A & L Automotive

Ralph (the owner and manager) is a very poor business man and his customer service skills are sorely lacking. He failed to provide me with an itemized receipt for a repair he performed. When I requested an itemized receipt he made one up without regard to the actual numbers (See Below). There was a difference of more than $ 50 and I knew that he had charged me for an emissions inspection I had already paid for elsewhere (and thus didn’t need).
Additionally, when I showed up to pick up my vehicle — after it had been at his shop for 2 weeks — the engine cowling cover was completely unreinstalled in my E150 and my parking brake was broken (which I did not notice until after I had left). He jammed the cowling back on while I waited (incorrectly I might add) and broke a small piece off in the process.
I brought the van back to him a month later to point out the broken hood latch and again request an itemized receipt (which he then gave me as referenced above) as well as repair of my hood release latch. He first denied he broke it and then said that if it did break while in his care it was because it was old (this may be) and he wasn’t responsible for it.
He also told me that he had fixed my fuel regulator sensor — a $ 2 – 300 repair, that he would not take payment for (apparently because he felt I had maligned his honor with regard to the hood release). Good thing too, as it turned out he actually hadn’t replaced the sensor, but instead just did something to get the Service Engine Soon notice light to turn off.
After some bickering, and an agreement that he could fix the latch for less than $ 50 when I next brought the van in, I got in my car and left. While driving away I discovered that my radio wouldn’t work. I went back in anf told him about this too. The respo se was the same. It turned out someone had turned the balance and fade to max and in this cofiguration no music could be heard. I also noticed that my tank was virtually on E, and I’m pretty sure I had AT LEAST a ¼ tank when I dropped it off (but pretty sure it was a ½).
This morning I dropped the van off for the hood release latch repair we previously disussed and all was apparently ok… I told him that I would need an itemized receipt for the work showing the break down of cost for time and materials, and he said ok. An hour ago I called him to find out if my car might be ready before the end of the day.
When Ralph answered the phone he said, «they» had sent him the wrong part, that he would not have it ready for me until tomorrow, and that I would need to come get it before the end of the day as I was a «hard case» and he wouldn’t let me leave it on his lot overnight. Note that he never made this plain to me beforehand or bothered to call me once it was clear he wasnt going to have my car doe today). That it would cost me extra time and money was of no concern to him and when I voiced this point he finally told me he would no longer work on my car.
Sooo… I take a $ 10 Über to get my car and guess what — he’s lost the key to my van and an hour later he still can’t find it!
A great mechanic? Not from what I’ve seen!
A HORRIBLE customer service experience — YES!

I’ve been doing to this place since I started driving, but even before that my father is one of his long time customers when he opened years ago.
Ralph is an honest man who is very dependable and as he says «if the doesn’t seem to have fixed the probem, bring it back.» By going to him I always save at least 40%, compared to other shops. He does most repair, except exterior body work, alignment, and new tires.
What I usually do is give him a call the day before and tell him what is going on and drop off the car before he closes or overnight in the drop box with a note. I leave him a list of what I need checked or fixed. I give him a call the next morning around 9 or 10 am to follow up. I count on him to always fix what is needed. Many times only 2 or 3 things need fixing or he tells me I can give the car more time on getting that fixed. He also let’s you bring your own parts, but he doesn’t give a waranty on outside parts. He is usually open M-​F 7am-​6pm and Sat 7am-​12pm. Sometimes it gets backed up, but that’s the reason I always call him to make sure he can get stuff done in my available schedule. He will only sell you what you need.