When we moved to Gwinnett County in 2016, the first thing we did was look for a good auto repair shop nearby. After reading the glowing reviews for Hedrick's Automotive Repair, we took both of our Hondas there whenever we had an issue.
The service we received was always honest and reasonably priced, and if there was something going on with our car that they could not handle or repair, they were upfront in saying, "Dealership has to fix this one."
My expeirence only: I've dealt with 'Gary' (I believe that's his name) who does the intake about your car, his sour attitude, his one word answers, his refusal to even look at you, because the mechanics there do great work, period. And, he was great explaining to me, when the computer components in my Honda started going out one by one, that they'd love to be able to repair it, but it's proprietary systems owned by Honda, so I'd have to take it to a dealership to get it fixed.
I appreciated that honesty. But the last time I took my car there a month or so ago, his dismissive attitude with me, in front of other customers was uncalled for and unwarranted.
For six months, I've experienced this smell in my car and outside of my car, after driving it for 40 minutes or so. It smelled like electrical wires burning. I could still drive it with no issues, or warning lights coming on, but it bothered me.
As 'Gary' grunted his yes, no, answers to me when I dropped the car off, I felt sure the mechanics and/or Gary would check everything, etc.
He called me and said he could not recreate the smell and that nothing was wrong with my car.
Okay. He never told me what systems they checked, whether he checked the spark plugs, etc. Just told me "nothing is wrong."
When I went to pick up the car, I said, "Good morning, how are you?" His dour "fine" came without even looking at me.
I said, "So why am I smelling this electrical burning smell in my car, if nothing is wrong with it? Is that just normal? It doesn't seem normal to me."
"If I am driving around and I start smelling it again, should I just call right then and bring it in?"
He was so condesencing with his angry reply: "There's nothing wrong with your car. We checked everything, so unless you have a piece of plastic shoved up your tailpipe, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR CAR."
????
Wow. Really? That's how you talk to repeat cusotmers, or is it just female customers??
I didn't even know how to respond to him. I have high blood pressure anyway, and I so wanted to rip him another one, but I refrained.
What's worse? There's another customer standing there, while he's angrily ranting to me. Nice.
My reply to him was "Okay"
I went to pay, and I mistakenly gave him a credit card that was expired and I didn't realize it had expired, as I hardly use it, unless it's used for car repairs, etc.
He had to loudly proclaim, with the other customer right behind me, "THIS ONE DOESN'T WORK. IT REJECTED THE PAYMENT"
Wow, why don't you just take a bullhorn and yell it outside, so all of Lawrenceville can hear!
I quickly found the new card which I had, and paid my bill. So, yes, Hedrick's has very good and honest mechanics, but it's not worth dealing with "Mister Sunshine" up front, at least for me.
If you don't like talking to your customers, or being the least bit personable to them, since you are the first point of contact for them, then you should invest in hiring an intake/receptionist employee who is a "people person." Nobody needs to put up with an angry individual, or someone who just doesn't like people, period, when you are paying them to diagnose and fix your car.
My opinion and impression, only.
So, I selected another auto repair shop in the area, for a second opinion concerning my car and the burning electrical smell. Oddly, I wasn't treated as if I were dumb or that I was making up the smell, and, guess what? It was something simple that was causing the burning smell and was fixed pretty easily.
We will be taking our Hondas there from now on.
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