Unfortunately Yelp wont let me place two reviews, however i feel it necessary to leave this update:
I recently contracted West Side Auto Pros via AAA to transport my vehicle across town. Unfortunately, the vehicle was not placed in the correct location. I find it only fair that if i contract someone to do something, and they fail to do this activity, i should not have to pay for this activity. It would seem Ron has different thoughts. After discussions with both AAA and Ron Haugen, owner of Westside, it would seem I am still on the hook for a $60 tow that left my vehicle on the wrong street of East Des Moines. In attempting to try to allow Westside to make this right, initially Ron said they when he sent someone by to review or recover the vehicle it was already in the right location. When I informed him my mechanic had already moved the vehicle he seemed to imply that I was not being truthful. When I told him I have security footage of the drop location and NO car in it, he told me that I would have to followup with AAA.
Under no circumstances will I be allowing Westside to touch any of my vehicles again. Additionally, I will certainly find it difficult to attend any WDSM Cars & Coffee events with any positivity.
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Very disappointed with Westside lately. Previously i was able to call in a receive a quote for a specific job over the phone, however the last few times I have called in I have met with unreliable results. At times I've been told they will call me back, other times I have been told flat out that they refuse to provide any quotes on the phone. They seem to now require to have the vehicle in their hands, however my car currently does not run and i cannot afford to have it towed around to every shop for a quote. Additionally, they refuse to provide me with any shop rates, stating that it 'depends'.
This can be very frustrating given that i know my vehicles, and their issues. I know Westside is able to type the car into their computer system and the job that i am asking to quote and at least return to me with a ballpark figure. I wasnt asking for any dianostics, I simply needed to know how much a water pump costs to replace, I'm fully aware that any other issues found and repaired would change the quote. This is how every shop I have ever went to previously has operated. All requests to Westside for even a ballpark quote were met with resistance and refusal. Even in asking my friends who own shops in other cities and states, they A. Gave me a quote because their business is operated off helping people and B. said this shop that refused to provide transparency was likely shady.
Westside Auto Pro's lack of cooperation with my situation seems to indicate that they are involved in questionable business and billing practices. Unfortunately I cannot support any business that refuses to support transparent billing and business practices. This shop has been a go-to for many and a reliable contributor to the local Des Moines car enthusiast scene for years, which is what makes this so difficult to write. read more