WARNING did $500 worth of damages during maintenance that cost $100.
I took my car here to get the tires balanced and rotated and to perform thrust alignment for $100 total. Tony was very professional and everything seems to be done correctly, but when I returned to my vehicle, I noticed a DEEP, UGLY, AND VISIBLE SCRATCH in the leather on my steering wheel. Most likely from the mechanic leaning into the car, putting his weight on the steering wheel (while holding a sharp tool) and using his right foot to step on the gas to conduct a test that simulates freeway speeds. This indicates that they don't treat your property with the respect it deserves. The vehicle was in their care for two hours and I returned to this. Tony denied any responsibility, but recommended an upholstery shop to take it to and that he would pay for it.
The guys at the upholstery shop basically told me that they no longer do steering wheel repair because it's so time consuming and that the only way to truly fix the problem would be to buy an entirely new one from the dealer for about $500.
It is NOT unreasonable to expect my car back on the EXACT condition it was in before. And after talking to Tony about it and getting absolutely nowhere (with him calling my credibility into question) I left. On a side note, he did offer to pay for a new steering wheel cover, but I just didn't want to deal with him any longer do I left. His offer was a pittance compared to the cost of true compensation and, to me, an insult. Also, they left my car unlocked, so it's entirely possible a person passing by on the street did that while going through my car. BUT it was parked by him on his property and in his care so even if this happened, it's still his responsibility.
The bottom line is: if you take your car here, TAKE PICTURES OF EVERY SINGLE INCH so that if something on your car is damaged by these guys you can actually receive compensation. Tony himself said they don't have video surveillance, and that they don't take pictures so you need to do this yourself.
In response to your comment, Tony,
I'm operating under the assumption that if you break it, you buy it. The excuse, "a certain amount of wear and tear is expected" on my vehicle DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO DAMAGE ANY PART OF IT. I expect to come back to my vehicle in the same condition I left it in when I entrusted it in your care for a measly two hours. And yes, you can buy a steering wheel for $229.95, but that isn't the same one as mine, and doesn't integrate seemlessly with my vehicle's electrical systems (volume, song switching, phone calls, and cruise control). Also, as you very well know, you didn't factor in the billable hours a mechanic would as as payment, which would increase the cost for such a time consuming operation dramatically as well as the inevitable trips back to the mechanic when complications arise. $500 is the quote I got from the upholstery specialist and is not a random number I made up. And, unlike the cosmetic wear on the steering wheel buttons, which I was aware of at the time of purchase, I have to see and feel that disgusting scratch every time I turn the wheel.
Your comparison with scratching the door and repainting the entire car isn't entirely accurate in this case. The upholstery specialist informed me that the only way to remove that scar would be to replace the entire steering wheel. However, like a door you scratched, you'd repaint the entire door, regardless of any previous scratches. This holds true for my steering wheel. The only way to repair the damage you caused is to replace the entire wheel. Any other cosmetic damages are IRRELEVANT. I shouldn't have to buy a steering wheel cover that I never wanted because of damage your business did. I couldn't care less about your offer to pay for the cover, and frankly, it's a slap in the face considering the damage you've done to the RESALE VALUE OF MY CAR.
