledge the imposition on my time or frustration with having to deal with sloppy, half-assed workmanship. I wait another 20 minutes for this to be dealt with, take the car w/o so much as a "Thank you for your business during our slow rainy season," and I'm off. I didn't bother to point out that a number of obvious areas in the vehicle looked as though they hadn't been touched. Spots on the shiny bits that came off w/ a lick of the thumb and a number of other stupid, easy fixes were missed. I was done with this hell hole of a business. I guess that's what $225 worth of detailing will get ya. Oh, did I forget to write something about the mildew smell in the car the next day? That was free.
Final notes: Really big, cute pit-bull, with all its teeth, off-leash inside the store front. Crazy high window tinting quotes. Cheap, hard sell tactics from Sloppy Joe (seriously dude, watch Glengarry Glen Ross just one time you mouth breathing troglodyte). I'd have paid $50 for the mildew smell but $225 is ridiculous! read more
