Crestview Auto Service receives a negative customer review on Facebook and Google +

                Crestview Auto Service are your Trusted Saskatoon Auto Service and Repair experts!

Our Trusted Saskatoon auto repair team at Crestview Auto Service pride themselves on providing excellent customer service, however, like any company these days we sometime receive negative online reviews. We value all comments and feedback, whether it is positive or negative, we strive to listen, learn and improve! 

Mostly our reviews are stellar 5 star reviews, but recently we were reviewed on Facebook and our Google+ page by Steven, a recent new customer.  Although we strive for excellence in customer service,  unfortunately there are times when we cannot keep everyone happy.  Steven brought in his vehicle to us for an SGI vehicle safety inspection , that was required as he was bring the vehicle in from out of province. After the inspection he was unhappy with our inspection and quote, and he has accusing us of taking advantage of him and "trying to rip him off".  For a business owner this is the worst kind of accusation,  questioning  our integrity.  So we  wanted to take this time to answer and to explain.  Here is Stevens initial review.  

'Hello Steven,

Thank you Steven for taking the time to leave a review and taking our call this morning to discuss your concerns, it helps us to improve our service. As you know, by law, vehicles entering the province must have the SGI Vehicle Safety Inspection completed and any deficiencies repaired before a licence can be issued. On the day we inspected your car, your frustration from being forced by SGI to have the inspection done was very apparent and understandable.  In response to your comments:

As you were advised, the rear tires are the same size but that is all, one is a winter tire and one is all season; this creates a real safety concern because of the differences in the traction coefficient from left to right and this does not meet the minimum requirements of the inspection, we recommended you only purchase one tire to match the best tire on the rear of the car, not 2 tires.

The price you were quoted for needed repairs to meet the minimum standards, was based on the SGI inspection results after we had inspected the vehicle, this is the only time anyone can give you an accurate price. Our pricing includes allowing for the extremely rusty condition of your vehicle. The exhaust, suspension, steering and rust are the major cost factors on your vehicle. You were also advised that you can have the repairs performed anywhere you choose, they just need to be done in a manor that satisfies the inspection requirements. Your vehicle has substantial rust issues in structural components of the frame and body and has patches on the frame that do not appear to have been performed in a safe, structural manner. We recommended that you have a “body integrity” inspection performed by an SGI licensed auto body technician before any mechanical repairs be completed. These types of safety and structural items are for the occupant’s safety and to ensure the vehicle does not cause an accident with anyone you share the road with.  Kurt Blight'

continues....

Crestview Auto Service We take a lot of pride in the quality of the work we do as well as in our integrity. We performed the inspection on your vehicle and reported the results exactly how we have been trained by the SGI inspectors themselves. We take the Provincial inspection process very seriously and stand by our inspection. We wish you well

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We want to reiterate that Crestview Auto Service is SGI certified and we uphold their standards, we cannot and will not deviate from these standards as they are developed to ensure road safety.

In addition,  we are a TrustedSaskatoon.com partner, nominated by our customers  we then passed a strict process of due diligence and as such, we are also contracted to uphold the 5- Trusted Guarantees of service.

In this case, due to the issue concerning rust/ the structure/ framework of the vehicle, we highly recommended it be checked by an auto body expert before any additional work be performed.  The driver's, its occupants and the public's safety on our streets and our highways will always trump the risk of upsetting a potential customer and any potential business they may bring. 
We take a lot of pride in our work and in our integrity so having an unhappy customer is always upsetting.  However, we stand firm behind the work we performed for the SGI certification,  our analysis, our quote and our recommendation.  In addition, we will not always be the "cheapest", but we so believe that using our certified technicians to service your vehicle WILL lower your overall and long term cost of owning any vehicle.  

5 Trusted Guarantees

1. Provide the service and quality promised.
2. Complete the job on time.
3. Charge the price quoted with NO surprises.
4. Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs.
5. Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind.

