(update I don't care about your response way to upsell to a review) Went here like usual to fill up my tank. Usually they're great but now they're requiring a membership to get gas which is stupid and they're losing my business now. I will never come back here ever again and I don't think anybody else should either
This is the kind of shop that gives mechanics a bad rap.
I had my ballpoint fail on my drivers side in their parking lot. Directly after the incident happened the mechanic (I later found out) rushed out and asked me if my ball joint failed right there, I told him yes which he then proceeded to tell me that the parts for it were going to be expensive without me even asking (strange right?). I went in and asked the mechanic to type me up a quote, which he ended up giving me a price of $1600. Yea you read that right, $1600. The ball joints for my vehicle I would like to add are bolt on not press in. I told him there was no way it could cost that much, all I needed was one ball joint and a cv axle inner boot. After showing me his estimate I decided to have it towed to my place where I did the repairs myself. I ended up replacing both my ball joints instead of just the side that failed as well as the entire cv axle because I couldn’t source the boot alone the same day and I wanted to get my truck driving again right away. With that said, both ball joints which I bought OEM and the cv axle which I didn’t even need, I spent $420 in parts, without the cv axle I would have only spent $240, which as I said I didn’t really even need the axle. I did the work myself without a car lift in 4 hours.
Long story short, the parts I would have had them replace, would have cost a total of $125 (OEM TOO), remember I said I decided to do the other side too but I didn’t have him put that in the quote as that side hadn’t failed. Also with shop equipment and lifts this would have been all of a 2 hour job, 3 hours tops, for anyone who knows what they are doing.
How the estimate got to $1600 is absolutely mind boggling to me and completely unacceptable, we are talking about a ball joint here.
My family has gone here for years, I guess management or the service department used to be better or at least more honest. Neither I or my family will be returning to Plymouth VIP Auto for any kind of service needs.
I WILL NEVER COME TO THIS PLACE AGAIN. I went in and tried asking them if their air for tires was frozen or if they could do it for me and before I could even finish what I was saying, the manager there said "you need to fix your tires", "you come in here a lot".... he was so rude. He made me very upset because not everyone can afford new tires the way the economy is right now. He basically told me that I couldn't get air in my tires there anymore until I fix my tires. How can someone be a general manager and be so disrespectful. All he could have done was say " sure, we can do that for you but just as a friendly reminder, that you should get your tires fix as soon as you can"...but nope, he couldn't be nice about it at all. This person should NOT be the general manager. Horrible experience !!!!!
I scheduled my vehicle to be looked at because I was hearing squealing noise which I thought was my brakes. When I arrived at my appointment, my car was taken back right away, and I was shown the lobby and offered a beverage. The customer service was great. Then I was told I would need brakes and rotors and new tires. They were able to fix it right then and there and they got it done in no time and I was on my way and back to work. With a smooth sailing with no concerns of my brakes or tires anymore. I have been getting my car serviced here for 2 years and I am pleased with the service I receive. Everyone working there is always pleasant and willing to take care of me when I arrive.
Sadly I just had to delete my 5 star review from 4 years ago. VIP Auto had been my go to shop to bring my family's vehicles for the last 5 years as the old manager Drew was friendly, respectful, and quick to find the customer opportunities to save money. Over the last few years that has completely disappeared.
Derrick is the manager and interactions with him are cold. I recently dropped off my vehicle for an oil change and to see if they could figure out what the noise from my rear brakes were. They then told me that I needed new brake pads and rotors in the front and rear (front pads at 4mm and rear at 2mm) as well as new wheel bearings in the rear. I was quoted $2200. After calling multiple other shops for the same job I was quoted significantly lower - in the $1500 range. I decided to pick up my vehicle I was told I needed to pay $76 for a brake diagnostic, something they failed to inform me when I dropped off the car. When I asked about that Derrick was extremely rude and told me it was too bad, "everyone charges a diagnostic fee, you should know about that". I'm not upset about a $76 diagnostic fee - I'm upset that they didn't tell me about it before I dropped off the car and then were extremely rude about it as soon as it was clear I would be taking my car elsewhere.
