34th Street Garage
Seattle, WA 98199-3204
Phone: (206) 283-3448
05/21/2008 Posted by johnnali
I decided to take my car to 34th Street to get my oil changed to support the smaller local business. I usually go to Carters in Ballard to get my car serviced and I have always had a good experience, but I was enticed by a coupon to 34th Street and decided to try the little guy. I made a morning appointment a week in advance, hoping I could drop my car off and work on my laptop from the nearby Starbucks for the hour or so I assumed it would take to get my oil changed. Upon dropping off my car at 8:00a.m. the owner told me I could pick my car up at Noon, I was surprised but guess it was my fault for not asking how long it would take. He told me he would call when the car was ready, well 12:30 rolled around and no call. So I called him, he told me that the car would not be ready until around 2-3p.m. because he did not have the correct oil filter for my car. But I told him the specifications of my car when I made the appointment and my car is a 2006 VW, nothing special or unique. So finally the car was down at about 3p.m.. The $28.99 oil change special with free tire rotation turned into a $50.00 service. Apparently VWs use more oil than other cars, so I paid $10 extra there, disposal fee was about $5, plus tax equals way more than I expected. No wash, no vacuum, and the worst part he told me he rotated my tires and he DIDN’T! I know because I had a mark on my front driver side tire that was still on my front driver side tire when I got home. I would rather spend $60 at Carters and get the services I am promised, plus I get a free loaner car there. Also, the owner seriously lacks customer service skills. First I thought he just had a dry sense of humor so I tried to play along but turns out he is just rude. I thought maybe his rudeness was a trade of for being an exceptional trustworthy mechanic so I let that slide too. But after leaving I realized he is just a rude untrustworthy mechanic. I’m going back to Carters where they treat me with respect and honesty.
Pros: close to my house
Cons: Didn’t provide the promised services, rude, didn’t have courtesy to call and tell me the car would not be ready when promised
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