I have known and done business with this shop over the years -- they are, in my experience,…read moreswindlers first, charmers second, mechanics last. Bobby and his buddies have a whole formula for making their "customers" (victims seems a more apt term) feel like they're being taken care of: by giving you something inconsequential for free, and making you feel as if they're incredibly generous and working from the goodness of their hearts, or by complimenting you in the most generic fashion.
Once they've gained trust, they often proceed to exaggerate problems in the car, implying they are of the utmost urgency. In the process of fixing that "problem," they're likely to "discover" something else, which they suggest is even more urgent (and expensive) than the original problem. They proceed to exorbitantly overcharge for all of these expenses.
Here are two brief examples (of many) from over the years:
In 2014, I had them replace a timing belt on my car, upon their insistence it needed to be replaced. Within 1,500 miles of driving, the timing belt had been completely torn to shreds as a result of their shoddy installation. They refused to replace the belt until my parents -- far more loyal customers who have hemorrhaged tens of thousands of dollars to them over the years -- threatened to stop patronizing the place. Only then were they willing to admit culpability and compensate me for their shoddy work.
Then, in 2024, I noticed a charge on my credit card for approximately $850 from Park Ridge Auto. I called them, asked why they had charged me, and they informed me that it was a mistake -- they had meant to charge my father's card for work they'd done on his car. They apologized and informed me that they would fully refund my card.
When I checked back two weeks later, I saw that the refund issued was $42.60 LESS than the original charge -- I was paying $42.60 for their mistake. When I proceeded to call them to ask why they didn't refund me in full, Bobby informed me that this was the credit card fee, and that the credit card fee wasn't their responsibility. They refused to issue this refund until my mother once again threatened to no longer do business there.
When I showed up to get the $42.60, Bobby handed me 42 singles in an envelope. When I asked him if they had any twenties, he simply responded, "Go over to the Burger King, get change over there." The smoldering look in his eyes read plain-and-simple: "Fuck you, kid." I was 32 years old.
Places like this reinforce negative stereotypes of mechanics as swindlers and thieves. I strongly recommend you stay away.