At $1500 I decided to do the job myself. After taking the brakes off I found that they were at about 4mm at the lowest point in the rear and at 8mm in the front (not 2mm and 4mm). See attached image of one of the front caliper brackets with much more than 4mm of material on the pads. The bearings were rusty but spun freely and were not loose but I replaced them anyway just to be safe. I replaced the brake pads and rotors as well since i was already there. After putting everything back together and bedding the brakes, the noise I was previously experiencing is still there. So much for their "diagnostic". They were taking advantage of a customer that they thought didnt know better, wouldn't call their bluff and take the car elsewhere, or didnt know how to do it themselves.
I will be taking my car elsewhere for a free diagnostic. Osseo Auto Care offers free diagnostics, has much better reviews than VIP Auto, quoted a much lower price, and based on recommendations from friends will not ask you to replace parts if they don't need replacement. I recommend that others learn from my mistakes and go elsewhere.
Just like the name says, you get treated like a VERY important person here! I have spoken to Derrick (store manager) multiple times recently and every time, he's extremely polite, generous, kind, and even when I know he could have done some upselling, he keeps it real when you need to stay reasonable and affordable. I had a favorite mechanic before this, but I think I'm moving to VIP for most things going forward! (If you're curious, I had a bad starter that got replaced for a very good deal!)
Always a pleasure being taken care of by VIP. I was unable to answer the call when my vehicle was done, and I walked in just before the auto shop closed up, and here they stored my car indoors for pickup the next day, rather than leaving it outside overnight. They were able to pull it up front for me and were super nice about it. But how cool is that! The area isn't rough by any means but they still want to protect your vehicle from any outside issues. Always a pain-free experience with this team!
My cars alternator stopped working and they were able to take my car in on such a short notice. They kept me updated on what was going on and were very friendly. They were also super fast! I was honestly shocked how fast they repaired my car. Thank you VIP for your help!
I was looking for a local business for an oil change, and Plymouth VIP Auto delivered! It was easy to set up an appointment with them over the phone. The employees were helpful and made the process easy. After the oil change they explained additional maintenance recommendations and options, but there was no pressure to get those additional things taken care of which I appreciated. The entire oil change and appointment took about 45 minutes, which was great!
Amazing service and professional employees. I had a major repair done and they were very quick to get it done, and it was done right the first time. They were also extremely communicative and were happy to answer any and all questions I had.
I had engine problems and thought it was an engine coolant leak. I brought it in and they were able to get back to me same day with an answer about what was going on with the engine. I ended up needing to do an engine swap (covered under warranty luckily), which they got done quickly and were happy to work with my CarMax warranty. They found me an engine with 1/3 of the miles on it and had it replaced within a week. I picked up the car and have had no issues with it since. I would recommend them 10 out of 10 times because if their fair prices, professional employees, the quality of their work, and the speed in which they got it all done.
Great job, and thank you for all of your hard work!
I had been a loyal customer of VIP Auto mostly for oil changes and other minor repairs. The last time I took it in for an oil change I was charged a lot more than before. I asked Drew about that and he said it was because he used a synthetic blended oil. I took him at his word because I had not had any problems three before and Drew act like he is your buddy. When I needed a complete brake job I let them do it shortly before I moved to another state. Five months later I began hearing a grinding sound from the right rear wheel. I called VIP and spoke with the manager, Drew, to tell him the brakes were already failing. He said it was probably a bad bearing and not the breaks but it was also serious and I still would need to get it repaired soon. I took it to a local repair shop and learned that it was in fact the brakes that were failing. The right rear brake had locked in the brake position because it had not been greased when repaired. The left rear brake had very little grease and would have frozen soon. The front brake shoes were installed incorrectly as well. The total repair cost was over $500.00. I called Drew and he said they would credit my card for that amount. I never received the credit and he gave me a new excuse each month. Finally, he said he would mail a check. That never happened. I called the owner and left a message for him to call me back but he didn't. No surprise there. They claim to have an industry leading warranty for defects in materials or workmanship. Don't believe everything you read there. Drew always acted like he was a friend but in the end he's just another TOOL around the shop. It looks like there are other bad reviews for similar problems.
Drew and team are exceptional @ VIP Auto! I had only had my new car for a matter of months before it was hit overnight on the street. I was referred to VIP Auto by a friend and called right away. Drew answered my call and was able to see me right away. Drew offered a variety of ways to repair the body damage. They were able to not only get me in within a few days but also fix it right up. Drew and team are professional and knowledgeable and I’ll definitely be going back for other services they offer. Thank you VIP AUTO!!!
