The old service manage Vince worked with my father years before and was honest as the day was long…read more I never knew he worked with my father until I told him my father was a mechanic for almost 50 years and I told Vince where he worked. He retired.
I do most all of my own vehicle work, but on occasion I used to go to Real Pro Auto in Wyoming. I had my truck in there the last time I went to Real Pro Auto in Wyoming. Before my truck was off the lift I asked the mechanic and service manager if they could give me a price on the exhaust manifold getting replaced, and only the exhaust manifold, I could do all the other work myself. The service manager and the mechanic immediately told me they would have to replace my whole exhaust system, and it would probably be over $3,000. I knew better, and I knew they were just trying to up-sell me. I always laugh when any shop gives me a list of things that need repair, and I know 80%-90% of those things have just been done or are not bad enough for me to worry about yet.
After they told me that they would need to replace the whole exhaust system, I asked them "Why would I need to have the other exhaust manifold replaced, it isn't leaking, and why would you have to replace the whole exhaust system and not just what I was asking you to do?"
The both said that they would only replace the exhaust manifold if I agreed to replace every single exhaust piece.
I know the talk from service managers, and mechanics, I grew up knowing many because of my father. They give the customer a big list on what needs to be done, or things they think up, even if they don't ask for it, then hope the customer is dumb on vehicle repairs and believes that everything needs to be done ASAP in their shop.
I was so pissed they wouldn't budge at just fixing what I wanted fixed, and leaving the rest for me to fix. It wouldn't be a safety issue, it wasn't a request to get rid of the Catalytic Converters, (Which I know is illegal for them to do). I could buy OEM parts to replace my whole exhaust myself for under $675 if I wanted to.
In there defense I know I would need to figure in the cost of the hours of the mechanic if I agreed to have them do it. But $2,325 of mechanic hours, and $675 or less for parts??????? I don't think so.
I will just say this, I met the owner John many years ago, and he seemed like a nice guy. However, I truly think he hired the wrong people after Vince left. Maybe John gives the service managers a bonus if they bring in more money than his other locations, who knows, seems like it though. Maybe John should look at reviews before and after Vince left and compare them. I would bet he will see the reviews hit the floor after Vince left.
After my last visit at Real Pro Auto in Wyoming I got an automated text by John on my other vehicle needing something in regards to work. How would he know? They seen the other vehicle 1.5 years before, and never after that.
Then I got an automated text another month saying it was John, (I knew it was a automated text), and that one asked me why I haven't been there in a while. I almost replied, however I know he can't be at all three locations all the time and probably has no idea what goes on during most of the day in all locations, so I ignored that text instead of complaining. Now I am warning people, Real Pro Auto when it was smaller with one location was great, now they are bad in my opinion.
