Our chainsaw wouldn't start so I took it in for repair. After several weeks, I had to call to check in. They called back when it was finished. After paying a few hundred dollars, I got the chainsaw home, and it STILL doesn't start. When I called and mentioned this to them, whomever answered the phone, said to call back. Zero customer service, professionalism, follow through or accountability. I don't recommend them. read more

I have used papa bear small engine repair for the past 5 years and for the most part they have done a fairly good job, until lately. After finally reading the many negative reviews, I whole heartedly agree. Please save your hard earned money, avoid these idiots at all cost. They are truly the KEYSTONE COPS of business. The most basic business skill escapes them. Don Lacey, WA read more

Avoid at all costs. My weedeater needed a new carburetor and they took exactly 4 weeks (it sat in their backroom for over 3 weeks) to make the repair AND they charged me more than what the weedeater and all its attachments cost me brand new AND the 'repaired' weedeater now runs so rough that it vibrates across the floor when idling. What a joke. read more

Scammed me out of $300. I very rarely have negative experiences with businesses, but this is worth sharing. A few years ago I had a different shop do a repair I did not want, and charged me without permission. Because of this, before I took any work to Papa Bear's I stopped by, met the owner, had a great conversation where I let him know what had happened. He assured me they do not operate like that and I'd never have this problem at Papa Bear's. First repair I took here, no issue. Everything as expected, timely, great work. Second time, they performed a $150ish repair I had specifically said I do not want or need. When called on it, they said it must have been a miscommunication but if I don't pay up I don't get my mower back. After speaking with the owner, he agreed to credit my account half the cost if I return the part they installed. Fine, I was willing to accept mistakes happen. Third time, I ask for yearly mower maintenance. I note that while they're there it'd be cool if they could take a look at a flat tire (has gone flat 3x despite tire change), but do not spend any significant time on it, do not repair anything, really it's not a big deal - just if they have a moment while they're there doing the service. I pay $150 deposit & pick up fee and am told 2 weeks. (Picked up March 20) Three weeks later, no word so I call and ask for an update. "No." That's it? Just, "No." I was literally told "No" over the phone when I asked for any update or timeframe. Another week goes by, I call again and am told "We got busy, we'll have it to you by the end of the week" (2 days). Nothing. Another week goes by and I visit in person, owner tells me "We'll call Monday but probably deliver Thursday." No call Monday, but they do drop it off Thursday (May 2), finally, six weeks after they picked it up. Turns out, they never did the service. "Owner looked at it and said it's good, no need, we did it last year and only needs it every 2 years." So why wasn't I told it didn't need to be done this year on the phone when I scheduled the appointment? "There was a note on the account saying you don't want any service." No, I said do not make repairs without asking me. So, I just paid you $150 to do what then? "Pick it up and drop it off." They offered to take it back and do the service, but at this point I can't trust this shop at all. Maybe it'd be this week, maybe it'd be 6 more weeks. Trust these recent reviews, and stay away. read more

4/10/2024 I couldn't get a part number from the Briggs and Stratton web site and thus get a needed part for an old Briggs and Stratton 3.5 hp engine. I called Papa's and he had the part. I went over to Papa's shop, got the part and finished the work I was doing. Thank you, Papa! Richard Hild Port Townsend, WA read more

Does not perform hired work and takes shortcuts at ridiculous "repair" rate, my major complaint is skimming on a $500 repair that wasn't completed but charged. Papa Bear's did not provide an invoice/receipt or scope of work. Papa Bear's did a pick up for me when I couldn't work on the mower myself, I was extensively out of state at the time and wife was also expecting. I asked that the mower belt be changed, the blade sharpened or replaced as needed due to a few years of use, and noticing the grass wasn't getting chopped entirely anymore. I also asked them to diagnose other issues as necessary, and for the mower to be put back in working order to avoid future service repair costs. Papa Bear's took extensively long at the time, and returned my mower near the end of growing season, the grass was mostly dormant due to heat and subsequently short going into winter. They provided no communication or updates while they had the mower even at over a month. I was the one repeatedly calling them for any kind of updates. They at the time, told me they were short staffed, and looking for repair technicians. This is also relevant to why the work wasn't completed, yet charged. They found a broken weld allegedly. Papa Bears returned the mower and it worked once, was stored for winter while the grass was dormant at the end of season. I pulled off my own deck and repaired it after they refused to take in and repair due to expired warranty when grass was dormant until next use. It's a very short warranty period and you might get two cuts in before it expires. I refused to pay a second pick up fee and diagnosis as I stated that since it only worked once, given the amount they charged, that's BS. The owner was contacted via staff and stood by this policy as I had adequate time to use the mower on my grass that wasn't growing during the latter fall/winter months. Upon self-examining the mower, the blade was dull and beat up with many dull rock jags up and down. The mower belt was the old belt, and repeatedly came off partially because the belt guard was attached with one bolt and was loose. Other missing screws were observed. I'm not honestly sure any work was performed at a cost of around $500 for the riding mower portion. They did not fix the cause of the mower issue as the existing belt was also too loose and given that the belt guard was also loose and articulated loose on one screw this further complicated the issue as it allows grass in to jump the belt and is also a safety/injury issue. I am uncertain if the guard was loose like this when turning in the machine, but it should have been repaired with all of the screws replaced. You would be better putting your money to a different shop or new equipment trade. These people will unapologetically bilk you out of your money. read more

