Skippack Automotive Inc

HORRIBLE experience!!! I was recommended by my original mechanic Dave’s garage who does not do inspections . to go to this place for my cars oil change and Inspection sticker . I scheduled the drop off day for today with Mike . He told me on the phone to try and drop the car off as close to 8am as possible. Today I arrived at 9:26am and the first thing Mike felt the need to say to me is that you were supposed to drop it off at 8am . With an attitude and blunt. I told him that it’s Monday morning I have kids that had to get to school I have a business that I needed to run and arrange a ride home from here because I’m leaving this car . And I’m here as close to 8am as I possibly can be. Anyway I proceed to tell him that I also need some additional small work done an oil change and to put a new set of rims on the car. That I have in the backseat ready to go . Mike becomes angry again bluntly showing his disappointment and anger . Then says to me sarcastically I wish you would’ve told me that when you booked your appointment. I said I’m sorry I haven’t drove the car in over a year and I Didn’t know it needed additional work until I drove it today. I proceeded to say it’s OK if you’re not done with the cars work today If you’re done in a few days or at the end of the week, it’s OK. Out of just nervousness of upsetting him . I felt like I was being shamed as a customer. Because I didn’t make the right appointment or something . it was my first time ever doing business with you guys . And it felt like there was a lot of tension between Mike and I. It was a very odd experience . anyway, I left my car and I went home. a few hours later Mike calls me angry again. It’s Catastrophe !! He makes everything a big deal. He’s In a panic basically saying. He tried to put these rims on and the lugs don’t fit. He said The rims don’t fit the car. you gave me rims that don’t fit the car. I can’t do it. As he’s saying this. , I recalled that those are the factory rims that I’m asking him to put back on the car and that I remember I do have another set of lugs that should fit those rims. He says you didn’t tell me that . He said How am I supposed to know that . !!! Mike keeps Arguing with me . And is to busy with his mis placed anger . Instead of trying to help me . At this point I told him to stop work on my car right away. Because I did not feel comfortable with this man working on my vehicle. Nor did I feel comfortable doing business with him. I went to pick up the car immediately . Upon pick Mike as usual has an attitude. I was polite and waited until he checked me out for the work that was completed . And then I politely told him I did appreciate how I was treated. And I explained why . He shook his head in agreement and said ( I can understand that) .( i can respect it ). Smh The point that I’m trying to make is that this guy is highly emotionally unstable. And that his high level of anger and disgust , they don’t have anything to do with me just trying to get an oil change and an inspection . There’s something deeper going on with this guy. As a business owner, I would never talk to my customers like that. If I felt like something that My customer was asking for, Was something that I needed more time to do . I would’ve simply just said hey we would have to make another appointment for that because I’m a little busy today. Which is understandable. But to constantly just tell me, I’m wrong . And I didn’t do this, and I didn’t do that . And argue with me . Dude relax . I could’ve simply Gave you the missing lugs. You could’ve simply just put on my rims. Did my oil change and my Inspection. And I would’ve been a happy customer. Who would’ve brought business to you for years to come . But instead, I will spend years telling people not to bring you business. Mike please work on your mental health because you’re confusing where the source of your aggression is.

We have been taking our cars to Bob at Skippack Automotive for years and have always had excellent service. Whether it is for an oil & filter change, inspection, or a more specific repair issue, Bob is always keeping an eye out for other services one may need. He'll tell you if something can wait to be done or should be addressed now. I have recommended Skippack Automotive to friends as I feel it is also important to support local / hometown businesses.

I do a lot of my own work on our cars but for inspections or jobs I can't or don't want to do we take our cars here. We have been using Bob's place since we moved into the area 8+ years ago. He is not cheap but he's fair. If you want the lowest price and a mechanic that will let your car's faults slide go elsewhere. If you want your car operating safely and well this is where to go.

I was so astounded by TOTAL lack of integrity, that it’s taken me a couple of weeks to decide to write this. People need to be aware, to protect themselves! This place is clean, the people are tidy and polite - VERY deceptive, indeed! Bob, the owner, tried to turn a simple belt replacement into a $1500 job! I don’t like being lied to, in decreasing increments, as he realized I wasn’t falling for his tricks. The worst part was, while I’m standing there, with my head under the hood, and he’s telling me that my water pump needed to be replaced because it was leaking - Btw, my water pump was not leaking prior to it’s arrival there, was not leaking there, and is STILL not leaking! My head gasket is also fine, and - although he swore the car was ‘missing’ when he called me, that must’ve magically disappeared in the 10-15 minutes it took me to get back there to get my car. I was recommended by a business associate of his, told him up front that I am the daughter of a REAL mechanic (Dad passed away, which is why I’m seeking a reliable, HONEST mechanic), and that I grew up around all sorts of engines. I did everything short of telling him NOT to try and fleece me, but I guess being female makes it an automatic that people like this will try to rip you off. Btw, I ended up paying $100 for a $15 dollar belt (Bob said the belt was $15, then changed it to $27) + their ‘diagnostic’ time - huh??? Making up a bunch of lies about a persons’ car is NOT diagnosing anything!!! Shameful, dishonest behavior, at best. Absolutely disgusted!

UPDATED REVIEW I no longer can recommend Skippack Automotive. I dropped off my truck for state inspection after first having gone over it myself. (I am a licensed state inspector myself, have been an ASE certified master technician, and have manufacturer certifications, but am not currently working at an inspection station.) Bob called telling me they were failing it for too much play in the pitman arm. When I checked it myself, it was marginal, but I was okay with replacing it. Bob also wanted to replace the idler arm while he was at it, and also tried to upsell a fuel filter, saying that the existing one was looking like it had been there a while, and looking for permission to look into noise from the transfer case. I was interested only in the pitman and idler arms, but unfortunately he wanted way too much for the work and I've done this job many times myself working for a nearby dealership. So I picked up the truck and drove it home. When I got the truck home, only about 5 miles away, and pulled the front wheels, I found that the outer CV joint boot on the left-front axle was cut by the small band and there was CV grease around the tire, wheel well, and suspension arms. This area was clean before I took the truck to Skippack for inspection. Bob had mentioned nothing about the CV boot being cut or leaking. So did this coincidentally happen on the short 5-mile drive home? If so, it would have had to happen as I left their shop with the amount of grease I found. Did Bob or his technician somehow completely miss it? (not likely) Or is there more to it than that? After replacing not only the pitman and idler arms, but now also the left-front axle, I returned to Skippack Automotive to have it reinspected and stickered. After the work was done, I explained to Bob what I found when I first took the truck back home. Bob's only reply was "CV boots aren't an inspection item." That's true, but neither are fuel filters and transfer case noises, which he wanted to upsell. It seems odd that he'd want to upsell a fuel filter but not an easily-replaced axle shaft with a lot more margin. So was this merely coincidence, a gross oversight, or foul play? I can't say with certainty that it was foul play. But this smells bad enough that I can't trust them and no longer can recommend them. ORIGINAL REVIEW This was our first state inspection at Skippack Automotive. Our appointment was within a couple days of calling. They finished same day. They took a quick look over the rest of the car and pointed out a couple non-inspection items that legitimately needed attention. Bob was very personable and great to deal with. Timely work, done properly, at a fair price and with a pleasant demeanor. Well done! We'll be back.