I wish I could give more than 5 stars to this company!!!…read more
This is a must read tale of frustration and then restored faith in humanity... On a recent vacation to Panther Pond, both my son-in-law's car and mine proved unreliable. On the Friday evening, before check-out, the alternator on his Mazda died and my brake pads started whining. We called AAA, but they took so long to arrive (1 1/2 hours later than promised) that by the time they could tow a car to a shop, all were closed, most until Monday! I called Auto Zone and randomly asked if they knew ANYONE who might help. As luck would have it, a young man named Billy was at the counter. He was putting in an engine on a Subaru that Friday night, at his garage in Limington, and initially said he had no extra time. When the Auto Zone employee told him the details of our plight, and that we were stranded, he said he'd be happy to help.
I was on the phone 6 or seven times with him that night, apologizing, because now we had to wait for AAA to come again to tow the Mazda. You guessed it, they were late again. In the meantime, my husband Tim drove from Raymond to Auburn to pick up an alternator. Billy (Theriault - I hope I spelled it right) worked on his Subaru project until the Mazda and the alternator arrived at his garage. He took out the old one and went to install the new one, but alas the salesperson had given Tim the wrong model! Billy went online to find a new correct model. The only one was in Bangor! He had it shipped to Windham, but it was not to arrive until late Saturday afternoon. In addition to this 11 pm frustration, the trip to Auburn caused our whining brake pads to start screaming. By the time Tim returned to our vacation home there was a disturbing grinding sound coming from the back left tire.
Have you ever been afraid to drive your own car? I packed up my daughter, her husband, my own, and all that we'd brought to Maine and we headed out Saturday morning through Raymond towards Windham. We prayed lights would turn green at every intersection so we wouldn't need to push the brake pedal. We urged other cars to turn quickly out of our way, or drive a bit faster so we could avoid hearing the ever-increasing sound of our now bare break pads scraping the wheel! I'm ashamed to admit it, but we sometimes cursed when vacationers cut us off and made us brake hard. I didn't know what to do so I called Billy. It was nearly 7:30 AM and it was clear from the way he answered, that the Subaru engine had kept him working well into morning. Still, he was eager to help. He called Auto Zone and told them to expect us and he'd arranged for our brake pad to be at the counter when we arrived. Then he told us to go directly to Perk's Peak Auto, where he was working that morning. "I'll open the shop, move some things around, and replace your brake pad. That way, you'll at least have your van for the day."
Who does this? Who extends this kind of compassion, courtesy, and generosity to strangers? Billy does. We coasted into the parking lot of Perk's Peak, put it in park, and waited. Within minutes Billy arrived. I don't know the last time I looked forward to meeting a stranger, but I can tell you that in that moment I said a prayer of thanks for his being at the right place at the right time. He later told me that on that Friday night he had already been to Auto Zone and left. He had to return, because on his way to his shop he'd gotten a call to go and pick up another part for the engine. Maybe it was fate, or merely good fortune.
We sat across the street, near the pond on the property, and played "20 Questions" while Billy repaired the brake. Thirty minutes later he was giving us the keys "You're all set. I'll get the alternator when it comes in, put it in the Mazda, and call you when I'm done."
I wanted to cry because of his kindness. The thing is, it occurred to me as he was talking, that this was not unusual behavior for him. What seemed like unbelievable service to us, appeared to be standard protocol for him and for Perk's Peak. I paid him, and tipped him all the cash I had left after vacation, but I wish I could have done more for him. We parted and drove away, no longer afraid of stopping. We had a surprisingly nice day on the Saco River, and stayed in Cornish that night. Billy fixed the Mazda and we picked it up before dinner. The next morning we took our 2 cars to the west and eastern parts of Massachusetts. Both made it home safely and I am happy to report are handling well.
In a time when there is so much negativity and stress in our midst, it is so restorative to meet people who are truly compassionate. Billy was professional and accommodating. He went above and beyond what was required or expected. He is a true gentleman and a great mechanic. If we ever have any car trouble again in the lakes area I know exactly who to call! Billy, if you are ever in Western Mass, and in need of anything, please call us. We'd love to repay your kindness!