Crestview Auto Service Saskatoon Car Care Advice: Water Pump

Let's face it, most of us do not think about  our vehicles until we run into a problem....and that problem may be a major inconvenience at best; an accident at worst. Having your vehicle serviced by people that you trust is an absolute must.   Let our team of highly trained technicians at Crestview Auto Service work with you to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road. 

Crestview Auto Service are your Trusted Saskatoon Auto Repair and service Experts!

The cooling system in an engine has five components: the radiator, the radiator cap, the hoses, the thermostat and the water pump. The water is literally the heart of the system. Just as your own heart keeps your blood circulating through your body, the water pump keeps coolant circulating through your engine.

The water pump is driven by a belt, chain or gear and only operates while the engine is running. It has a limited life span and sooner or later will have to be replaced. You can check your owner’s manual to find out how long your water pump should last. Some can fail at only 60,000 kilometers, but almost all of them fail by 160,000 kilometers.

Water pumps don’t gradually wear out; they fail. In other words, they’re either working or they’re not. A failed water pump has to be replaced.

Water pumps can fail in two ways: they can spring a leak or their bearings fail. Leaks can come from a cracked pump, but usually develop at the gasket where the pump attaches to the engine.

If you hear a low-pitched grinding sound coming from the water pump, it’s time for a new one. If you see coolant leaking in the area near the pump, it needs to be replaced. Also, coolant on the driveway could indicate water pump failure. Many water pumps aren’t visible because they’re under a plastic cover, so you may have to take your pickup to your Saskatoon service center or Crestview Auto Service to know if the water pump has failed.

If your water pump is run by the timing belt, then it should be replaced when you replace the belt. Most timing belts need to be replaced at around 100,000 to 150,000 kilometers. The labor for replacing a timing belt is about 90% the same for replacing a water pump, so it’s cost-effective to take care of them both at the same time.

Also, if your water pump develops a leak (if it’s powered by the timing belt), you have to replace the timing belt as well since contamination by coolant fluid damages the belt. It just makes sense for Saskatoon motorists to replace both of these critical parts whenever either one needs it.

Replacing a water pump at Crestview Auto Service is a car care issue that almost all of us Saskatoon car owners face eventually. They don’t last forever. On the other hand, we can extend the life of most of the components of our vehicle through important preventive maintenance. Just as exercise and diet keep our heart healthy, regular check-ups and fluid 

Drop in or give us a call at 24 - 23rd St E
Saskatoon, SK, 306-244-6522

Crestview Auto Service

“We’ll Keep Your Car Young a Long Time”

Month of Myths - #10

Myth 10: If it's not broke, don't fix it (or) No news is good news.

Vehicles need to be serviced even when the "Check Engine Light" isn't on. You should be following the Maintenance Schedule as outlined in your vehicle owner's manual. 

Contact Crestview Auto Service about their complimentary inspections and roadside assistance with repair and maintenance service. Conveniently book online at www.crestviewautoservice.ca 

Month of Myths - #3

Myth 3: I can wash my vehicle with mild dish soap.

More than one-third of car owners use damaging non-automotive products when washing their cars - products that could contain harmful detergents, abrasives or additives. 

Enjoy a complimentary car wash when you bring your vehicle into Crestview Auto Service for repairs or maintenance. Call today to find out more (306) 244-6522, or visit our website at www.crestviewautoservice.ca 

(Post 5) Tidbits

(P5) Tidbits of information about Canada you may never need:

• 150, the # of new vehicle models and major redesigns introduced by manufacturers from 2010 to 2012
• 260, the # of new vehicle models and major redesigns expected to be introduced between 2013 and 2015

(Information gathered from Government of Canada and the automotive industry, 2013)

#AutoService #Saskatoon #CarRepair #Service #CrestviewAutoService #Tidbits #TrustedPartner #JDPowerAssociates #NAPAautoPro #automotive #newdesign #redesign

(Post 4) Tidbits

(P4) Tidbits of information about Canada you may never need:

• $623.47 the average amount Canadians underspent on vehicle maintenance
• $876.00 the average Canadians spent on vehicle repairs and maintenance
• $1491.00 the average yearly cost expected to maintain a vehicle

