Have you ever gotten a quote from a mechanic only to find out that they've somehow managed to tack on an extra $25, $50, or even $100 or more?? I sure have : /. Well, have you ever had a mechanic give you a quote only to take it down to a third of the original quote after test driving your car? Me either! Until this week, that is!
I took my car to ZRT and got a quote from the front desk guy, Roberto, who was extremely nice and knowledgeable. I just knew I was in for it before I even walked through the door. My car was bouncy so I automatically thought suspension, I knew it was time for an oil change and an alignment, and I was praying it was time for a rotation, as opposed to a tire change. Well, I go in and Roberto kindly checks my car at my request, although that's not really his job. He looks at my tires and says nope, no new tires needed, just a rotation :). He also says I may be right about the whole suspension thing after all. Before I leave, he gives me a verbal estimate and I request the he write it down since I was planning to price shop. He kindly agrees and takes the time to carefully write out AND explain in detail what is likely a must AND what could possibly come up and result in an extra $20. Honesty in a mechanic's shop?! What?!
So I take my little post-it estimate and come back a couple days later to drop off my car. The mechanic drives it and comes back to inform me that it's not the shocks, just a warped tire that should fix itself with a rotation. Well, what does that mean?? I now only have to pay 1/3 of my original estimate! Thank you GOD!! So, Roberto carefully explains the final quote AND the reason for the changes. The mechanic himself even comes in and explains what he notices while driving my car before Roberto does my quote. I pick up my car later that afternoon and drive happy :)
I think I just found a reliable, trustworthy car shop. Ahhhh, God is good. :).
Notes:
Roberto is bilingual
mechanic may or may not be
detailers, I believe, are monolingual
Detailing update -- Super cheap,but the products are overly harsh on your interior. 3 stars for that, but 5 stars for the elbow grease they put in and the good customer service. Just be careful with them cleaning your vinyl and dashboard display. Whatever they clean with stripped some numbers off of my A/C controls
Update: They actually made a personal call to me a month or two ago to thank me for choosing them and took the time to see how things had progressed. Awesome! read more