I really wish I had taken the time to read some of the complaints about this business before I wasted my money. Anyone interested in becoming a customer of this shop should get a second opinion. Please, take my word for it. My first experience with Darin Hinkle at the Parmer location was not exactly perfect, but it was what people have to come to expect when dealing with automotive repairs. For my personal truck, I asked for an oil change and a rear brake job. My final bill was bout $60 more than what was quoted, but I didn't think it was worth my time to discuss the price discrepancy. The work was performed to my satisfaction and I had no major complaints. So when my girlfriend's Jeep needed a check engine light repaired, I told her to take it there to be checked out. I spent 12 years working for Ford. I was a successful Master Mechanic, but my desire for something more led me to start a new career in IT. I used to make a very decent living repairing vehicles, and check engine lights were one of my specialties. We first took the Jeep to the nearest AutoZone to get the code checked. After trying a new gas cap, the light immediately returned, so we took it to Austin Automotive Specialists for a proper diagnosis. My first career gave me a lot of insight as to what the problem could be and an idea of what the total cost should be. I informed my girlfriend to expect an estimate around $350-$400. Darin called her after a few hours and informed her the total cost would be $760.64.I told my girlfriend to decline the repairs. My previous experience in the field told me that something wasn't right. She asked Darin for a detailed explanation of the charges, but what he provided was a basic receipt that showed her payment of the diag fee only. I picked up the car and thought about the repairs. After some research online, I couldn't rationalize the high price quote. I decided to order the part I assumed was failing. I found it on Amazon and price checked against AutoZone. In less than 30 min, I had the new part installed and the vehicle was ready to be road tested. I spent $105.xx on the new part and 30 min in the driveway. The car is now repaired, passed the state inspection, and operating normally for the past 2 weeks. On August 20 I emailed Darin to request a detailed explanation of the charges and provide him with an opportunity to explain his exorbitant price estimate. He responded with a story about his dryer breaking and a generic explanation about how price mark ups are a part of running a business. Having a long history as a mechanic, I provided him with indisputable proof of accepted labor stats, door rates, and parts pricing. He has not responded, so I guess I was correct. Judging by his silence, it is my opinion that he is completely guilty of price gouging and incapable of defending his prices.
See MDH 3 review
- 1607 W. Parmer Ln