I was quoted prices for multiple services today, August 11, 2026, and unfortunately, it was not…read morejust one or two items that seemed overpriced. Everything I asked about was quoted significantly higher than what I would consider reasonable market pricing.
I first contacted this business several months ago after my catalytic converter was stolen. I reached out to ask about pricing for protection for a new replacement catalytic converter that I would purchase myself. The protection they offered was extremely expensive compared with other options I had researched.
I returned to the business for a second time today, August 11, 2026, for a different reason. I wanted them to visually inspect two old parts to determine their condition. One of the parts was leaking oil and the other was not. During our conversation, Ernie did explain that the best way to determine whether the parts were actually functioning properly would be to install them on the vehicle and test them. I ultimately decided not to have that testing performed because, after being told that one of the parts was leaking, I was no longer interested in purchasing the set of old parts at that point.
More importantly, the pricing I received today was based on the services I was asking about rather than an inspection that established what work was actually necessary. For example, I was quoted $225 for an alignment. From my research and the prices I have found from other automotive shops, I can get an alignment for approximately $100-$150 elsewhere. At $225, that is simply not a price I am willing to pay.
The disappointing part is that this was not an isolated incident. The first time I contacted this business, I felt the pricing was extremely high and overpriced. The second time, I had the same experience. After researching the cost of these services and comparing prices elsewhere, I found the quotes I received to be substantially higher than reasonable alternatives.
I also left with the impression that I was being quoted higher prices because I am a woman and that the assumption was that I wouldn't know enough to question the prices. If that was the intention, it was a very poor assumption. I do my research, I know what services cost, and I am not going to agree to inflated pricing simply because someone assumes I won't know the difference.
Being located in Redondo Beach does not justify charging excessively high prices. A local automotive business should be serving the community by providing fair, transparent, and reasonable pricing, not charging excessive prices simply because customers need automotive services.
Another issue with excessively high pricing is that it ultimately puts the customer in a lose-lose situation. When a business quotes an unreasonable price, the customer has to spend additional time and energy researching other shops, making phone calls, getting additional quotes, and potentially traveling elsewhere to find a fair price. On the other hand, customers who do accept these prices may end up paying substantially more of their hard-earned money than necessary.
That is one of the reasons I am taking the time to write this review. I want other people to be aware of my experience before they spend their own time and energy inquiring about services here. My recommendation is to get prices from multiple shops before agreeing to any work. Based on the prices I was quoted on both occasions, I personally would look elsewhere.
I have no issue paying a fair price for quality work, but I do have an issue with being given prices that are substantially higher than reasonable alternatives.
Because of these experiences, I would not return to this business for future services, and I would not recommend it to friends, family, or anyone looking for honest and reasonably priced automotive service.
RESPONSE TO OWNER:
Your response reinforces the reason for my review.
You explained why your shop charges more, but that does not address my concern: the prices I was quoted were substantially higher than prices I found from other legitimate automotive shops for comparable services.
You stated that your pricing is standardized and every customer receives the same quote. If so, this was not an isolated quote. Other customers can expect the same overpriced quotes.
Regarding my comment about being a woman, I described my personal impression; I did not claim to have evidence proving discriminatory intent. I acknowledge your explanation.
Your business is entitled to charge what it believes its services are worth, and customers are equally entitled to decide those prices are unreasonable and go elsewhere. I have no issue paying a fair price for quality work. I do have an issue paying substantially more than reasonable alternatives.
EVEN THEN: Your mechanical team lacks integrity and consistently misdiagnoses or fails to fix the actual problem.
I also find it noteworthy that your public Yelp response differs from the direct text response you sent me.
