POOR COMMUNICATION, WRONG CAR, AND UNFINISHED WORK. Garner Automotive was recommended to me for some work. I made an appointment by phone in advance and dropped off my car in person for a quote on replacing 2 struts and for an oil leak dye test. I spoke with J. in the front office and I noticed he had the wrong car notes for my vehicle. I pointed this out and then we spoke for 10 minutes about the details of my car and what I brought it in for. I went over ongoing work on the car and told him specifically what has been or is already being done with the vehicle including the battery and valve gasket. I was assured that J. would check in my car and note the account for me, no call in required. Unfortunately, after 3 days when I was finally able to reach someone at the garage over the phone they sent me an email quoting me for another car's maintenance including work I did not request and work I specifically mentioned had already been done on my car.
When I called them to correct the issue they were very hesitant to send me a fixed quote and were unable to answer simple questions about my car. The new quote included what I wanted but only had the information I had given when checking in the car with no additional information or a report of an oil leak test. I went in person to get to the bottom of what was happening and at this point they had my car for 1 week. The man at the front desk was incredibly defensive and aggressive about the situation, admitting he had written the wrong notes and that a oil check as I requested had not been performed because of the work that is still being done to the car as of when I brought it in. The state of the car and what I needed was made clear when I dropped it off and it had not been communicated that there was an issue.
At this point, a number of things were said that I found worrying: "I would have charged you more had I known you wouldn't do more work with us," "it's an old car no point looking past the first issue," "we do not take pictures of our work at any stage," "we do not do written notes," and I was also questioned on why anyone would use more than one mechanic ever as if people do not move or have different types of vehicles at the very least. As the front desk man had caused some of the communication issues, I understand the defensiveness, but there was clear intimidation in the attitude and then after a long time a second man came in just to silently loom behind him the rest of the time, never contributing to the conversation and also unable to answer any of my simple questions about the vehicle. Very unfriendly and I am very unhappy with this experience so far.
To be clear the quote for 2 front strut replacements was about $1450.00 on an older Toyota, and I decided to not do this work with them firstly because of the poor communication and note keeping this time. Secondly, they charge more than 2x market price for parts. The oil leak dye check has still not been performed but after much hem-hawing I was assured that I can bring my car in this next two weeks to do it, but was also told that it may take them several weeks to complete an oil leak test, which was not completed the first week they had the car. This is no regular timeframe. Who can wait over three weeks for just an oil leak test?
Cost: $140. They said they "price similarly our neighbor, Borst Automotive, perhaps coming out a few dollars cheaper."
Due to the unprofessionalism and poor state of vehicle on pick up inspection no longer comfortable doing business with Garner. read more
