I waited over a year to write this review because I was genuinely afraid to. I have since moved…read morefarther away, found a mechanic I trust, and finally feel comfortable sharing what happened.
I brought my car to Harvey Automotive for a check engine issue and paid nearly $700 for the repair. I was told the issue was fixed. I drove away and within about 30 minutes, the same check engine light came back on with the exact same code.
Once I got home and the shop was closed, I noticed a wallet sitting on the passenger. The mechanic, Carl, said he left it in my car. I immediately returned it to the shop with everything untouched. because I believe in karma and do right by others. I did not hesitate to do the right thing. During that call, I told him the check engine light had returned. He asked me to bring the car back Monday, and I did exactly that.
When I returned the car, I calmly explained that I was concerned because I had just paid nearly $700 and the same problem had returned. I even asked if another technician could take a look if Carl was having difficulty identifying the cause. I was reassured by the front desk that Carl was the best technician they had and that if he could not figure it out, no one could. I trusted them and left my car there.
Later that day, Scott called me and explained that I would owe another few hundred dollars, although he said he was crediting the labor from the original repair. He told me the issue had been addressed with zip ties and that the alternative would cost thousands. I simply asked, respectfully, how it was a deal if I had already paid for the repair, received my car back with the exact same problem, and then had to pay again to correct it.
That question completely changed his demeanor. Scott snapped at me and said, and I quote, "Fine, since you don't understand how about you don't get a deal at all and now you can pay full price." He then called me "HIGH MAINTENANCE" and yelled, "You come in here questioning my guys!" I was stunned. I was not yelling. I was not demanding anything unreasonable. I was asking for clarity about being charged again for an issue I had already paid to have repaired.
I am neurodivergent and have ADHD. Sometimes I need an extra moment to process information or ask questions in order to fully understand something. That should never be treated as an invitation to belittle a paying customer. Asking questions about the work being performed on my own vehicle should not result in being insulted.
What made this experience even more painful was that I had been a loyal customer for years. I referred people to this business. I was consistently polite and respectful. I even returned a mechanic's wallet immediately after finding it in my car. I cared about treating them with integrity, and I expected the same basic respect in return.
I also cannot ignore how the interaction felt to me as a Black woman. I cannot prove what was in Scott's mind, and I will not pretend to know his intentions. But I know how I was treated, and I know that I increasingly felt as though I had to shrink myself, carefully choose my words, and avoid asking questions just to be treated kindly. That should never be necessary.
I was so concerned about the condition of my car and what might happen while it was still in their possession that I stayed calm, told Scott I would pay whatever was required, and went to retrieve my vehicle. When I arrived, he ultimately told me not to worry about paying. I left and never returned. A year later, after finding a new mechanic, I finally learned how the previous repair had been done. Seeing the makeshift work, including black zip ties used near the hot engine, was deeply upsetting. It confirmed for me that I had made the right decision to find someone else.
Looking back, I realize I stayed with Harvey Automotive for too long. It was convenient. I could drop my car off and walk home, and because I kept telling myself that maybe the distance and coldness I felt were all in my head.
I am sharing this because someone else may be sitting in the same position I was in, wondering whether they are asking too many questions or expecting too much. You are not asking too much by wanting the work you paid for to actually resolve the problem. You are not "high maintenance" for wanting an explanation. And you should never have to walk into a business wondering whether simply asking a question will cause the owner to turn on you.
My new mechanic is completely different. I can ask questions. I can ask for clarification. I can be a customer without being made to feel like a problem. I am grateful I finally listened to my gut and found a place where I feel respected. I hope this review saves someone else the stress, expense, and hurt that I experienced. I mean zip ties? You can do better. I'm so happy now, my mechanic is honest, kind, and has become a friend of the family. DON'T GIVE THIS PLACE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY, SAVE YOURSELF AND YOUR TIME
God bless.
