A-Z Auto Center

11/21/09

Excellent Service

by GeeAl at Citysearch

My car, a 1997 Toyota Camry, was "repaired" over the Fourth of July weekend at a local repair shop. The "Check Engine" light was on. A-Z was closed and I had to drive the car over the weekend. The repairs at the local repair shop cost me $2088. Also the mechanic told me I had to return after he returned from vacation because there was a leak in my transmission and would either have to get a new transmission, have it rebuilt, or have it sealed. I opted for the cheapest and said I would return when he got back from vacation..

I was a little concerned that I had been taken advantage of, so on the Monday following the weekend I went to see Lee at A-Z. He told me my car "repair" was the worst case of fraud he had ever seen. In fact, of the $2088, he said about $100 worth of work had been done on the car. He said the car needed only about $300 worth of work, that the transmission was not leaking and did not need any repair.

He suggested I call my credit card to cancel the first charge and agreed to take photographs of the car that would indicate the original "repairs" had not been done. I did that and before the original mechanic was notified, he returned from his vacation and telephoned me to tell me I should bring my car in for the transmission repair, because he had told me it would only run for about three more weeks and we were coming up on that. I then told him I was disputing the charges.

To make a long story short, after an exchange of letters and photographs with my credit card company, with Lee's help at every step, my card was not charged. I thought that was the end of it, but after the credit card company settled the matter, the mechanic from the first repair shop telephoned me and told me I should "do the right thing" and pay him for the work he did and the parts he purchased. He said he had the receipts for the parts he installed. I asked him to send them to me. When he did, I took them to Lee, who reviewed them and suggested one had been doctored. He suggested I contact the wholesaler where the parts had been purchased, Atlantic Toyota, to see if I could verify the receipts. I did contact Atlantic and they immediately verified that the receipt indicating a part that the first mechanic said cost about $350 was forged or altered. They confirmed that the part had never been purchased from them by my original "repair" shop. In fact, they said the part "retailed" at $108. They were as helpful as A-Z in that they expressed their disappointment in the fact that shops like the one I went to originally gave the whole industry a bad name and they indicated they would not do business with the first repair shop in the future.

I don't know why a person who had lost his case with the credit card company would pursue the matter with a forged receipt, but without Lee's knowledge and cooperation, I would never have even thought to question the involces. So I guess I'll continue to have by car fixed at A-Z and buy the next one at Atlantic Toyota!!!! and if you go to any other shop to have your car fixed, make sure you ask to see the invoice for the cost of the parts -- and then check it with the parts supplier!!!!!

• Pros: Helpful and Honest

05/24/09

My car looks better than it did when I first got it

by ryanjgriffin at Citysearch

I had an excellent experience with this place, overall. I would recommend it to anyone needing body work.

• Pros: Accomodating service/staff, excellent quality of work, fast
• Cons: Parking can be scary, and deter people

05/12/09

Overall good experience at A-Z.

by etempesta at Citysearch

They were very accommodating, helping to negotiate with my insurance company and trying to meet a deadline so I could have my car back in time for the weekend.

I would definitely go to this shop again!

• Pros: Great Service!