Lacked attention to some very important details. I brought my small self-propelled lawnmower into "Papa Bear's" for the annual maintenance and it turned out that it needed a new carburetor and so I paid $50 down and then later over the phone told them to go ahead and repair it and surely add the new carb, but it still wasn't done after 3 weeks in the shop when I came to pick it up. The manager did do it--at the last minute, (in 15 minutes while I waited), but they charged me over $200 for the basic maintenance and carb. replacement. After I had paid in full and as he hoisted the mower in my car, I had a gut feeling to ask if the blade had been sharpened? The guy felt the dull blade and responded. "Uh no..." I asked "Why not? At THAT price??" The guy responded with a flimsy retort "Uh... Inflation?" At that point I adamantly told him to take the lawnmower back into the shop and finish the job by sharpening the blade. He did it, but with a surly attitude. This business may be capable yet he was just fine with attempting to slither out of a very BASIC part of lawnmower maintenance that took only a few minutes as it is part of the repair. This was the Manager! Their excuse was "inflation" and that "50 other people" walked in the shop when I was there (actually there were only 3 people in line-- after me) but the guy at the desk at least did cop to admitting miscommunications with the manager. Still, the bill for this small, unfinished tune-up was OVER $200! This customer service by the manager was unacceptable. ( And they would have let the blade sharpening slide had I not asked about it myself, but at least he did do it in the end.) So, in effect, customers who patronize this business need to be vigilant to do their own "quality control." I think this shop is certainly capable, but potentially lacks integrity. Maybe they can 'sharpen' their business skills along with the blade...The guy who manages the shop is very young so, in time, he may learn to take pride in becoming more reputable-- and at that point I will give a better review. UPDATE: They heard my complaints and ended up being accommodating when it all panned out and the mower finally works fine so I will bump up my 1 star rating to 3 stars. read more

They will rip you off. Do not give them money. Four months, $180.00 got it back not fixed. Found that they didn't put it back together properly. So beside myself that they did this. read more

I brought in two self-propelled mowers for repair; neither was running. I left the mowers and paid the $50 deposit for each. Several weeks later, I picked them up and took them home. Although the motors now ran well, they had not repaired the self-propel mechanism on one of them. I immediately took it back, and they said it may take a few weeks to repair due to supply shortages. I dropped in several weeks later and was told that the needed cable was received and either misplaced or used on a different mower. They claimed to have ordered a new one, waited some time, and dropped in again. I was told that the cable was due shortly and they would put the "expert" guy on it, but he was out sick. I never heard back, so I dropped in to pick up the mower. However, they had "recycled" the mower already. They never contacted me, and their computer did not record my in-person visits, so they apparently assumed it was an abandoned unit. They also had not realized that I had paid for the repair. I am out a mower and over $150 to repair it. read more

What a great local business! Pressure washer quit, operator error of course. Dropped it off, told they were 3.5 weeks out...left it anyway, 5 days later it was ready to go. Priced fairly, outstanding family friendly customer service both at the counter and helping to load. read more

I was not happy with the work they did on my lawnmower. The lawnmower did not work properly after they supposedly fixed it. They charged me about $216 for a crappy work. What a rip off!!!! I could have bought a new lawnmower for the rip off price they charged me. I called them to complain about the crappy work but the guy who answered the phone hang up on me. Very rude!!!! I would never do business with this company and wouldn't recommend anyone else do business with them either. I would rate this company with zero star but that is not an option. Dave Olympia, WA read more

I like the staff at this place and prefer working with small businesses. But the quality of my repair was disappointing because I had to point out two unfinished items. A screw that held down the carburetor cover had broken off, and the carburetor had a hose dangling from it that should have been attached at both ends. Neither of these were major items but they should have been caught by the mechanic. Hope that major items receive better attention. read more

Great spot to drop off a mower or a trimmer. These guys are just getting started. They don't charge a lot to repair something and they are honest and trustworthy people. My trimmer was fixed and they sold me craftsman mower blades for a rider at great price. The blades came in a day after i ordered them!! Great shop!! I will go back again for sure!! read more

What a rip-off! I brought my string trimmer in to have a cracked primer bubble replaced and was told there would be a $45 up-front charge just to look at it, against which any necessary repairs would be billed. Pricey, I thought, but okay. The next day I got a call telling me the trimmer needed another $120 in unspecified repairs beyond the $45. It ran fine just a week before the primer bubble cracked. The total of $165--the upfront $45 plus the additional $120 for vague, unspecified work--was more than a new trimmer would cost. I declined the repairs and picked up my trimmer. I won't do business with these people again and wouldn't recommend anyone else do business there either. read more

A+++ Family owned business. Repairs quickly. Staff is super friendly and helpful. My experience overall was great and I will be returning PaPa Bear's for all of my small engine needs. read more

Brought my 17 year old weed wacker in to have it looked at because it did not want to run. Thought maybe a carb kit or something. Wanted an estimate for repairs BEFORE any work is performed. Had to pay an up front $45.00 "deposit"- against which all costs would be applied. Well a week and a half later they called (they said they would call with an estimate-which they did not). My weed wacker was ready to pick up. had to pay an additional cost of 38 bucks on top of the 45 for a fricking tune up ! NEVER going back. read more

Outstanding! These folks are problem solvers. They fixed a problem with a weed eater no one else could - and for a very fair price. They were super speedy getting my weed eater back to me. I used to go to another place where they were kinda jerks. The other place made me feel like I was lucky that they were looking at my chainsaw. Papa Bear is not that way. Make them your small engine repair place. read more