I found an honest mechanic 22 years ago. John Alford, Alford's Service in Rogers MN. He recently retired and sold his shop. He owned the Sinclair station on what was a rural Interstate exit when he bought the place, but which has become one of the busiest these days. He got out when the gettin' was good, and God bless him for it. But he didn't just sell his business. He also sold his businesses name - to people that he personally vouched for. That shop still bears his last name on the sign, and that name is invaluable to the new owners.
He's a curmudgeonly fella, and was always busy. But not too busy to take a few minutes to shoot the breeze, fire off a smart-ass comment, or give you a look from beneath his bushy white eyebrows.
I've gone in there in the past and said, "I need you to give it the once-over. I'm going on a long trip, and I need you to check everything from top to bottom," and I've come away with a bill less than $100. I've taken vehicles there and asked for specific services, and John has called me on many occasions and talked me back from my request, either because the vehicle didn't need what I asked for, of because it wasn't worth the cost to repair.
There were even several times when I went in for stupid little things that I wasn't equipped to repair - moldings falling off, door locks malfunctioning, windows not rolling down properly, rattling under the vehicle. Instead of tying one of his guys up, he'd bring a toolbox out into the lot and mess with it himself. Sometimes he'd spend a half hour, sometimes an hour, cutting his knuckles and cussing, asking me about the wife and kids, talking fishing, etc. He'd get done, and I'd say "How much I owe ya?" A couple times he just winked and said, "I'll getchya later," or "You'll be back," or something along those lines. Other times, he'd say, "Ah, just gimme 20 bucks."
Honest to God, his retirement was an event in our lives that required some time to get over. You don't just find a guy like that very often these days. But his best mechanics moved over to the new shop, and along with the new owners, they've gone a long way to instilling confidence.