(Information gathered from Government of Canada and the automotive industry, 2013)

#AutoService #Saskatoon #CarRepair #Service #CrestviewAutoService #Tidbits #TrustedPartner #JDPowerAssociates #NAPAautoPro #automotive

(Post 3) Tidbits

(P3) Tidbits of information about Canada you may never need:

• 22,500 the # of independent automotive service shops in Canada
• 3,464 the # of automotive dealerships in Canada

Did you know you can book online with Crestview? Visit our website to schedule an appointment at www.crestviewautoservice.ca

(Information gathered from Government of Canada and the automotive industry, 2013)

#AutoService #Saskatoon #CarRepair #Service #CrestviewAutoService #Tidbits #TrustedPartner #JDPowerAssociates #NAPAautoPro #automotive

Region Developer: Miguel Cruz, Northern Virginia

Miguel Cruz, 58, was born and raised in Puerto Rico, but moved to the U.S. at the age of 18 to join the U.S. Army as an electronic technician. He served in the Army for almost 16 years before leaving to join the Civil Service in 1994, where he performed various duties including equipment management and managing contracts for automotive maintenance.  After Cruz retires from the Civil Service in January 2014 to focus on Honest-1 as the Region Developer for Northern Virginia, he will have worked for the government for close to 33 years.  

How did you learn about the brand?

In preparing for my retirement from the government, I started looking into businesses. I was going to go on my own but began looking at franchises and came across Honest-1. What appealed to me about them was their business model, which is one that I had envisioned doing had I opened my own business. It was family-friendly and honest.

Why did you decide to take up an opportunity with Honest-1?

After nearly 33 years working for the government, I thought it was time to retire and chase my dream of being a business owner. I grew up in the restaurant business and I always liked business. The automotive field appealed to me because I like working on cars. I haven’t been through formal training in automotive maintenance but I grew up repairing and working on my own cars.

Why did you decide to take on the role of Area Developer?

It was a no brainer for me to become area developer – I hope to have multiple stores and go beyond just being a franchisee.  Also, it’s basically a sales position and I’ve been in sales before. I don’t have experience as an area developer but I didn’t feel like I needed it with the training that Honest-1 provided.

 

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?

The main challenge we have faced in Northern Virginia is the availability of properties in the right area. Zoning for automotive businesses is a real hurdle to overcome because it takes time, which is why it’s important that I open my own store and have something to show future franchisee prospects. One thing that I take into consideration is the convenience of a customer driving to the facility: how far do they have to drive, is there much traffic to get to the location. I try to look for convenience so I’m limiting myself to the areas that I can set the stores in. We’ve worked hard to overcome that challenge and now we have landlords calling us to offer us sites in the right locations.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Honest-1?

There is a location in Alexandria that opened in 2012 before I became area developer and we are currently working on the lease for a franchisee in our Ashburn location, which we plan to open in June 2014. We have at least six sites that are available to us should we decide to move forward. Now it’s a matter of finding candidates to put on these sites. If I don’t find applicants I’m going to open them myself and turn them over to future franchisees. I plan to open around 30 stores in the Northern Virginia area within the next eight to 10 years.

Why did you decide to join the military?

When I was growing up, I always liked watching TV, in particular a program called Combat!, and for some reason, that type of life had always caught my attention. I thought it was a good opportunity to get out of the island and see other parts of the world and serve my country. So when I was almost 19, during the Vietnam era, I joined the military. I didn’t think twice about it. I learned a lot and it opened my eyes to a different world and different people.

Before I joined the military, I was a shy guy. Once I joined the military, I started moving up the ranks and inherited more responsibilities and it put me in a position where I had to stand in front of people training and teaching them. The military gave me confidence and I lost all my inhibitions when it came to standing in front of people.

Why did you decide to join the Civil Service?

After I decided to leave the U.S. Army, the job market was tough in the civilian sector. I had just finished 16 years working for the government so it didn’t make sense to throw that away, so I decided to pursue a career with Civil Service and combine my military time to total 33 years with the government.