Not all Superheros Wear Capes--sometimes they come in mechanic shirts and hail from Knoxville,…read moreTennessee. I loved doing business with these AAMCO boys; it is a place where service is not a department, but their entire establishment.
The nightmarish transmission debacle, which began at the unprofessional/unscrupulous AAMCO in Roanoke, Virginia, finally ended three weeks and 260 miles later. It included mobile mechanics, tow trucks, a lot of added expense, and finally a literal heave-ho to push my 8000-pound bus named Bubba the final distance, when we arrived at the AAMCO shop, in Knoxville, Tennessee, lovingly known as Knucklebusters.
When my bus was pushed into the shop, I was distressed and when they put Bubba on the rack, pulled the tranny pan, and a waterfall of black inklike fluid, with silver specks, gushed out, my distress turned to heartbreak. Bubba was more broken now than when I took him to Roanoke Transmission in the first place.
Mike, the owner, looked at me and said, "you know, auto repairs are already hard--and we don't want to make them any more difficult." They were words he and his team lived by.
The Knoxville boys, set about turning my worst bus life story into one that not only corrected the wrongs of Roanoke AAMCO but re-instilled my faith in people, by going above and beyond, in every sense of the word.
They walked me through every step of the repairs/process--explaining what happened, why it happened, and what they were going to do.
What happened was that Roanoke Transmission installed the transmission incorrectly and when I returned to them, they refused to assist in any way, even suggesting I find another shop--(although I had a warranty).
What Mike and his Knucklebusters Team did was call Roanoke and offer solutions for an expedient repair. They offered to rebuild the pulverized transmission in Knoxville, gather parts, and even drive to Roanoke to pick up the transmission that was 'allegedly' on the shelf there. Roanoke declined any and all offers; thus tying Knoxville's hands, unnecessarily prolonging the repair, and essentially making me homeless; because when you live in a bus and are without that bus, you are homeless.
Knucklebusters helped me find a hotel and drove me to it, later returning to pick me up, so I could get additional items from my bus. When I switched hotels, they once again shuttled me about.
Being unfamiliar with Knoxville, they recommended a couple of great dive bars near my motel, which I love and loved. (Peyton's Place and The Pint House).
Knoxville AAMCO kept in daily communication, just to let me know I was not forgotten and to see if I needed anything or there was anything they could do to help me out.
After EIGHT days, Roanoke had the transmission rebuilt; and here is where Knucklebusters outdid themselves. They DROVE 1/2way to Roanoke to pick up my transmission, to save shipping time!
They returned and installed my transmission on that same day...perfectly, I might add.
After about a week, they checked in with me, to ensure Bubba was running fine and we were doing well.
I left AAMCO Knoxville, loving having done business with them and wanting to tell everybody about the A++ experience, with the fantastic Knucklebusters.
Maya Angelou said that people will forget what you said. They will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel. Thank you AAMCO Knoxville, for demonstrating empathy and making me feel and know that you care.
The real cherry on top? They made their mailbox out of Bubba's transmission!