I am loyal to a fault, so I decided to give them another chance. I called on a Tuesday morning to try and get my wife's car smogged that day. I was told no appointments are needed, and they perform smogs until at least 4:00 pm. I arrived at 2:20 pm, and when I checked in, I realized I had left the renewal paperwork at home. I told Rudy I would write down the VIN number and license number legibly so he could fill out his paperwork. He then proceeded to inform me that it was not his job to read my writing. After I laughed, he said We stopped doing smogs at 2:00 pm today anyway. When you come back, make sure you don't screw up again and not bring the paperwork. He must have been the bully at his high school (assuming he went), because I have seen him give off that vibe multiple times to men. Needless to say, but I would rather light myself on fire than ever deal with him again. Plus, their coupon is a scam as well. If they write your name down before you show them the coupon, it is not valid. WTF!?!? I will give one of my associates the task of verifying whether this is even legal read more

Shell - Palm Desert - Auto Repair Near Me - Palm Desert, California

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"I wish Yelp could give 0 stars. I called early in the morning to schedule a smog check appointment. Rudy answered my call and informed me that I didn't need an appointment since they start smog checks at 1 pm. However, when I arrived at 1 pm and inquired about the wait, he rudely told me that they actually start smog checks at 3 pm due to other priorities. I was disappointed because I had called ahead and made a special trip to the shop. I politely asked if there was another smog check station nearby, and he just said no. I don't recommend this place - it's a hassle you'd rather avoid." read more

Went for water leak on a small hose. Car was there for 4 days and they messed up more things As soon as I got on the freeway the check engine light came on. Somehow got to my destination 150 miles away. Figured out they damaged all other hoses including the brake booster vacuum hose which is deadly. I was plain lucky Filing a massive complaint with State anyway. read more

My thanks to yet another wonderful service performed on my vehicle. I always get reliable service at a good price and great customer service. I never have concerns when I go to Palm Desert Shell. And a big shout out to Rudy Mendoza for all your help! This is my go-to place when my vehicle needs attention! read more

Got an oil change and there was recommendation that I get a new water pump. My car never leaked water before the visit and to my surprise, I started leaking water a couple of days later. New management has changed the culture. For that reason alone, I don't trust the service. Also, they're AAA certified. read more

Used to really like this place for car repair until the General Manager was replaced: "Rudy" the replacement is not only sloppy, late with promised repair times, and impossible to reach by phone, he is arrogant. A really bad combination. read more

I would say I come here quite regularly. There's an older woman that has worked here for as long as I can remember with glasses, and she is super nice, and there's another younger gal that's small and petite and she's always friendly, but there's another younger gal that works here with long hair that's always in braids that just always has this annoyed look on her face. I always walk up saying "hi how are you" and she just looks at me and doesn't respond, waiting for me to tell her what I want. It's actually a really unpleasant experience every time I go and she's there, because I just don't know if she's not a people person or if she just doesn't care for her job enough to try and be friendly. I would say maybe she's dealing with something personal and it's affecting her day at work, but it's literally every time I go and she's there. read more

My low rating is for their customer service, as I did not have any work done. Stopped here because of the coupon . I stood at the counter for quite a while. A mechanic comes over abs asked if I need help. I show him the coupon and ask how long the wait is. He replies, we are booked up, nothing until at least next Wednesday. I then said, great can I make an appointments , he then replies...... we don't yss as IE appointments. Seems a bit odd they you know how busy you will be next week, does it not? read more

Shell - Palm Desert - Coupon - Auto Repair Near Me - Palm Desert, California

I went to get a second opinion after the local dealer quoted me 700+ on a problem that I didn't understand. Rudy and his team took the time to check out my car, show me exactly what the problem area looked like, and offered to fix the issue for 150. They really took the time to quickly help everyone else in line, treated everyone with respect, and seem like they really prioritize helping people get back on the road over just trying to make money. I'm DONE with the local dealers ripping me off and I'm so thankful to have found a new go-to mechanic! I definitely recommend Rudy and his team to everyone I know, 10/10 will absolutely be back! read more