I want to take the time to appreciate Drew for his sincerely exceptional customer service skills, but I believe it goes even deeper beyond that as this guy sure knows how to make you feel welcomed and assured that you are in good hands while giving you honest and resourceful information. His hard work and dedication show in each and every thing that he does for VIP auto and the team that he has working by his side with the utmost efficiency and quality is living proof of Plymouth VIP Autos service standards. Thank you all for doing an excellent job repairing my vehicle in such a quick and timely manner, and also for your great service in helping with my situation. It's not any auto repaie shop that treats customers the way you have treated me. I will definitely recommend you to anyone with auto repair needs. Keep up the great work!!
I've been going to VIP Auto for a few years now, and I can honestly say I've never not been impressed. The staff are friendly and the technicians really know their stuff. Drew, the manager, has been amazing as well. He truly does put the customer first. I had a strange issue that was very hard to track down. I had brought it in multiple times, each time getting a loaner at no cost. After a little while and lots of research, we were finally able to figure it out and get it fixed. I was not charged any extra for all of the other times they spent on it. I have a few stories like this with VIP Auto, so as long as I'm still in the Twin Cities I will only bring my car to them.
Definitely take your car here for any maintenance or repairs! I've been going here for about a year now and they are always able to get maintenance done in a timely fashion and they do an amazing job. Drew and the staff are so friendly and their attention to detail and memory about each car and person is incredible. I never write google reviews but I felt like I had to for these guys because they always go above and beyond. Keep being awesome!
I had a screeching noise when apply brakes I browsed all showrooms which I have never been too most of them asked to dropoff the car or wait for a week for an appointment. I called VIP auto reading the good reviews they had, and it was all true. the person replaced my brake pad and rotors n 2 hrs and handled the car. The customer experience is really good and nicer, this local business definitely needs a more bigger chance and support from the community as they truly deserve it. I don't generally post reviews until I really experience some good vibes.
As a new mom with a 1 month old, any time you have out of the house is fleeting and a little nerve racking. I needed to wash my car desperately but only had about 10 minutes before I needed to be at an appointment. They got me in and out of the car wash quickly but had the most amazing customer service. They had someone pleasantly explain the options and hand wash the back of my car to make sure to get all the dirt off. As a business owner myself, I find customer service and those personal touches such a blessing! GOOD JOB OVER THERE! I am hoping I can move all my service over to them!
The people who work here are incredibly friendly. I don't know anything about cars but they didn't try to make me pay for any extras, and even gave me a huge discount on my oil change! Their waiting room is very comfortable and it didn't take them as long as I thought it would to service my car. They put my front license plate on for free, even though my car didn't have one before since I just moved here from out of state. I highly recommend them and I'll definitely be going back!
This is my second review of VIP Auto in Plymouth and I have nothing but wonderfully positive things to say!. I brought my car in to Drew today as I needed new brakes and an oil change. Additionally, my daughter dropped one of her airpods in the backseat and we could not get at it. Drew never hesitated in offering to have one of the technicians try and retrieve it, which they did! Drew's friendly attitude and genuine customer concern is unmatched in the industry. While I waited for my new brakes to be put in by Todd, (who did a fabulous and quick job of installing them), I listened to Drew on the phone with customers and also talking with them in person as they walked in the shop. He treated every single customer with respect, kindness and shared his trustworthy knowledge of cars with them. I highly recommend VIP Auto as it is well managed they use a no nonsense and trustworthy approach to car maintenance and repair.
I have been so impressed with the service I have received at VIP Auto in Plymouth. Drew has been very welcoming and it is really comforting knowing I can trust him with my cars and he doesn't try and sell me on unnecessary car repairs. It is evident that the employees are treated well and respected by the management team. I highly recommend VIP Auto for car maintenance and/or repairs!
Very happy with the work performed on my mazdaspeed3! Drew is very communicative and honest about what needs to be fixed on your car to make it run right again.
The experience I had with my car repair was above and beyond. I also appreciate that Drew was honest. I felt like I was genuinely cared about as a customer, something that I don’t experience often when paying for services in general. It was just such a good experience and I’m so excited that my car is in great shape now. I will be returning for future services whether it’s another car repair or simply an oil change or car wash. Phenomenal customer service and honest mechanics. Thank you guys! If you are looking for honest quality work done on your car, feel confident in choosing this place. There’s a reason why their parking lot is ALWAYS bustling. Peace.
