This rating is based on customer reviews, inventory size, pricing, and service quality
In Lester Prairie, MN, Balow's Highway 7 Auto Salvage scores 71/100 with sharply mixed feedback. Many praise Jeff and the crew for fast pulls, fair pricing, honest dealings, accurate descriptions/photos, and even after-hours pickup—often no wait. Inventory surprises include discontinued and vintage parts. Complaints center on a rude, unhelpful phone/front desk experience, occasional misinformation (wrong part number, Camaro/engine), one claim of dishonesty, higher prices at times, and outdated contact info/website. Yard organization isn’t clear, but they typically pull parts for you.
Called in for a discontinued door molding, 06 Mitsubishi Raider. They had the door molding which we needed still attached to the donor door. They pulled the part; I arrived as they opened the door and was greeted with my part. A swipe of the credit card and I was on my way. Perfect transaction.
Worked with Jeff, called beforehand and everything was as he said it was and ready when I got there. Honest, efficient and straightforward. As a small business those are the qualities I look for in other businesses. Thanks again, you are awesome. Definitely buying from Balow’s again!
Went to ask about parts for buick and also a project car for the kids. Lady in reception was standoffish and didnt seem interested in selling anything. Better off spending money elsewere. Perhaps we were unlucky but I'd rather spend time and money at a place they want customers.
Called about a bumper for my envoy. Had it pulled in an hour even with some special requests for wiring. Put it outside of the gate after closing for me. Would give it 10/5 if I could
Called to ask about parts.
She couldn't understand parts by name and she preceded to become more and more rude every time I tried to explain.
When I asked how much the main part was so that I could purchase it, she hung up on me.
As someone who grew up working in a salvage yard, this was the worst service due to lack of knowledge that I've experienced.
Its unfortunate how much money she's probably losing the company just off her attitude alone.
Seems they don't want sales.
After accidently leaving my $500 impact, I called them, and they had it behind their desk, waiting for me to contact them about it. Honesty goes a long ways in my book.
I went in looking for a mirror for my accord, and Jeff the owner was very friendly and got the part I needed very quickly. It was a pleasant and easy transaction and I will definitely be returning If I need any other parts for my car.
Thanks Balows!
I spoke with them prior to humming out I drove hour and 20 minutes to get there Over the phone delete told me she had my part number available for me when I got there depart number was completely different Completely waste of time hour and 20 minutes there hour 20 minutes back total of 2 hour and 40 minutes for nothing
You guys should really change the contact phone number you have listed. It goes to a Cafe. Pretty hard to buy parts, when theres no way to contact you.
The people are simply awesome, customer service was great. No waiting for service. If I need any parts I will be back. They certainly impressed me with their service and great prices. Thumbs up from a Retired USN Chief Vietnam Veteran with Korean service as well!!
GREAT SERVICE! CALLED IN FOR A HARMONIC BALANCER FOR A TOYOTA, I ASKED FOR THE KEY WAY AND BOLT. THEY SAID NO PROBLEM CALLED ME BACK IN AN HOUR AND SAID PART WAS PULLED AND READY FOR PICK UP. PART WAS CORRECT AND IN A NICE PLASTIC BAG SO I DID NOT LOSE THE SMALL PARTS!
GREAT GUYS AND (GALS) TO WORK WITH!
These are some good hearted people, after going through foreclosure with our home we brought 2 vehicles in for scrap and we were in a money crisis that day and knowing we were having a rough spell they helped us out huge. I don't care who else may have a part that I need cuz if these people have it that's where I am getting it.
Good communications. Teri gave me a fast and honest assessment of a transfer case--and a fair price. While I did not purchase this time, I would gladly buy from Balow's in the future.
Anyone who has bought parts sight unseen knows it's a risky proposition. But Balow's did a fantastic job describing the parts and taking pictures for a vintage BMW I needed parts for. Heck, they even sold me the vintage license plate frame I spotted on the car in the pictures and wanted for my personal collection! Great people, great prices, great service. Thanks again.
Called them looking for parts for a Chevy camaro with a 350 5.7 motor. Lady rudely brushed me off and told me Chevy didn't make a camaro with the 350 5.7. Freaking sweet customer service. Not only an idiot on the phone but rude and pushy
Jeff said he would give my kids $100 to scrap their van. They were going on a mission trip to Africa. Well he waited over 6 weeks to pick up and then offered $50 because price of scrap went down. How dishonest and unprofessional. If he would of picked up immediately like he said he would my kids would of gotten the $100 they were counting on, since they had to raise all their own money for the trip. He should of stuck to his word, not my kids fault he waited 6 weeks to get the van.
I went today to this place and yes everybody its right the lady in the front desk its horrible... I will never come back to this place its not fear for the coustomers. I wish i cant talk to the owner of this place and let him know why its the reason the don't have coustomers. Costumer don't deserve this service.
One particular staff member was behind the counter each of the three times I did business with Balows, and is definitely not friendly nor customer service oriented. I recently bought a "parts only" transmission (meaning it didn't work) from them for the simple reason that I only wanted a few parts out of it for a custom project. I paid $150 for the transmission in full before it was even pulled from the vehicle (they required 50%). At the same time, I informed them that I wanted the front passenger CV axle from the vehicle and I paid for that in full as well. Due to MY mistake, I later realized that the axle would not work for my application. That was a mistake on my part, and I understand that. When I was informed that the transmission was removed from the vehicle and ready for pickup, I kindly let them know that I made a mistake and the axle was not going to work for me. She quickly replied back to me with what I felt was a blunt threat to charge a re-stocking fee on it. Now, I COMPLETELY understand a fee if this CV axle was something that they had to go out of their way to remove from the vehicle or was even something I took home and brought back a day later, but since the transmission removal requires either removing the axle as an entire unit or cutting it (in which point they would get no money for it anyway), the axle was no additional labor for them and to re-stock it would mean to walk it over to the vehicle, open the door, and set it on the floor right next to the drivers side axle and maybe punch a few buttons in the computer.
The day I picked up the transmission and verified that the axle was not going to work for me, I was again met with the same attitude. I felt like I was being treated like I was a punk 16 year old kid. What irritates me the most is that I had the option to not pay for that axle until after the transmission was removed, at which point I would be able to look at the axle and realize it will not work for me. I could then then just walk out of the place and have saved $13. This method of business definitely does not fly in my work place, so I save Balows Hwy 7 Auto Salvage as one of my last resorts to get parts from unless they can see the big picture here, contact me, and make amends. When this happens, I will post a better review to indicate that they made things right. I am easy to get a hold of if one tries.
