A couple of days ago, thinking I had a dead battery, I took my car to Autozone on Hurstbourne Lane…read moreat Stoneybrook. I had just bought the battery, and the warranty was still good. The gentleman from Autozone tested the battery and said it was good, but the problem was the alternator. At that moment, Desmond Yeary of Yeary Automotive, who was helping one of his customers in the parking lot with his 12-year-old son, overheard our conversation. He handed me his card and said he could come by my house at 3:00 and install the part for me. I went back into the store, and the guys at the desk said he was a regular customer and even recommended him. Normally, I am skeptical, but his young son, who was part of the operation, sold me. Desmond and his son showed up on time and fixed my problem. The price was very reasonable, and I enjoyed seeing the relationship between him and his son. Clearly, the son was learning the trade with his dad--very cool.
The next day, my car wouldn't start, and I had to jump it to get back on the road. I went back to Autozone, and they tested the battery and alternator again, saying both were good. I called Desmond, and he came over that afternoon. He and his son worked on the car for almost two hours. Desmond pulled out special meters and analytic tools and finally found that the battery had a dead cell, which evaded detection by the Autozone folks. Desmond then pulled out the battery, took it back to Autozone where it was replaced for free under the warranty, reinstalled the battery, and charged me nothing.
Let's be clear: the battery was not Desmond's problem, yet he didn't charge me for all that work.
There are a lot of busy (and older) folks out there, and a mobile mechanic makes a lot of sense. I am a fan, especially of this guy. As a former police officer and present security consultant, a healthy skepticism is a good thing. There are several things you can do to ensure the mechanic you hire isn't going to rip you off... but I did none of these things because I think I am a good judge of character. You can trust Desmond Yeary, and I recommend him highly.