I dropped off my daughter's 06 Corolla today and I had a great experience working with Drew today. Both the mechanic and the consultant were very knowledgeable, courteous, and really made me feel like a VIP customer. The service was excellent; I thought I had to drop of car off over night but they were able to diagnose and repair it right away. They were very honest about the work they had done (I am also very knowledgeable on cars) and I've had my other cars repaired there in the past and overall it was a great experience going here today as well as in the past. Thank You for everything you guys do.
Great personal customer service! Employees there are very transparent and look to give you a great price that is lower than than the average repair shops I’ve been to and been quoted from!
Having been there 3 times for major auto repairs, I’ve been very impressed with their deals, work, and customer service!
Drew the shop manager there is amazing to work with and really cares about his customers; not just about the auto service given to them, but also their lives as a whole and so do all the VIP Auto employees. The car techs at the shop are very professional, helpful, courteous, and honest workers that have given me great service every time I’ve been there without any regrets to my car!
Great job Guys! Thanks for all that you’ve done for me! You’ve been all awesome to work with! Thanks for the great customer service!
Drew is beyond fantastic. He met me at my truck for keys knowing I have a 2 month old child. He was very sweet to her as well. Very reasonable priced and helped with cost on cabin filter. Highly recommend. Drew's customer service was above and beyond. The waiting room is very comfortable as well. Overstuffed leather couches. Very nice touch.
I have been bringing my cars to VIP since 1992 and that really is a testament to their focus upon the customer. I have always felt they truly care about honesty, quality and building a relationship with me and my family. Currently, they manage all the analysis and maintenance for 4 cars in my family and we are extremely satisfied. Drew has been an absolutely fantastic addition to your team! He always makes you feel cared for and takes time to explain findings and recommendations. I really appreciate the personal side Drew brings to every conversation and takes time to get to know me better. Everyone at VIP invests time to provide quality outcomes!
I've been going to VIP for a few years now and fully intend to continue to have my car & pickup repaired and maintained there. I have had only positive experiences there - correct and clearly explained diagnosis of the problem, clear explanation of what will be done to the vehicle, how much time would be required & transparent billing of parts & labor, both before and after the work. Drew is excellent and knows what's going on! I highly recommend.
My experience here has been nothing but the BEST!! I've been coming to this location for the past 2 years and I feel like family! Every time I come, I'm greeted as I get out of my car. I'm treated with respect. The guys here are very honest and make sure that you leave more than satisfied. If you ever need work done to your vehicle and you want it done right without being ripped off, check this location out! Drew, the service manager is the man!! He'll take great care of you!! Plus they have really good gas prices and a loyalty program!
We have been bringing our cars here for oil changes and more for years. They've been very professional and helpful and do a quality job. Drew was especially helpful in making sure my RX-8 was ready for a track day and ensuring things still looked good the next day when I took it back. He has also made recommendations for brakes that are better than what I have but not going to break the bank for next time I head out. Thanks VIP Auto team.
My car died not far from VIP auto, and needed a tow. I was luckily right on they money to know what was wrong, when the diagnostic came back It was the starter. Drew got me helped out and put in for service, and everyone was all smiles. The car was looked at the next morning, and the issues that got me back on the road were addressed.
There were other issues with the car that were not in desperate need of repair, but on their way, and they warned me about them but did not pressure me into buying more than I needed. I liked this a lot, and will likely be back to get extra work done when I can afford it more.
Overall, the experience was good. The labor prices are well within normals for the area, and not the highest. The car came out looking good, the work is sound, and they have a good warranty on their repairs, so I feel better knowing that I won't be at the mercy of something I hope is fixed right.
Thank you for the first, (hopefully not too often!), experience here at VIP. I came here on the weight of their past reviews, and I am happy that the experience was as better than expected.
Everyone is really nice.There is a play area for kids (netflix, wii mariokart, toys, books) with a window to watch the car wash. Free coffee and soda for service customers. They tell you whats wrong with your car and give you a quote and a loaner car if its going to be long. They show you pictures of what was wrong. They warranty their work.
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