I have a couple of issues w the Yelp reviews for this shop…read more
First, there are so many glowing reviews, but not a single one from a prolific yelper.
Second, the vast majority of reviews are for simple oil changes. Something as basic as an oil change is not the bar of measure for a great mechanic. A meaty, real engine or brake problem is.
I called CHOA about a clicking noise that had started whenever I applied the brakes. It was a Saturday, so they were closed, but I was told to bring my baby in at 8:00 Monday morning. Fine.
Monday, I arrived in the office at 7:58. It was empty. I waited a couple of minutes. I walked out, looked around, & walked back in. Nothing. There's no bell on the counter, so next I walked out to the garage. I hollered out hello a couple of times, & a mechanic came out & greeted me. I explained that I had called Saturday & was told to be here @ 8:00 Monday morning, so here I am. It was clear that they were not expecting me. The mechanic said that he didn't know who I talked to when I called. Then, he said he'd meet me in the office, when Hugh, the owner, came up. Hugh met me in the office instead. Believe me, unless I'm catching a plane to some fab locale, I do not want to be at any place of business at 8:00 in the morning, unless I have to be.
The quote I had gotten on the phone was $40 for a brake inspection, & if they needed to do any additional work, that $40 would be applied to the cost. I reiterated this, & he confirmed it. Fine.
Hugh called me a couple of hours later & told me they didn't really hear the clicking (of course), & didn't see a problem w my brake pads. He would try to get to the bottom of it by the end of the day, but it might take longer. A couple of hours later, I got another call. I'm not going to go into all the shop talk. Suffice it to say, he told me what he thought the culprit was, how much it would cost, that he would order the parts, & that my baby would need to stay over night. Fine.
Next afternoon, he called me & gave me a full rundown. He is extremely thorough w information & updates; I have to give him that. Problem is, I'm not a mechanic, so this info is like white noise.
What started Monday afternoon (first call) at around $120 ended up being $320. The clicking is gone, & she feels nice & tight, but I have no way of knowing if that additional $200 was legit or not.
What I find really disappointing is that they didn't rotate my tires after I told Hugh (second call) that they hadn't been rotated since last year. Since she was already in the shop & being worked on, this seems straight up negligent to me.
They took care of the clicking, & kept me informed every step of the way. Hugh was even cool about me not being able to pick her up till the next day. But, I have to hope that I wasn't taken advantage of because I'm a single girl that obviously loves her baby.
3 stars.