Perhaps, this is the worst car repair place I've been to. Ever…read more
Carpro Auto Repair is located in Baytown next to a couple of used car dealerships, a carwash etc. The block is filled with a lot of random cars that are questionable if they are operable or used for spare parts. Most likely, the cars are fixed up and 'sold' to the used car dealerships.
Their office is dingy. Dirty and oily waiting room with no a/c and a disgusting bathroom. They do not have an answering machine for their phone line. The owner is out of the office 80% of the time which leaves for miscommunication between the employees and the customers.
The employees are somewhat friendly. They'll joke with you. They will do business with you on a good ole fashion handshake.
My situation: I took my truck there on July 1st based on a referral from a co-worker. My co-worker's uncle has taken many cars there and was pleased with their work. My truck has a problem with its engine leaking oil leading to smoke clouds coming out the exhaust. The owner took a look of the truck, started up the engine and speculated that it may be valve seals. He gave me an estimated price. I agreed to it and out of good faith gave him half the money for it up front. He agreed I could make payments on the repair. Very cool.
He estimated the truck would be ready on July 6-7th. I rented a car so I can go to work.
On July 7th, I called and asked of the status of the repair. The employees said that the owner has not been in the office and was in and out of the hospital and repair might not be finished until July 10th. On July 10th, I did not hear anything back from them so I called them up. One of the employees said that the truck was still being worked on. I drove to carpro and spoke to the owner directly. He apologized, said that the work was taking longer than expected and he agreed to have truck ready on July 13. On July 13th, I called Carpro and asked the status. They said it was 'ready' and that I can pick it up. So after work, I picked it up and drove it home. The truck still had the same problems. I drove it back to the shop on July 14th.
The owner said the problem with the truck is further in my engine and would require more work. He said that if I leave it with him on July 15th, he would work the 15th, 16th and have it ready on the 17th. He apologized for the lack of communication. On the 18th, I called and asked for the status of it, the employees said the owner was not in the office for the day. I asked the employee if the truck had been worked on, the employee said no. When I called back 3 hours later, they said it was worked on and the employee just didnt know..
On the 19th, I called and the owner picked up the phone. He said that he was waiting for a tool to get deeper into the engine. He said Nissan engines were harder to work on. I asked him "If you knew you needed this tool, why are you telling me this on the 19th from me calling you? Why aren't you making efforts to call me" He apologized. I asked him for the name of the specific tool he was trying to get. He didn't know the name of it. After a couple hours, I called him and we agreed that I'd get my truck back to original and he'd refund me the money.
On the 20th, I picked up my truck, my refund and I now have to start the whole repair process over with another mechanic.
I've burnt over $700 in rental fees. I've inconvenienced friends for 'drop offs' at the place expecting to pick up the truck. And now after examining my truck, I noticed a scrape mark on my front right bumper. So in other words, I left carpro in worth shape than when I started. My co-worker is ashamed by even giving me that referral.
Throughout the 20 days the truck was with Carpro, they have not made 1 outbound call to me. All communication has been initiated by me when they did not meet their own estimations.
Horrible horrible service. If I had the time, I would consider a small claims court suit against them to recoup my rental car fees, the damage to my bumper and punitive charges. I will be reporting them to the BBB.
Horrible.
