Growing up I never knew the horrors of auto repair. When I was young, my uncle was a mechanic and he took care of our family vehicles. He passed away before I got my first car, but my parents found another mechanic who always took good care of us. He became a family friend, and was even a guest at my wedding. The first time I needed a mechanic after moving to Philly I asked everyone I knew if they
had a good mechanic they could send me to. I got the same answer over and over: "I've got a guy I use, but I wouldn't recommend him." Being so unhappy with your mechanic that you won't send a friend there, but still going back yourself because there is no better option. After living here a few years I still hadn't found a decent mechanic, and I hadn't found a job I was happy with either. One day after coming home frustrated from a job I hated my wife told me I either had to stop complaining about my job or find one that made me happy. "What do you WANT to do?" she asked me. A few weeks later I was enrolled in an automotive technology program.
2 years later I graduated at the top of my class with a 4.0GPA and perfect attendance awards. After working at a dealership and a franchise shop over the next few years I realized if I wanted to be the kind of mechanic I would go to, I needed to do it on my own. My bosses didn't always like my philosophies of auto repair. I believe if you take good care of a customer, do the work they need at a fair price, and keep them well informed they will come back year after year. I think its a better way to build a business than trying to sell work they don't need so you can make as much money as possible because they won't come back again. So I set off and opened my own little shop where I could do things the right way. I may not be the fastest or the cheapest, my hours are a bit quirky because I work alone, and I don't have a fancy waiting room or giant facility, but I'll never try to sell you something you don't need. I'll make sure you understand whats going on with your car. Maybe some day I'll build enough customers over time that we'll laugh about when you first brought your car to me in this tiny shop. Maybe some day you'll invite me to your wedding. Maybe not, maybe I'll always be the honest guy in the little shop that takes good care of your car. One thing is for sure though, never again will you say "I've got a guy, but I wouldn't recommend him." Instead you'll say "Yeah I know someone, My buddy is a mechanic."
