Ok, if you don't feel like reading a long soliloquy and the dramatic impact of the pertinent events, then just know, Dan at Crown Smog/Chevron on Loma Vista and Main in Ventura is an honest, informative, respectful, and helpful dude whom this neighborhood is lucky to have.
Now for the narrative:
In search of the cheapest smog station in Ventura, Oxnard or Camarillo, I came upon Crown Smog, which is not at Crown Dodge like i thought at first, but is the Chevron on loma Vista and Main. They offered price match online. Well, I had an obscenely low priced smog done the day before in SB (which i did not pass) and provided that information to Dan, the owner/operator of Crown Smog. He said he had just come across a customer recently with that same ad and could not believe a company would offer such a low price. Nonetheless, he gave me a discount matching the price as closely as he could without losing money. (Even without his discount, he is the lowest price in Ventura.)
Ok now; switch scenes. Pan in to Diana, (me) at the first smog site in SB, the day before Dan..
After receiving the failing mark from the sb sheister, I was subsequently offered a repair which would cost 83$to diagnose. . He also tried to charge me the advertised price plus the price of the certificate, which he did not issue because he failed me. "Oops", he said and I thought..".honest mistake?"
He told me, regarding the fail, that the codes on the fail were on the "computer side" that he had no idea to know what they meant until he checked...for 83$. :/ So there you have the reason he was offering 22.95 for smog (with cert fee and some other 2$-ish processing fee or transfer fee or something.)
Sitting in my car in SB, post failed smog, I was like, "wait a minute, what if he failed me so I would pay him for expensive service. And I don't think he was tired from a long day, he definitely talked down to me maybe because I am a woman or maybe he is just rude. Naively, I thought of how concerned he seemed and how willing to get to the root of the problem on my behalf he was. "No, I thought, he couldn't be scamming me. That doesn't really happen." Well, I was later made to feel like a chump-and-a-half when I found out that, IF your check engine light is on, Don't smog, it will not pass.... Info that was surprisingly not offered from Sheisty.
Sorry I'm getting lazy and this is not an actual government website, but I have a hunch it's accurate. Definately let people know if it's not.
Generally, as long as a vehicle is running well, the check engine light is not on, and the battery has not been recently disconnected or gone dead, a vehicle will likely pass smog.
-lyonautorepair.net
Additionaly, it is completely illegal to fail someone and then offer them a pricey (or free) service to diagnose/fix the problem. Hmmm...I wonder why? Again, too lazy to cite a source. Lmk if wrong.
Needless to say, I was delighted to meet Dan who was so informative, respectful, helpful, and honest...super down-to earth. He genuinely seems to care about people..women included and treats us (women) as intelligent, respect-worthy people. He is local to the core with certain works his creativity, some collaborative, displayed or lying around. He did no self-promotion regarding these btw, i specifically asked because i was working on some similar things. Refreshing to meet a local business owner such as him. Save money and experience positivity at Crown Smog!
P.S. I'm going to contact sheisty and tell him this will be published on yelp and nextdoor unless i get my money back.
(a little about me: I have been known to accidentally press post. And how did Sheisty's info get typed in my post entry box.? Slippery fingers and its a secret.)
My fingers are feeling an on-coming slip after he contacts me about the refund. read more
