I decided to use this shop since its walking distance from my house and didn't appear to be a whole in the wall. It took 2 weeks to even get an appointment to get my car in. It didn't matter when I dropped my car off, they wouldn't be finished until the following Friday. I dropped my car off on a Tuesday, with slight bumper damage from sliding on snow and tapping another car's rear. They estimated my pick up time on that Friday. I called on Wednesday to estimate what time I could pick my car up on Friday since I had to be out of town. They told me it wouldn't be ready. They had to call the insurance about additional damage, double what my insurance had estimated, and wait for the claims adjuster to come out. The person I spoke with said that takes 24-48 hours. So, basically I would be looking at my car to finish up around mid week, the following week. Also, They refused to put my car back together for me to move it to a different shop or allow me to take it out without them putting it back together, not even suggesting that a toe truck would be possible.
On Friday I called back to get an update; the insurance adjuster had still not been out and it was my best bet to call them and get the ball moving. I called my insurance and the guy told me that he would notify the adjuster right away and make it a priority, as I was without a car this entire time.
On Monday, I waited patiently all day and finally called back around 3pm. The woman said the adjuster finally came out and she didn't call me because the adjuster said she would. They let me know my car should be ready by the following Friday! I flipped my kid because that would be almost a 3 week turn around for slight damage that didn't even bust up my dog or headlights. She made a big to do that it was such serious damage, etc, etc. They refused to acknowledge that they were pretty much holding my car ransom. Also, I was chastised for not having rental coverage, so it was my fault that I was without a vehicle for such a lengthy time. But, being such nice folks, they would work on seeing what they could do to get it out of there sooner. She told me to call back Thursday morning for an update.
On Thursday morning I called back and great news, my car should be finished by the end of the day or Friday morning. Mistakingly, I told them I wouldn't be able to pick it up at the end of the day anyway because I was working. I called Friday morning at 10:30 and the woman told me that the car was done but they were going through paperwork so if I showed up around 1pm, it would be done. That's a half a day to complete paperwork on my car?!!
To add a cherry on top, they told me they called the insurance adjuster on the Tuesday that I dropped it off and the adjuster told me they never called her. The insurance company notified her on Friday to come out, AFTER I called the insurance company directly to push the issue.
In the end, it took 11 days.
I spent $130 renting a car for work for the few days I had to travel.
They doubled my initial insurance estimate on my car.
They are rude, slow and will milk every cent of insurance money they can. I'm sure I'll see a hefty rise in my insurance for damage that didn't disrupt the working or structural integrity of the body of my car.
I also happened to read a review on arbutus auto painting and body works with a similar complaint right before I dropped my car off and that should be been enough to scare me off. He said they also had multiple negative reviews on the better business bureau. I'm pretty sure it's the same company because the address is right across the street. read more