My visit to Eastside Auto was, without contest, the best experience I've had to date at any auto shop.
Sure, I always have my reservations about going a place that has only 5 star ratings and quite a few from people with few reviews and no picture, but I assure you, they are correct. It is simply unconscionable to give them a lower rating.
I avoided getting my own car during college (I earned my public transportation stripes and walked my way through countless pairs of shoes) but had to bite the bullet and get a money hole a few years ago for my job. I recently got a new position that brought me to the area, so I visited quite a few auto places trying to get my '94 Camry up and running for the several-hundred-mile road trip here. While my experiences were generally pleasant with the places I ended up at (save one- yeugh), my experience today at Eastside Auto blew them out of the water.
The location is none-too-exciting, tucked back in an industrial-type business... complex? pretty near the Chipotle/Whole Foods shopping center in Redmond. The waiting room is perfectly adequate, but I'm convinced that keeping things ultra-fancy is less of a priority than treating their customers well and asking fair prices (as it should be, in my opinion!). If you're looking for massaging chairs and free facials while you wait, you ought to go elsewhere.
I came in for an oil change and because my Camry had been acting a bit funky. I drive hundres of miles each week for my current job (sorry, ozone! :( ), so having a functional car is top priority for me. I'm also technically a volunteer, so I have to make ends meet on a tiny living stipend and I am just looking to do the bare minimum to keep my car getting me from point A to point B. One of the mechanics walked out with me to my car and patiently listened as I explained some odd things about it (you can only unlock it from the passenger door, the E brake light goes on and off randomly, my windshield washer fluid cap is missing and the reservoir is cracked but not leaking, etc etc etc) and mentioned some concerns that I've been having. Since I've had some experience with mechanics trying to swindle me/treating me like I'm stupid, I mentioned that I'd changed my own vent window with one I personally extracted from a car in a salvage yard to save some money. He was duly impressed but after the rest of my experience, I'm very convinced I would never have needed to show my car street cred for any of the staff to treat me (or anyone else) well.
The paperwork was minimal (thank you!), everyone was cheerful and pleasant, and the oil change went faster than any I've ever had despite the fact that they seemed very busy. The mechanic took the time to change some rear light bulbs that were out and did a thorough once-over of my entire car, including airing up the tires and topping up all of the fluids. If that weren't enough, he spent extra time showing me how to check my transmission fluids and even gave me a few shop rags to check it with. I had a missing cap on a tire and they found an extra around and put it on for me. He gave me a detailed report of things to look out for, and reassured me that he understands that I'm just trying to keep my car in running condition, not turn it into a ferrari. (All of this while cars kept arriving for him to work on!)
In the end, he offered to take a look any time if anything came up, didn't charge me for any of the extra time/services he provided (I've had mechanics try to charge me $12+ for changing a small rear light bulb), and gave me a really wonderful deal on my oil change. It was fast, very reasonable, knowledgeable, respectful, kind, merciful (did I mention I get only a tiny living allowance?), and cheerful service!
I would absolutely recommend Eastside Auto Inc to anyone without reservation! read more