This shop will charge you for everything, even for gasoline to test drive the car. And they charge big bucks for this area. Actually being from California I think I can safely say they charge big bucks for Any Area. in fact on average They charge 30 dollars an hour more then almost every shop in the area and they take what I am averaging to be about 30 -50 percent longer to do each repair. They even charge 80 dollars for a 5 miles tow when that is not what the drivers charge. They make money on everything even if they do not have there hand in it. If you take your car in for work and they suggest you get new tires they even take a cut on that. even though they do not do any of the tire work themselves. They are more interested in keeping things local then saving there customer money or even fixing the vehicle if the parts can not obtain locally.
My actual experience with them is much more of a nightmare then being overcharged . My story starts back at the end of May. Now that we are mid way into November I have not driven my car for 5 months. So far my Cost has been over 5 thousand dollars. The car still does not run and had to be towed to another shop last week. The shop it ended up at found some of the real problems in under 3 hours and told me even the most basic diagnostics had obviously not run on my car ever. Total misdiagnosis from OM and excuse after excuse combine with a total lack of communication were my experience with OM. I was lied to and strung along the entire time. One of the not Critical repairs I authorized them to do was to replaced my A/C compressor a 1,000 dollar part. at least that is what they charged me for it, I found the compressor a few weeks later on the internet for under 700 dollars. But whats worse? my A/C still does not work because the connecting valves were not replaced and now they claim they can not get the parts for the compressor they ordered. At one point I had to find parts for them, and they never ordered them, they just kept putting the car on the side of the shop waiting for me to give up I think. Every single system they fixed lasted less then 100 miles. In 5 months I have put less then 300 total miles on this car, spent over 5,000 dollars, and gone for over a week without them returning my phone calls. Worst possible experience I have ever had with a repair shop, or with customer relations.
Also I recommend asking them what makes them "Organic" and determine for yourself if its worth an extra 30 dollars an hour. Organic and Green are terms that are used to give a certain demographic of people and warm and fuzzy feeling inside. And that is fine if that is worth the extra money to you. But I encourage you to ask them what is Organic about there shop, when I found out I was very surprised. Worst Possible experience ever.
I had my van towed there to check the fuel pump. Had to pay $84 for a complete diagnostic of the whole car. I was given an estimate for replacement of the fuel pump at over $900.00 and recommendation of replacing front brakes and rotors for close to $500.00. I called several other garages, and found I could get the same work done for less than half the price at all of them. I told Organic Mechanic that I would be taking the van elsewhere for the repairs. The staff was extremely nice and informative up until I paid the $84.00 for the diagnostic, however not one of the mechanics or office staff lifted a finger to help us push the van onto the tow truck. I can't imagine there are no gentlemen there, so they must have been specifically told to keep working and allow a woman to push a van as they watched. Luckily it was not difficult and we proceeded off the lot. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to pay twice as much as any other garage charges, and will not disagree with the proposed work or rates.
This place may be great but just like anything else in this "green" revolution it is way to expensive. I couldn't believe the estimate they gave me I thought it was a joke. Also I called about my rotors and they gave me a page long list of random other things.
0