I'm peeved and disgusted, and others have a right to know what at least some of them may be dealing with in going to this place.
We went here on referral from another mechanic. Goes to show you that just because people treat others like them, well - doesn't mean you will get treated the same. I called first. Got a Ron. The call went pretty well, so I expected the visit to, also. We go a few days later, and walk into the office. Got all the way across to the desk, and stood there for an uncomfortable and unreasonable amount of time, with complete silence. The place was quiet - no noise which might mask the sounds of our entrance. Or the walk to the desk. And as the man wasn't blind - there was also nothing keeping him from seeing us enter and approach, either. The man at the desk never looked up, and said absolutely nothing. He was playing with his phone or something. Wasn't tending to any other customer in person or by phone. No one else was in there. Incredulous, I said "Hello..." And he took another deliberate, good long moment to finally put aside his device and acknowledge us. Wasn't startled from any reverie. Didn't apologize for flagrantly ignoring us, either. I asked if he was Ron. With distaste, he says "I'm Ron." The interaction was super awkward, and he made no effort to make it otherwise. I told him I was the one he spoke to previously, and why we were there. Seemed to Me he was a little embarrased at himself, then. This was when he finally acted a little interested in why we were there, and we got on with things.
Another mechanic came in, and was asked to take a look at our car. He looked at us sideways. The body language, demeanor, and tone with these two, were something else. In talking with this second mechanic, trying to make sure he understood the situation - he had the nerve to cut Me off and say "Let's just cut to the chase, instead of all this conversation, okay? Let's just cut to the chase". WTF...?!? Like his superior - just rude as hell. He continued to have an attitude; though, as with the first guy, he did finally trudge into a more neutral "workable mode", to get through the visit. I did the same, and like I did with the first guy - bit My tongue, so things wouldn't devolve any further. While waiting for the other guy to come back at one point - Ron starts nervously chatting us up. Awkward backpeddling small talk, at first - which only got more awkward when he starts talking about his black employee who had emerged briefly; how he had sustained a terrible head injury long ago, but was a really good worker, and how he'd aged better than him, so much so that he hinted jokingly about not wanting him near his wife, how he trusted him with his kids and would protect them, how the man would do anything for him/them... Then he starts talking about his other customers and employees. I mean, all manner of their personal business. He also talked about not being able to stand the younger generation, and bragged that no one working for him was under 50. Also awkward and just...wow.
Ultimately, because the issue didn't reproduce itself in their presence, they weren't able to do or tell us much of anything, about the problem (which part I understood). And then they went on to let us know we were holding them up with other customers. There's a way to do that without being rude or making you (also a customer) feel like they've wasted enough time on you. They didn't try for it. No, we weren't there for very long; and while I'm sure they did have some work waiting on them - there was no line of customers waiting, either. In fact, once again - there was no one else in there at all, besides us.
In sum, it was pretty clear that our business wasn't preferred - if wanted at all - from the start. Ron and his youngest employee (his words) were dismissive, disrespectful, and completely unprofessional. Their behaviour was entirely unwarranted, unprovoked, and unnacceptable. Not being our first rodeo with this kind of crap...being treated like s*** for no valid reason by people who don't even know you, and whom you've done nothing to (at least one of which, needs to be the case - if one is going to claim a substantive justification) - I know exactly what this was. And anyone else like us, knows it too. It seems to Me that they've just gotten way too comfortable in their toxic little world in there - to even realize just how messed up it actually is, or to much care. I'd bet dimes to dollars, they would deny, justify, and/or spin - every bit of this. But it was what it was. We will definitely NOT be going back to this place, and would recommend at least certain others - don't either. But I'm sure their familiar and preferred demographic will find them just lovely, and have no such complaints. There was a kindly older white gentleman who came in. He was promptly and warmly received without any issue, at all. Though he was also one of those gossiped about, so... read more