Ted & Al`s / Automotive Clinic / Point Richmond, California
Rating: ★★★
7 years in Business
Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Automobile Diagnostic Service
Address: 2035 Divisadero St, Point-Richmond
Postal code: 94115
Phone: (415) 563-2915
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With over 50 years of experience, you can count on Midas to help keep your car safely on the road. While it`s true today`s cars are more complex than ever, Midas service technicians have the expertise your vehicle demands. You can rely on us for preventive vehicle maintenance, exhaust & suspension services, climate control repair, oil and filter changes, tires, alignments, engine tune-ups - you name it, we can handle it! Most importantly, you count on us for superior brake service. After all, Midas is North America`s brake service leader. Our work is guaranteed across America in over 1,600 shops (see your Midas manager for details).
Categories:
Automobile Diagnostic Service, Automobile Inspection Stations & Services, Auto Repair & Service, Auto Transmission, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Tire Dealers
Services/Product offered:
Transmissions
Neighborhoods:
Pacific Heights, North San Francisco
Open hours:
No info
Extra phones:
(415) 563-2915(624 Stanyan (Between Oak & Page): (415) 668-3315
Reviews:
Was buying a car advertised as ""by owner"" on Craiglist
This is not about a repair or smog test but a car that was sold (advertised as a private sale on craigslist) by what seems to be one of their employees (my impression was that it was sold by the shop, at the shop).
I was looking for used car on Craigslist, and found this low-mileage one in ""Cars & Trucks - by owner"" for a pretty good price. I called the contact (""Aaron"" as far as I remember), he asked whic... view moreh car I am looking for?ˆ¦ weird, there`s probably very few people selling multiple cars privately. Oh well, he told me to come to 2035 Divisadero the next day at 11 - no mention of a commercial sale or the car being sold by a shop.
I try calling twice the next day to tell him I am about to stop by but no answer. Once I get there, there`s the ""Automotive Clinic"" at that address. There are already two people lined up but no sign of the car. Two minutes later the car pulls up, someone is already test-driving it. So they`ve arranged for 4 people to show up within a ten minute time-frame, makes for a nice high-pressure sales environment (the price was good, so that may be solely due to lots of interest but it happens to be a nice sales tactic - I have no insight so I don`t claim this was on purpose). By now it`s clear that this is not a private sale though. The person who is showing the car is nice and says hi to everyone. They talk to the person behind the desk who seems to run the place, ""Harry"" as far as I remember, and ask the person who was test-driving if he wants to buy it, the price is firm, the car had repairs for $2000 worth and so on (and well, there`s three people lined up behind him ready to test-drive, which ""Aaron"" made clear by asking who`s next). The first person agrees to buy it.
Well, I am curious now. I am asking whether this is a private sale/sale by owner as nice as I can - since that was where it was posted on CL. I had doubts but if this is his car and in good shape, I considered to bid a little more than the first guy. I get no reply, so I try to ask again. This time ""Aaron"" replies, ""you know what, I don`t have to tell you anything"" and his attitude and voice quickly changes. I guess he`s right, they have a buyer already, why bother with. Then I ask him why he won`t answer and he replies, ""I don`t have to talk to you, I am busy"" as he pulls the car into the shop. Well, I am sure he is busy, but he had time just five minutes when he was still trying to sell the car.
That`s my account of my experience. I surely won`t ever have anything repaired with them, _ever_.
I was looking for used car on Craigslist, and found this low-mileage one in ""Cars & Trucks - by owner"" for a pretty good price. I called the contact (""Aaron"" as far as I remember), he asked whic... view moreh car I am looking for?ˆ¦ weird, there`s probably very few people selling multiple cars privately. Oh well, he told me to come to 2035 Divisadero the next day at 11 - no mention of a commercial sale or the car being sold by a shop.
I try calling twice the next day to tell him I am about to stop by but no answer. Once I get there, there`s the ""Automotive Clinic"" at that address. There are already two people lined up but no sign of the car. Two minutes later the car pulls up, someone is already test-driving it. So they`ve arranged for 4 people to show up within a ten minute time-frame, makes for a nice high-pressure sales environment (the price was good, so that may be solely due to lots of interest but it happens to be a nice sales tactic - I have no insight so I don`t claim this was on purpose). By now it`s clear that this is not a private sale though. The person who is showing the car is nice and says hi to everyone. They talk to the person behind the desk who seems to run the place, ""Harry"" as far as I remember, and ask the person who was test-driving if he wants to buy it, the price is firm, the car had repairs for $2000 worth and so on (and well, there`s three people lined up behind him ready to test-drive, which ""Aaron"" made clear by asking who`s next). The first person agrees to buy it.
