17/09/2015

Our family has been blessed with Paul Cameron's honest, timely and conscientious automobile repair and service for the past fifteen years. He takes his work seriously and will do everything he can to help you especially if you are respectful, appreciative and understanding of the amount of work that piles up on his desk each day. The other reviews point out first impressions ... but remember the saying, " you can't judge a book by its cover." Seriously, having him in the neighborhood is one of the best things about living in West Ghent.

Kyle F.

Source: YELP

07/02/2013

Okay, so I hear decent things about Ottacam from Coastal Import and I remember that Ottacam worked on cars for my family some years ago when we had Peugeots with diesel engines. I figure if you can stand to work on a French car, you can probably stand to work on a Jeep. I call and had a straightforward, but civil conversation with a staff member at Ottacam who says that diesel service makes up about 60% of their business (Yippeee!!!) and arrange to drop off my car.
I arrive at about 4:30 pm and the only place to park is next to a fence right behind another car. I pull up and get my things out of the car-- after all my ride is waiting to take me home and I just need to run in and drop off the keys. I pull out my purse, tote-bag with all of the papers I'm going to grade at home since my car will be in the shop, and I'm juggling everything-- holding my keys in my teeth and trying not to drop something when this guy comes out of the garage. As he is getting into another car, he bellows (he said he didn't yell-- maybe he's hard of hearing?) that I can't leave my car there. Seriously. "HEY! YOU CAN'T LEAVE YOUR CAR THERE!!!! ("Welcome to Ottacam, new customer, I know we don't have any signs letting you know which part of our crowded parking lot is off limits, but move it!!!! Too bad you are already loaded up like a Sherpa and heading for the office..." Strike one.)
So I ask, "Where does one park if they want to give you their business?" He accuses ME of being rude (Strike two) and tells me that I'm blocking the driveway (what driveway????) Ooops!!! My bad. Not that I planned to leave my car there and go barhopping for Pete's sake, but okay maybe I made a mistake and didn't realize the dip in the sidewalk didn't go all the way across the parking lot. I put all of my stuff back into my car and move it as directed, then go inside. And wait. And wait.
I go back out to tell my ride that at this point I'm forecasting an 80% chance that I will be driving my truck home and not leaving it and come back and wait some more. When the Parking Nazi finally comes to the front of the business and asks how he can help me, I tell him that I'd heard good things about his business and was bringing my truck for repair, but after our interaction in the parking lot, I wasn't so sure. (Note to Ottacam: I don't need my butt kissed by my mechanic or anyone else. I have enough ego strength to do without that, but I am bringing my business to you and my repair might lead to repeat business as a tell everyone I know how professionallyI was treated. If you are even remotely decent acting and do an honest job, I'm good.)
Here is the epic fail: Parking Nazi took the opportunity to scold me again about the driveway and how I was in his way when he was trying to move another car. Strike three. Apparently they have enough business coming to them that they do not need any of my hard-earned money.
Bottom line: I would sell my body on nickel-night at the dirtiest whorehouse in Tijuana before I'd take a vehicle back to this place.

K B.

Source: YELP

13/02/2012

First, I am a 27 year old women, that appears to know nothing about cars.... However my father raised me to know a little about a lot, and cars were on his list. So to say I feel duped by the recommendations from this shop is to put it kindly. I spent nearly $700.00 on "necessary"repairs from this shop, felt fine about it. Then when I went back to do my VA state inspection, little less than a month later, he found more things wrong with the car. So i became skeptical, if he didn't see these large issues (broken strut, broken air bag) before, why now. SO i took it somewhere else, they passed me with no issues... so i thought well maybe it was a bad day. Went back for a weird shutter i was feeling in the rear differential, he, very very rudely said, "oh you were the girl with the broken strut you didn't want to repair, what is it now.... oh bring it next week, maybe i'll get to it." He has never been friendly... not ever, not one bit... talked to me like i was an idiot and made it obvious he didn't need or want my business.....
Needless to say, i went elsewhere.... never to return. Because just a few blocks away i found a wonderful, friendly place! Coastal Import on 21st,
made my life better!

Renee H.

Source: YELP

14/07/2010

I dropped my car off on a Thursday for a state inspection. I didn't hear from the shop until Wednesday, when the mechanic told me he was failing my car because the windshield wipers were shot (i bought new wipers two months earlier, so i knew this was BS). I brought it back, and waited a week for him to reinspect my car and attempt to charge me $200 to replace my front brakes, change my transmission gasket, and a list of other things totaling over $500. Besides being a crook, he was down right RUDE. I'd rather chew glass than go back to him.

hank r.

Source: YELP

16/08/2016

I dropped my car off on a Thursday for a state inspection. I didn't hear from the shop until Wednesday, when the mechanic told me he was failing my car because the windshield wipers were shot (i bought new wipers two months earlier, so i knew this was BS). I brought it back, and waited a week for him to reinspect my car and attempt to charge me $200 to replace my front brakes, change my transmission gasket, and a list of other things totaling over $500. Besides being a crook, he was down right RUDE. I'd rather chew glass than go back to him.

Kevin Reilly

Source: GPLAC

01/04/2016

Owner can seem unfriendly, but he's a really busy mechanic not a customer service rep. He's the most trustworthy and honest mechanic I have ever dealt with in my life. You can't go wrong with this guy unless you have thin skin.

Walter Kloth

Source: GPLAC

03/09/2013

I've been going here for a few years now. I usually just drop off my car (Jeep Wrangler) for inspections and other miscellaneous maintenance and I've never had a problem. I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off. I noticed some reviews complaining about the guy being rude, but I've never felt that way. Show some patience for the guy and he will fix everything for a fair price. There's nothing more to ask for in a mechanic, I could care less how his communication skills are.

Drew Johnson

Source: GPLAC

26/06/2011

Owner has no communication skills. I needed some work on my car. He told me "too busy...come back Monday morning 7:30am". Went back and he brusquely said he couldn't get to it today. Guy's a jerk. If you live in west Norfolk and need work on your car, call Gary at Mizelle's, If he can't do it, he'll recommend someone much better than Ottacam.

A Google User

Source: GPLAC

12/02/2010

Overpriced service, poor communication skills, marked up parts 50%! My car was kept stalling and eventually would not start. I brought in my car and told the manager I thought it might be the idle air flow control valve or the fuel filter but it was near closing time and he rudely stated, "Do you want us to inspect it or not?". That was my warning that I should have gone elsewhere. The next day he called to say it was some speed control motor. Not having heard of this and not thinking I would be able to fix this I said OK but asked for the old part to inspect for myself. Unfortunately I was out of town at the time and my wife picked up the car. It ended up being the idle air control valve which I could have picked up for $50 dollars cheaper ($100 versus their $150) and installed in 5 minutes. Will not go here again.

A Google User

Source: GPLAC