I needed a few things done to my car including getting it inspected. It was going to be my first time using a general mechanic since I moved to Brooklyn so I did what everybody does...I went to the internet. That's when I came across Holy Land Auto Repair. What stood out for me were the dozens of glowing reviews. There was one review written about 4 years ago where the writer said that he got a ticket after Holy Land parked his car, which was repaired and the review was very satisfied, and that Holy Land reimbursed him! After that review and many others I figured that all of those reviewers cannot be wrong so I was all in.
I took my car there on Tuesday June 4 2012 with a list of about 10 things that I wanted to get done, the most important of which was getting my car (2002 Ford Focus) inspected and fixing my A/C. Also on my list was the problem that I have with the ignition cylinder which requires me to tap the key with a rubber mallet in order to be able to turn the key.
I dropped my car off at 8 am sharp and Joe called me at ten past 9 (I just checked my cell phone to confirm the time) to explain that he would need to replace my driver's side mirror assembly in order for me to pass the inspection. I gave him the go-ahead and spoke to him about some other things (I also told him how I found about him and his impecible reputation) and he called me back at 11:47 and gave me the ""damage."" Changing the air filter, oil filter, fule filter, replacing the mirror assembly with a brand new one and the inspection was going to cost about $280. I reminded him about the A/C and he said that he was going to check it out and call me back.
You see, I went to Jiffy Lube back in late spring 2010 and they charged it and disclaimed any and all responsibility if it stopped working. I told Joe about this and he tested and charged my A/C and told me that it held pressure and he did not see a leak but to be sure, he put a dye in the A/C and told me to bring it back if it stopped working and if there was a leak he would be able to see it by way of the dye escaping.
The total bill, including taxes, was $378! As far as I'm concerned that was a bargain for two reasons: first, Joe was informative and responsive and explained what he was going to do and why he felt it needed to be done. Second, there were other things that I thought needed to be fixed and he thought that it could wait. I don't think that another mechanic would do that. I believed that he saved me some money and plan to go back there later this summer to have the arm rest and the ignition cylinder replaced. I brought a blower resistor to Joe because the switch on my fan only worked on 4 and when I turned the selector to 1, 2 or 3 there was nothing. He didn't have to use that part that I brough and I'm sure that he took a small loss in not buying the part himself.
I spoke to him that afternoon and told him about the glowing reviews; he seemed humbled but professed his desire to deliver superior service with the knowledge that that would bring in other customers. He's right. I bought my car used in 2004 and plan to keep it until 2014 - ten damn years! And if I am going to do that, I'll be bringing my car to Joe!
Thank you, Joe!
Andre
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