Well, I am curious now. I am asking whether this is a private sale/sale by owner as nice as I can - since that was where it was posted on CL. I had doubts but if this is his car and in good shape, I considered to bid a little more than the first guy. I get no reply, so I try to ask again. This time ""Aaron"" replies, ""you know what, I don`t have to tell you anything"" and his attitude and voice quickly changes. I guess he`s right, they have a buyer already, why bother with. Then I ask him why he won`t answer and he replies, ""I don`t have to talk to you, I am busy"" as he pulls the car into the shop. Well, I am sure he is busy, but he had time just five minutes when he was still trying to sell the car.
That`s my account of my experience. I surely won`t ever have anything repaired with them, _ever_.
mgeral / 4/5/2011
Negligent
I was towed to Automotive Clinic after my fuel pump stopped working. The mechanics fixed the car and returned it to me 2 days later. The next morning I filled my tank and upon returning home noticed that gas was pouring out of the bottom of the car. After calling the fire department, I called Larry at the Automotive Clinic, he said he would send a tow truck. The tow truck arrived 20 min later without any of the n... view moreecessary tools and had to return to the shop to retrieve tools necessary to remove the remaining gas from the tank.
When we finally reached the shop, Larry was disingenuous in his apology and refused to accept responsibility. As it turned out, the fuel pump that was installed had a very large fracture in it near the top (why it did not start leaking until the tank was filled). Whether or not the break occurred at the shop, at the Volkswagen supplier, or en route is unknown, what is known is that the mechanic installed a part with a significant fracture in it as though he did not inspect it at all before installing.
Larry said he would investigate the issue with the Volkswagen supplier and get back to me. After two and a half months, I called Larry to get an update, he said that Volkswagen refunded him the cost of the part, implying that Automotive bore no responsibility. He did not provide any documentation of his interaction with Volkswagen, instead claimed that Volkswagen does not document warranty claims. I do not believe that.
In Automotive Clinic`s defense, they replaced the fuel pump and the new pump is working fine. No refund was offered, no guarantee that mechanics will inspect future parts was made, and only a half hearted apology was given. The mechanic should have inspected the part, the tow truck should have had the proper tools, Larry should have contacted me regarding his exchange with Volkswagen, and he certainly should have been more apologetic for turning the car into a bomb.
When we finally reached the shop, Larry was disingenuous in his apology and refused to accept responsibility. As it turned out, the fuel pump that was installed had a very large fracture in it near the top (why it did not start leaking until the tank was filled). Whether or not the break occurred at the shop, at the Volkswagen supplier, or en route is unknown, what is known is that the mechanic installed a part with a significant fracture in it as though he did not inspect it at all before installing.
Larry said he would investigate the issue with the Volkswagen supplier and get back to me. After two and a half months, I called Larry to get an update, he said that Volkswagen refunded him the cost of the part, implying that Automotive bore no responsibility. He did not provide any documentation of his interaction with Volkswagen, instead claimed that Volkswagen does not document warranty claims. I do not believe that.
In Automotive Clinic`s defense, they replaced the fuel pump and the new pump is working fine. No refund was offered, no guarantee that mechanics will inspect future parts was made, and only a half hearted apology was given. The mechanic should have inspected the part, the tow truck should have had the proper tools, Larry should have contacted me regarding his exchange with Volkswagen, and he certainly should have been more apologetic for turning the car into a bomb.
WiFa / 2/6/2009
Class Act
Larry at the Automotive Clinic is a class act. My car was towed there because it was close to where it broke down. He took a look at it and didn`t charge me when I had it towed to our regular mechanic. He was extremely courteous and professional. Every customer left there with a grateful smile.
cathyanneliu / 2/29/2008
VP
A great place to have any auto work done. Reliable, guaranteed and no unnecessary work done that is not needed.
Best auto shop I have even been to!
badeck / 2/27/2003
2002 jeep wrangler sport 4x4
2008 ford mustang roush speedster
2007 ferrari f430 spider
1955 ford thunderbird
1981 chevrolet corvette
Clean