I take reviewing local businesses seriously. I understand we all are human and sometimes there are things out of their control.
Having to take your car in to the auto shop, unless you personally know them, is a questionable experience for everyone. The underlying thought is that they are trying to get you to pay more for repairs not needed. Hopefully that's not the case but you just aren't sure.
Our van started acting funny, shaking and generally not able to accelerate well. I searched and found Empire within 10 minutes of our new home.
I dropped it off, spent the day cooped up with the boys and that evening went to pick it up. Drove perfectly off the lot.
Next morning while dropping off the garbage it started shaking worse and sputtering. Back to the shop I go.
An employee plugged the little computer in, saw it was saying an issue with spark plugs and such.
While that was happening my 3 boys found their tiny pond and frogs to be very interesting. So much so that my youngest (2) tried to reach in to touch the fountain. I looked over just in time to see him fall completely in and under the water (deep for a 2 year old). Ran and grabbed him out within 3 seconds. Now if you know my youngest you'd say "Yeah, that's him.." he's a little tornado and I have no doubt I'll be running to save him for the next few years.
Guy finishes says it's probably something else. Take the van home wait til Hubs gets home then back to drop it off again.
As I park, the owner comes to greet me. General van chat ensues then (because it was a shocking/funny incident) "Did you hear my youngest fell in the pond?" - Me
"Yeah. I saw it." - owner
"Oh did you have video going?"
"Yeah... the oldest pushed him in."
*extremely confused*
"Yeah, I saw the oldest push him."
"You saw that? I want to see the video. "
"Well, maybe not, you can't really see it."
"Yeah, neither of my boys would do that. Did you save the video? I would like to see it."
"I'm not sure, but I think he did push him in."
Ok... in the moment I was trying to wrap my head around why he would say this when I saw youngest fall in myself.
Lawsuit anyone?
This owner was low key threatening me, trying to cover for a possible lawsuit by saying that one of my children pushed their little brother into a pond.
Now you can imagine all the expletives going through my head as I think about this.
Now it's up to you... auto repair guys have that trait of not being trustworthy, honest or of great character.
Would you trust your vehicle to someone who would intimidate and blatantly lie to a mom of boys because they were nervous about a possible lawsuit? (which wouldn't even hold up in court BTW)
And that dumb van STILL isn't working!! We will have to drive to arden now to our old trustworthy and reliable repair shop. Fun to be out $500 and to be intimidated.
To the owner:
Your idea to threaten a mom shows an extreme lack of good character. You can either show me the video or you can apologize in the comments. read more