5 Stars -- Great customer service, but GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING…read more
I recently had my 2011 Toyota Corolla S worked on at PC Auto Body Shop. Overall, I'm giving them 5 stars because of their customer service, willingness to work with me, and effort to make sure I ultimately left satisfied. However, there are definitely some things potential customers should know.
My work included front/rear bumper repair & refinish, roof prep & repaint, front grille replacement, and headlight restoration. Vitor and I negotiated the final price to $2,875 including tax and credit card fees.
The repair process took longer than expected. My car was initially at the shop July 27-31, but the rear bumper couldn't be completed because some parts hadn't arrived. I picked it up so I could continue driving for Uber, then brought it back August 11. That visit also couldn't be completed, so I dropped it off again at 3 PM and picked it up August 12 at 11 AM.
The first July 27-31 delay didn't bother me because that was the original timeframe. The additional August 11-12 visit was more inconvenient because I drive Uber for income, so additional time without my car meant lost earning opportunities.
There were also several issues along the way. The front grille I provided fell off the same day I picked up the car, even though I had specifically reminded Vitor before pickup to make sure it was secured because the grille had a history of falling off. There was also a spot on the front bumper that hadn't been secured properly, a loose piece around the inside of the trunk, black marks on the interior sunroof shade, and some hesitation regarding rideshare transportation during the additional visits.
However, this is where I give PC Auto Body Shop significant credit.
All of these issues were ultimately taken care of. Vitor was willing to listen and work with me whenever I brought something to his attention. There were several times when I had to remind him of something we had previously discussed or agreed upon. Once I showed him our messages, he generally acknowledged that I was right and said he would take care of it. He repeatedly made it clear that he didn't want me to leave unhappy.
When the grille fell off, Vitor immediately offered to order a replacement at no additional cost and had his mechanic manager personally handle it. He also addressed the other issues I brought up.
They also did some things I genuinely appreciated that weren't necessarily required. They painted the back side of my trunk lid even though it wasn't part of the original service, and they cleaned my carpet and the outside of my tires without me asking. Those extras made me feel like they were trying to take care of the whole car.
One thing potential customers should know is that my Corolla is 15 years old, and the shop used screws/fasteners in some areas of the front and rear bumpers to keep them securely attached. If you expect every repair to look exactly like the original factory installation, especially underneath or in hidden areas, you may not like this approach. I'll attach pictures to show what I mean.
Personally, I'm okay with it. My priority with a 15-year-old daily driver is that the bumpers stay securely attached and look clean from normal viewing angles. For my car, I'm satisfied with the result. Someone with a newer vehicle or who is extremely particular about factory-original repair methods may feel differently.
My biggest recommendation: GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING.
Vitor is approachable and easy to talk to, but there were several occasions where I had to remind him about previous agreements. He wasn't defensive when reminded, and he generally honored what we had agreed on, but I learned that it's much better to have every promise, price, included service, warranty, and special arrangement documented rather than relying on verbal conversations.
The same applies to transportation. Because of the additional visits, I needed rideshare transportation. The shop initially hesitated to provide it, but after I explained that the additional transportation needs were caused by the repair delays and showed our written agreement, they ultimately provided the rideshare. On the final day, there was another misunderstanding with a coworker about an Uber pickup. I showed the written proof of Vitor's promise, and the issue was resolved.
So, would I recommend PC Auto Body Shop? Yes.
I'm giving 5 stars not because everything went perfectly--it definitely didn't--but because when problems came up, Vitor was willing to listen, negotiate, correct them, and make sure I ultimately left satisfied.
For my 15-year-old Corolla, I'm happy with the final result and appreciate the effort Vitor and his team put into getting everything taken care of.
