I worked at Steve Portie's auto repair shop, and based on what I personally witnessed, I can't recommend it.
From the customer's side, everything looked legitimate. Estimates often gave the impression that quality replacement parts would be installed. What I saw behind the scenes was different. In many cases, lower-cost and often used parts were purchased instead. I also witnessed repairs that, in my opinion, fell well below professional standards. Inspections were skipped, diagnostic work was sometimes incomplete, and vehicles were returned to customers without the level of care I believe they were paying for.
One example that always stuck with me involved air conditioning repairs. In my opinion, you cannot properly diagnose, recover, evacuate, and recharge an automotive A/C system without the proper recovery and recharge equipment. That machine is what allows a technician to accurately measure how much refrigerant is removed, how much is added back into the system, and whether the correct amount of oil and UV dye is present. Without it, the process becomes guesswork where accuracy is critical.
What bothered me most was that customers were still being charged as if they were receiving the same professional A/C service they would expect from a properly equipped and reputable shop. To the customer, the price might look the same, but the process, equipment, and level of care behind that service may not be.
The condition of the shop didn't inspire much confidence either. Some of the equipment was worn out, and certain repairs were performed with tools that struggled to do the job properly. Overall, the shop simply didn't reflect the level of quality or professionalism customers expected when they handed over their keys.
It doesn't really matter what the sign says--A.K.E., Auto Program Performance, Auto Tuning Pros, or whatever name it changes to next. As far as I'm concerned, it's still Steve Portie's shop.
People have asked why I worked there if I felt that way. The answer isn't flattering: it was easy money. I came in as an independent contractor, did the work, collected a paycheck, and left. At first, I convinced myself it wasn't my responsibility to worry about how the business operated. Over time, though, watching customer after customer leave believing they'd received honest, professional repairs made that harder and harder to ignore.
This isn't about revenge, and I don't have a personal grudge against Steve. If anything, I'm more critical of myself for staying as long as I did. Convenience isn't a good excuse for looking the other way, and that's something I've had to live with.
I'm sharing this because customers deserve to know what can happen behind the scenes. Most people have no way of knowing whether the parts they paid for were actually installed, whether the diagnosis was thorough, or whether the repair was done correctly. They have to trust the person behind the counter.
Based on what I witnessed while working there, I would never trust that shop with my own vehicle, and I wouldn't recommend it to my friends or family. Everyone deserves honest communication, quality workmanship, and repairs performed with integrity.
Sometimes, trust is the easiest thing to sell--and the hardest thing to verify. read more