My 87 year old dad and I got stranded when our battery died. The tow truck driver told us the battery was very old so after he jump started us, we went straight to Shell. They were already closing but Rudy said he would take care of us. We were in and out in 10 minutes with a new battery and Dad is safely at home without having to worry about the old battery dying again soon. I love the sense of community they give us. We've come here for years and have had nothing but positive experiences. Rudy was so kind and helpful, even though he was late to get to a family obligation, he made sure we were all set before he left. THANK YOU RUDY AND TEAM! read more

Shell - Palm Desert - Auto Repair Near Me - Palm Desert, California

Do not trust this location when you schedule an appointment. On Friday I scheduled an appointment for Monday at 2:30 to have my car smogged. I showed up 5 minutes early. As I walked up with my smog papers in hand the guy said, "We're not doing any more smogs today." I said, "On Friday I scheduled an appointment with you for today at 2:30." His response, "Sorry but we're not doing any more smogs today, we don't have time." And that was it. I drove down the street to the Union 77 on the corner of Washington and Country Club. They got me right in and it was cheaper than at this Shell. read more

Typical gas station, outrageous pricing because of the world we live in but the fuel works and makes my car get so I have no complaints. The girl that works there was really nice. I got something cold to drink and filled up my gas tank, no complaints again it's a gas station. read more

Shell - Palm Desert - 15% tint on this car at the Gas Station - Auto Repair Near Me - Palm Desert, California

Came in for a quick, reasonably priced smog check. Liked them so much that I brought my other car in for an oil change as well. Friendly and knowledgeable mechanic. Will continue to come here for my automotive needs. read more

Service manager Wayne was not helpful. I do think he has more work than his business can handle. The mechanics were busy looking at their phones; and I feel that is poor management. Don't bother with this place unless your desperate. read more

I am a woman traveling alone in my camper van needing my propane tank refilled for heat tonight. I arrived at 5:00 pm and was told by the gentleman that propane isn't refilled after 4:00 PM. I was sitting in my van searching where I could get propane. There were no other places anywhere nearby to get propane tonight. The gentleman noticed me still in the parking lot and agreed to fill my tank. I was appreciative. The tank only took 1 gallon which was weird and maybe my sensors were off. When I went in to pay, he charged me $10.00 + .78 tax totaling $10.78. He said that $10.00 was the minimal charge. I saw no sign indicating this. I don't know what to think but appreciation turned to disappointment that I would be taken advantage of like that. read more

Shell - Palm Desert - Auto Repair Near Me - Palm Desert, California

I was having a tough time getting the check engine light off in my truck to pass smog. Rudy, the service manager answered the phone and was clear about answering my questions and quick to get me in the shop for a diagnostic. His guys gave me a diagnostic which was some fairly simple repairs. I was able to do the repairs at home and his diagnostic was spot on perfect. I took the truck back to Shell for smog and it passed. He was honest and offered to make the repairs for me for a very reasonable cost. Had it not been for a time constraint I would of repairs there for sure. I highly recommend. read more

I took my 1995 e320 in for a smog check on 11/17/23 and the technician used the wrong method of testing and my car failed. I took my car directly to another smog station and it passed no problem using the correct method. I went back to the shell station and showed the smog technician the passed test and he didn't care or show any concern. They charged me anyway for using the wrong test method. It's a terrible place to take your car. read more

The service department is awesome. Wayne is the best. I get all my vehicles smog checked there. Everyone is so helpful and the service is quick. Keep up the strong work Wayne read more

They changed starter on my Hyundai Santa Fe 7 months ago it still has warranty they replaced it with saying that I have oil leak on engine when I asked did they find place oil leak no they didn't perform any checking on it even if I was ready to pay for it they cut off my warranty and practically no charge but in non verbal said your business is not wanted ,I never seen this kind coustomer service before I'm not going to take my vehicle anymore there they are rude manager kept insisting that I pick up my car not offering me solution for problems on vehicle never again read more

Went to the station to get a smog check. It was 114 degrees and they have chairs outside to sit on while you wait. The attendant never told us the car was tested and passed - we sat outside for over 30 minutes before our inquiry to find out it was okay to go inside to pay. read more

Needed a smog check was in and out in less then 30 min, no appointment information was sent to the dmv.

