Do not get your car repaired here. Don't go to the Staples Mill Road store or the Nine Mile Road store. Anyone in the Richmond area with some sense will tell you that. I wish I had listened.
A simple oil change will turn in to new rotors, a new starter, anything costly. You will go to get one thing repaired, and one thing turn into 10 things. They have inexperienced mechanics who fight over money, and they will do anything to make a profit. The owner Jim promises discounts and markdowns but in all honesty he doesn't. They overcharge for labor and parts to make a profit. They have inexperienced mechanics. I had to fork over a little over $700.00 for a $200.00 job. I went for a replacement of my oxygen sensors. I asked for the price of the oxygen sensors and they marked up the price of the part by 110% when I said that I didn't want the work done there. I then had no choice but to let them fix my car.
So I go to pick my car up the next day (after I had to call several times to check the status of the repair, they will not call you) and the car wouldn't even start! The owner Jim kept blaming my brand new battery that I just replaced last month. The car turned on where the radio and lights worked so I knew it wasn't the battery. I called the police to file a report but they said that they couldn't file a report because it wasn't a criminal matter at the time. So I had to leave my car there for another day so they could add more charges to my bill.
The next day, I get a phone call from the owner saying had to fork over $700.00 for a new starter. Yesterday, he swore it was the battery but now he's saying it's the starter and that I needed a new one. My car started fine until these people started toying around with it. The only way to get my car from those crooked people is to just pay it and get out of dodge.
When I picked my car up, I overheard one of the mechanics talking on the phone with the owner who mysteriously wasn't there when I got there, telling him that he should get paid the most because he did the most work. I am reporting this place to a lawyer for an investigation.
The owner Jim and his company Standard Auto Center is a rip-off, he always says he's giving out discounts when in actuality he is not. They prey especially on women and foreigners. And when you show some type of knowledge or ask questions about your repairs, they feel threatened. Keep your car away from these people!
Almondz
Richmond, Virginia
U.S.A.