I have worked in Customer Service and Sales related fields for 15+ years, and going to a Mechanic is always a horrible experience when looking at both these areas. You hear of stories of being ripped off dramatically or mechanics jury rigging the job to ensure you are back in a few weeks with a "new" problem. I almost feel like an elk being stalked by a lion in one of those Animal Planet shows. You just know you're getting the short end of the deal.
And this is why I am writing this review. Exclusive Repair of Volkswagen is the exact opposite of what I am used to and what I expected! Now, I'm lucky...my mechanic of 5+ years (Walter/Jorge Ayala) has recently been hired as Team Lead for this shop, so I was not as skittish as I normally would be when trying a new place...AND I would have never found the shop unless he gave me specific directions. (It's hidden in a small, very small industrial park just east of Stewart on Colorado.)
Tangent: This off the beaten path location is actually a good sign of great work. Those big shops with multiple bays have HUGE overhead in rent so they need to turn out cars and up-sell more services whether you need them or not, similar to a busy restaurant on a major street - it's not about the customer, it's about paying bills. When you're off the beaten path, one car can pay the month's rent, so everything else is gravy and you can focus on doing GREAT WORK and client retention by over delivering AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHARGE AS MUCH - that part my wallet loves!
So without being too long-winded this is why I strongly recommend Exclusive Repair of Volkswagen:
**The best bedside manner - able to explain in simplest terms what the issues are and what options you have to fix them; also if they deem it an immediate fix or can hold off. (If they could explain it to me then they can explain it to anyone!)
**If you like to learn, they love to teach! Walter and Gordon have shown me so many tricks of the trade to ensure I don't get ripped off if I had to go to another mechanic for anything, i.e. how to tell when the treads on my tires are getting low, how to tell when I need to change my brakes, rotate my tires, if I really need an oil change, what that Engine Light really means, etc.
**They know everyone! And can get you deals on whatever you need. (My Smogging only cost $45, per their referral. Heck, they drove the car there for me. Now that's customer service!)
**They want to do it right the first time, even if it takes a little more time. They know that fixing the car right the first time makes for a happy and repeat clientele. (When working on my car they discovered additional damage, called me, explained the options and we decided to take the extra time to do the job right. Any other shop would have made no mention of it and I would have been back in a month or two now getting charged double the labor when it could have been fixed the first time in conjunction with the other repairs, SAVING ME A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY.)
**They will always work within your budget and schedule.
**And most importantly, I CAN TRUST THEM.
Here's something you wouldn't expect to hear about a mechanic, but this is how I feel about Exclusive Repair Volkswagen and how strongly I recommend you try them: I'm inviting my mechanic to my wedding... Enough said. read more
