I had my vehicle towed from Evergreen, CO into Aspen Park Automotive located in Conifer, CO located immediately behind NAPA Auto Parts for a simple repair of my vehicle's muffler. I looked in the Yellow Pages for a mechanic in Conifer, CO — thinking they might be more honest than some in Evergreen. I noticed Aspen Park Automotive's large ad declaring how honest they were and that they were also members of the Better Business Bureau.
When I checked BBB's website for any adverse complaints on this auto repair shop, there weren't any. So I decided to have my vehicle towed in to have them repair it. Big Mistake!!!
Later that afternoon, an employee by the name of Kent with Aspen Park Automotive informed me that both my muffler and catalytic converter were definetly damaged and needed to be replaced immediately! He proceeded to tell me the cost of this repair/replacement. He said it would cost somewhere in the region of $750 plus! He also noted I needed an Oil Change, which APA would do for the sum of slightly over $100.
He also noted several other repairs he felt were crucial, but with each and every one of them costing far more than any mechanic in the world would ever charge! These other repairs he highly recommended were either already repaired elsewhere and not in need of repair or simply didn't need to be done at all.
After listening to this utter nonsense, I called two other ASE Certified Mechanics in both Evergreen and Denver, CO. They both laughed when I told them the details of APA's excessive and/or fraudulent estimates, especially the oil change for a mere $100 plus dollars!
Kent of APA also told me they would perform a 50 to 58 point vehicle inspection. This of course, was where him and his mechanics apparently found all these unncessary repairs and felt they could bilk a potential customer out of thousands of dollars for things which did not have to done!
The other two mechanics I had spoken with informed me a muffler repair for my vehicle shouldn't cost no more than $400. And the $100 plus oil change was not only absurd but an obvious sign these mechanics were not anywhere close to being honest... Duh?
I called Kent of Aspen Park Automotive to confront him with these professional opinions of these other two mechanics. His first response was that he would be using special clamps to make sure my new muffler and catalytic converter would never fall off! These other two mechanics also noted that these clams cost all of about $2 a piece! No big deal! Kent, then proceeded to openly admit he could have estimated this replacemnt of my muffler/catalytic converter replacement for much less, but felt I needed the very best because of how badly damaged both of these components were.
I told him I would have my vehicle picked up by the same tow company who towed it in and have it towed elsewhere for repair. Kent obviously didn't like this because he seemed to feel I should have to pay these incredulous charges for something which in the end result never had to be replaced.
After my vehicle was towed into another mechanic in Evergreen, CO, did I receive a call from them telling me that neither the muffler or the catalytic converter were damaged. He also informed me that both of these components were just fine and would last for years to come!
This other mechanic of mine also found that this "supposed safety inspection" which Aspen Park Automotive apparently performed, found that they drained my vehicle of all of it's oil (because it was just serviced at another mechanic of mine's in Denver, CO) and the lug nuts were loosened on one of the rear wheeels when they APA had checked the brakes. APA also noted the brakes would have to be replaced. The brakes though, were just replaced eight months prior to this event at Aspen Park Automotive. This other mechanic in Evergreen also confirmed the brakes did not need to be replaced.
Both the Evergreen and Denver mechanics noted that it was very fortunate that these careless and/or purposeful alterations to my vehicle by APA and it's employees were discovered when they were, otherwise myself and other occupants could have very well been killed in a major auto accident when driving on the mountain highways at a much higher speed than those in the city. Fortunately though, none of this occurred because of the integrity an dilligence of this repair shop in Evergreen, CO and later at the mechanic in Denver, CO.
It was the opinon of several friends and family members that these extremely dangerous actions of APA were initiated because of a prior dispute with an employee at NAPA's Automotive Auto Parts Store located in the same building from years before, when this employee felt he could sidestep the court process and illegally take possession of several, very expensive sets of offroad lighting because of an inadvertently cancelling installation appointments due to other factors in my life and that of my girlfriend's. The local sheriffs were contacted to make a peace call and gain these lights back.
However, APA had nothing to do with this matter but apparently they felt they serve up their own justice for this NAPA employee who somehow felt he was in the right, which of course, he was not.
Regardless of who did what or for what reasons, this automotive repair shop is definetly one to be avoided at all costs because of these unscruplous, unethical and dangerous practices of theirs.
This has recently been reported to the Colorado Attorney General's Office, the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau for their review and/or investigation if warranted.
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