On July 5th my wife and I were traveling from Knoxville,TN, to Orlando to watch granddaughter in National dance competition. We were driving my wife's 2003 Honda Odyssey van and her A/C compressor failed just outside Columbus, NC at approximately 4:30pm. Columbus is a small but very nice community and most of the repair shops close at 5pm. We found BMWs by WD at approximately 5:15pm and the gate's were still open so, hoping against hope, we found the owner, Warren Durham, still at the shop. Warren not only checked the Honda and confirmed A/C compressor failure but contacted his local supplier and arranged for delivery of new parts first thing following morning. He recommended a place to stay (Days Inn, which was very nice) and local places to eat. He arranged for us to have vehicle back at his shop around 8:45am next day and put us ahead of some scheduled work. I personally heard them tell some local customers with already scheduled work that they would have to reschedule so he could try to get us back on the road quickly! He drove me back to motel to wait with promise to aim for having us back on the road by 12 noon! Shop called at 11:45am to tell us vehicle was ready (!!!) and sent person to pick both me and wife and our luggage up (very timely because motel was booked for that night so staying past check-out time or another night was not feasible). His fee for the service was very reasonable (read this as he did not in any way try to take advantage of our situation. My son had just had similar repairs to his car diagnosed so I had an idea what the fee should be; Warren did not know that). We paused long enough for a meal in Columbus and were on the road again by 1:15pm. Did I mention that temperature in Columbus both days was 93+ and 97+ in Orlando so continuing w/o A/C was not an option?
Just for the record - my wife and I have never been in Columbus, NC, prior to this event; nor did we know of this shop or owner. I cannot recommend this shop and owner Warren Durham highly enough. Losing A/C is never pleasant, but I don't believe I have ever had an auto repair interaction anywhere with such a diligent, concerned person. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!! read more