Came here for the first time for a smog check. Wayne was extremely professional, and very friendly. Service was super quick and a great value. Discount for first responders and essential staff. Highly recommended! read more

Took my Toyota in for a Smog Certificate and oil change. They inspected my tires also and found I had a BAD tire. Jiffy Lube would not have found that. All persons working there were very courteous did not try and sell up other services. Prices fair, service is outstanding. REAL MECHANICS working here not trained monkeys like other lube shops. read more

The manager Rudy was awesome super friendly and knowledgeable and the price was good too. Went in for a smog check, the problem was I had to go inside and pay the service the cashier was super rude didn't greet me when I walked in but that wasn't the the problem, the problem was that I let her know I had a smog and she returned with an attitude saying I don't know you have a smog and I said OK so that's why I'm letting you know I have a smog to pay for first and then you can charge me for the rest of my items.. Started bad mouthing with an attitude and gave my paperwork and said for me to leave when at first she was the one with the attitude. I don't care how cheap the smog is or how nice the service manager is but the cashier really ruins it for that place I will never be there again doesn't matter if it's $25 to smog my car I'll never be back there because of that cashier and that was my first time ever being there, that was the worst experience I've experience . read more

I love this spot. All the employees are cool as hell. They are friendly and i like pulling up to the place The bigger guy is cool af. read more

Many thanks to Wayne and the team at Shell, Palm Desert for the detective work, persistence and quality service they gave when addressing a tricky AC problem on my VW Eos. Because the problem was part puzzle, the car needed to stay at the shop overnight. A member of the team provided me with a ride to and from work while my car was being serviced, so that I did not have to rent a car. In addition to keeping his word on the price quoted for service (even after spending more time on the car than anticipated), Wayne followed up with a friendly phone call after the repair was finished to confirm the fix. Thanks for your excellent service, fair pricing and integrity. I strongly recommend this local provider for excellent service. read more

Absolutely horrible service. Tried to overcharge me by 200% on a repair to my vehicle on parts alone. They charged me an hours labour to be able to tell me that my diagnosis was correct. When I questioned their choice to replace unnecessary parts they all gathered around to insist I had no idea what I was talking about. The shop I sent the car to after pulling it from shell knew the issue I described and the part that needed to be replaced with a simple phone call and quoted the job at 1/3 the price. Not only did they try and overcharge for replacing unnecessary parts, but the way in which I was treated while trying to have a rational discussion about the need for those parts was about the worst I've ever been treated by any business I've ever dealt with. Their service manager Wayne Barnhoorn absolutely cannot be trusted and I can only assume that their GM or owner is just as bad, as Wayne had to turn and ask him what to do when being questioned about why they couldn't just replace the parts I asked them to. 1 star is being kind. They deserve less. Beware of these scam artists. They will do everything in their power to rip you off. I see your replay below Jacob. The shop that performed the repairs confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the part you insisted needed to be replaced. You need to understand that not everybody who brings a vehicle into your shop is inept mechanically. If I was angry, it's because of the way that Wayne and especially yourself treated me. I called you on your BS and you couldn't stop with the insulting tone and comments. read more

Great service. I took my car in for a smog control certificate and the service was excellent. Highly recommend.

