Affordable Auto Repair Crooked Mechanic/Owner Gaylord, Michigan

I've had work done by Pat and his crew many times over 4 years. On 2 different vehicles. I've gotten to know the owners pretty well, and have nothing but respect for the way they conduct business. I've dealt with countless repair shops/dealerships over my 60 years, and this is one of the best I've found for value and (most importantly) doing the job right the first time. Sure, I understand that even the very best can make mistakes, and Pat will be the first to tell you that. That's what bugs me about this complaint.

It's very hard to believe that a staff as experienced as Pat's would not be able to find a blown head gasket after TWO visits - especially when the customer stated the engine was overheating. Not hard to discover at all - a simple compression check and coolant leak-down test will reveal that in no time. Unfortunately, by the time the engine overheats your aluminum head is most likely warped anyway. So, don't blame the mechanic for that.

Pat does stand behind his work, ask the legions of local customers. You rarely find those customers on complaint websites, though. So, I'm just kicking in my 2-cents to help provide a larger picture. I do understand your frustration, but it seems like something is missing here. Man, woman, or child - Pat just doesn't treat people like you describe. BTW, the fact that you talked to "a guy who used to work there" is completely irrelevant to your case. Some readers want facts, not heresay.

Next time I visit Affordable, I'll let him know about this complaint - I hope he weighs in with his version of the story. I think the readers will appreciate that. Until then, I can definitely confirm that Affordable Auto has ONE satisfied customer.

To this gentleman that posted this on your last comment...

So are you saying you were a mechanic at this shop and this is how you know so much about what he does? I am just interested in knowing because now your snyde comments make sense, a disgruntled ex employee?

Sorry you had a bad experience or were fired from this facility but this site is to post honest situations.

Sorry you have mistaken information- like I said I came across this post and dont like to see slander when I feel differently about this business. I was clearly just giving my experience at this shop so people know, there are definetley satisfied customers, and my husband and I are one of them.

And to your allegations that I am the owner because I know their policies: We have been customers for more than 8 years and on every receipt we recieve it states their warranty policy.

We have also gotten to know the owners very well, and I am quite sure if Pat knew this post was on here he would voice his opinion himself, that is just the type of business owner he is. And I am pretty sure he voiced his opinion to a previous post a few years back on this site and listed himself as owner- so there is no need for you to justify why a satisfied customer would comment.

Its kind of funny your remarks to this review/ complaint. It certainly sounds like you are the owners wife. You seem to know a lot about the companys policies. Actually I was a mechanic, and they never offered a shop car, even after they delayed the repairs 1 and then 2 days. You are full of crap, and you are obviously the owner of this company. You evidently did not read the disclosure on this website.
 
Either way, I understand the parts warranty. But he new, and he new that I new the thermostat was not the problem. He could just use that excuse to not warranty his work. I have lived in this town my entire life. I know a lot of people, and I will tell everyone I know about this experience.
 
This Pat guy showed no respect on the phone. He felt threatened as soon as I explained to him who I was, without even explaining anything yet. I just wanted to here the issue with the car, and he felt that I had no authorization about asking any questions to him. This felt very welcoming to Affordable Auto Repair.
 
Its funny that the other review on here explains almost the same thing, however it sounded like you guys purposely savataged that guys car. Moral of this story is, we paid to fix the car. The car did the same thing EXACTLY. We bought the parts from you that you said would fix the car. We paid you $650 to fix it. The thermostat we brought you was $8, and you said it would be $100 to replace that part again. We did replace it and it didnt work like you said it would. The dealer diagnosed the issue and it was the issue that we told you it was and you said it wasnt. Then when I called you out on it, you agreed that your repairs may or may not fix the issue. I am sorry but that is an expensive maybe.   
 
You should have righted this. We paid you and held up our side of the bargain, it was your part to offer your services and fix the issue, and you did not.  
 

I came across this post and felt obligated to reply. I have been a customer of Affordable Auto's for 8 years. I am a woman and have never been taken advantage of at this auto repair facility. It is a wife and husband who own this shop, and who have always worked very hard to have my husband and I's vehicles taken care whenever they were in need of repair.

I also know their policy when you bring in your own or used part. The part is NOT covered under warranty. Obviously if a customer brings the part themselves they cant gaurantee it wont be defective, therefore it cant be covered. They do offer a 12 month 12000 mile warranty on all parts and labor when they get the part for you- maybe you should have considered that-

And from our experience with Affordable Auto, they have always gone above and beyond to give us great customer service. Even when my vehicle wasnt going to be done in time for me to get to an appointment, they offered me to borrow their shop vehicle in order to get where i needed to go.

These owners are NOT crooks- they are good, hardworking business owners that had a bad customer who decided to take his problem out online instead of in the shop. I dont think they would still be in business after 10+ years if they were in it to rip people off.

And obviously the person who posted this is not much of a mechanic to speak of how little someone else knows if you havnt found or fixed your problem yet.