I have only used it for a smog check. It went quickly. The owner is not the friendliest guy but I don't go to gas stations to start friendships so that didn't bother me. read more

We have taken our vehicles to this station for years. Manager Wayne is always courteous, helpful, and professional. It's nice to have neighborhood mechanics that we can trust. We highly recommend them. read more

This is a great station. They are available to help you as needed, and the repairs a good and honest. The employees are top notch, providing quality service, and excellent customer service. read more

Wayne is a wonderful mechanic and an incredibly kind person. My compressor locked up while driving out to a field site, leaving my fiancee and I stranded in the area after all shops had closed down. Triple A ended up towing our car to a shop that was not actually open over the weekend after we explicitly asked for this necessity. Even though it was a holiday weekend, we called Wayne the next day and were able to move the car to his shop where we found out that our problem was not a quick fix but would require more diagnosis/parts (they were only open for another 30 minutes when we showed up). Wayne promised to work on the vehicle first thing on Monday and called us early in the day to give us the unfortunate news. Our car was functionally totaled due to costs of parts etc. Throughout Wayne was professional, honest about the fixes and ended up helping us sell the car (the best situation we could have hoped for considering the circumstances). Wayne personally called Triple A to help us recoup our towing fee (Triple A had messed up on a number of counts), and waived all fees for looking at the car- which was at least 3 hours of work! We were really bummed out about the car but Wayne and the mechanics at the Palm Desert Shell truly softened what was a tough financial blow (it would have been much tougher without their kindness). Cannot recommend this place enough. Call Wanye if you have any problems with your cars! read more

Shell gasoline station. Just got back from church service with my 88 year old dad. Stopped to get gas. I guess the days of good service are out the door .Sunday October 7th,2018 7pm. Pulled into pump after all my card info we realized there was No pump hose. I went to the attendant busy on his phone and asked for help he said just hit cancel. Then we proceeded to a new pump having trouble again I went to window to ask for help.He said I'll be right there. My mom and sister walked over from Ralph's by that time and we figured it out. Just disappointed that the service at first pump should have been proactive. Less cell phones and more customer service would be appreciated. I'll pay more money for better service. Bummer after such a beautiful service. read more

Friendly and clean. Service attendant was very helpful. Good selection of snacks and beverages.

Ernesto the smog guy does a great job. Highly recommended! Call them for the schedule but I know currently he works every other Saturday and it is first come first serve starting at 8 a.m. Walk down to Starbucks and get some coffee while he takes care of it! read more

Friday I got off work early to take my truck to get a smog before they closed. I was running late and spoke to Wayne, Service Manager, who was able to squeeze me in. He and his guys got me in and out quickly and easily. I am a AAA member and I recommend Palm Desert Shell to EVERYONE! Thank you Wayne for being a great person and for having a business people can count on!! I'll gladly continue to give you my business if I have any mechanical needs. Thank you again!! read more

Printed a smog coupon off the Internet. It read $39.75. Gave it to my husband the next day. They charged him $60. When he complained they charged him $50. No mention of the certificate or other state charges on coupon. Service Manager said he had other complaints but the owners son didn't care. He even told me they were on AAA list. Did not give us back our proof of insurance. Just left with a bad feeling about the place. It's not the money...it's the principal. Tired of worrying about getting ripped off. read more

I had to update my review because Wayne was nice enough to call and make sure that my air conditioner was blowing cold and working great, what a great man checking up on his customers. read more

Needed to smog my 03 GMC truck. Wayne was the best. Work done without an appointment. Checked on future oil change...half the price of jiffy lube right nextdoor. Have a shop for future repairs. read more

Worst experience ever! I tried to fill up on gas today and the price advertised on one of their signs was $3.09 per gallon. ( check out their pics, I posted a photo of the sign here ) When I got inside to pay the guy ( I think his name was Jacob ) said that the price was actually $3.99 per gallon. When I pointed out to the sign with the price tag that showed $3.09 per gallon he got angry and said that the kids from the high school may have altered the sign. ( Seriously??? ) He was also showing me a lot of attitude. When I said if the price is $3.99 per gallon not $3.09 then they should correct it not to mislead their customers, he got angry and rude and said they refuse to serve me because I'm too much trouble. There was also a lady in the line behind me who was cursing at me that I was taking too long to do a transaction. Worst experience ever. These people have no idea how to treat a customer right. Bad business practices read more