Arco

This review is for the auto repair shop that is attached to this gas station. I got the front rotors and break pads replaced here.
First off this guy is way overpriced. Dealer quote for the same (Honda) was 285 dollars. But he charged me 340.
Before the job the guy said he would install raybestos parts. Since that is a well known brand I agreed. I was shocked to see him but brakebest parts. This is one of the worst brands u can find in the market. He said they come with a 12month/​12 000 mile warranty and I was OK with it. Sure enough rotors got warped in a couple of months. In fact they started warping after just a few hard stops on the highway. However I went to the shop after 3.5 months. At that time the guy showed me fine print on the receipt that said I would still have to pay labor to have the parts replaced which was about 165 according to him.
I decided not to get the replacement as I did not want to be in the same sitaution with the same crappy brand 4 months from now.
I’ll instead just go to the Honda dealer.
In front of me another person came and complained about poor quality replacement window regulators on his suv.
His shop is empty most of the time. That should have been a warning sign for me right at the beginning.

It’s your average gas station, cheap gas, gets really crowded at times. The only downside in my opinion is it should have the store with more goodies like the one on Stevenson.

Dishonest and greedy. I will no longer give them my business. Oftentimes, they will short me a couple pennies, which i don’t care about, but when they started shorting me CASH when giving me change back… well, shit, you gotta draw the line somewhere.

SCAM ARTIST!!! SCAM ARTIST!!! SCAM ARTIST!!!
These Crooks! who run the AUTO REPAIR dept are disgusting people.
(warning this is a long post)
I took my car to get a smog test 2days ago and was handed a blank form and was told to fill out my name, address and phone number and sign at the bottom, mind you i always take people at face value and never think for a minute im about to get SCAMMMED, I mean im just there for a smog check whats the worst that can happen…
Well the smog tech (old asian man) says «it will take about 25 mins», so i say ok and just hang around while he does his thing, mind you i just saw a sign on the bldg saying smog check $ 24.95. well about 15mins go by and i see him start writing on the form i gave him after a few mins past i go up to him to get a status on my car well this is when the bleep hits the fan.
asian man says to me «did you disconnected the battery recently?» i said well i just got a brand new battery yesterday so yes” he then says oh? so thats why your car is not ready for smog check” apparently to my surprise when you disconnect the battery it resets all emissions systems and they take time to initialize before you can pass a smog check, you have to drive the car a few days so the emissions systems get back to normal operating mode.
He shows me the display on the smog check machine and they read «Not ready» so i say ok i guess i’ll have to drive it awhile and come back… he says yes, and hands me the blank form i had signed, only now its says $ 69.95!!! WTF!
I say to him your going to charge me? he says yes” i say why? you just said the car wasnt ready to test? he says for my time and Labor” i said you spent 15mins and i have to pay $ 70 to not have my car smogged checked? he then hands the form to some jackass (Fat bearded indian) guy who says i have to pay… I said who are you? he said the car Failed the test so i have to pay… i said it wasnt even ready to test so how can it fail?.. besides the sign on the bldg says $ 24.95? he says «this is a STAR check so price is different» so i say how come you guys didnt let me know this before… he says the other guy (asian) told me the price” ?
i said what? he did No such thing and if he did how would you know?. he said «i heard him tell you»… i told him i was never informed of any price at all so i assumed it would be $ 24.95 that was posted. He said «then why did you sign the form»… I got livid at this point, I reminded him i signed a blank form with Nothing! but my personal info on it, this goes back and forth for a while until i start getting heated and realize i better pay him, get my keys and leave before i do something i may regret, i let this guy know he he’s a Joke of a business man and if this is how he makes makes his money.
I told him he would lose alot more the $ 70 he stole from me with just the negative feedback he’s going to get not to mention the report i’ll be writing to the BBB.
There are alot of honest auto repair shops around, unfortunately this isnt one of them. Unilocalers BEWARE!

Don’t ever get your vehicle to get a SMOG test here because the manager is incredibly shady and will just try to get your money by giving you bull shit excuses for crazy prices. Save yourself the time and money for somewhere else especially if you don’t have all the money in the world to just easily lose.
Utterly, disgusted.

Summary: If you are looking to get your car smogged here — DON’T!
Save your sanity and go else where. I STRONGLY suggest looking around for another place, maybe AAA Smog Fremont.
Price for Smog: $ 39.95 out the door. ($ 29.95 + 8.25 certificate + 1.75 smog data)
If you lead a busy life like most, the last thing you need is a letter from the DMV reminding you it is that time of the year for a smog check. You put it off as long as possible, but eventually you notice the pending due date and then you switch into «get it done» mode. You look for the nearest place that will do it with minimum hassle. Fremont Arco used to be this place. But no more. I have been going to this place every two years like clock work for a long time. Today I went in and had a most unpleasant experience. The manager saw my coupon for $ 24.95 smog and said he won’t accept it. «It is expired… from last year» he said. I told him that is not possible since my wife got her smog just 3 weeks ago from here and it was he (the manager) who gave my wife the coupon sheet. I told him that I can pay the full price whatever it is ($ 29.95), but I won’t be called a liar, and I will not be returning after this experience. The smog technician was apologetic and is a nice man, but the manager ruined the experience for me. It boils down to an integrity issue. I will not do business with a place that practice bait and switch, and lies to their customer. Simple as that.
I was initially conflicted in giving my «stay away from this business» recommendation. Lang the smog technician is a nice man. He is a 75 years old retired mechanic who sits in his car in the shopping center parking lot until someone needs a smog. Then he comes out to make some extra money doing smog. My father is a retired auto mechanic so I can relate. Hopefully he will realize his boss is a liar, and go work else where. I have no problem using him again if he ever move to another shop.
Also, I read Evan P. ‘s negative review and it sounds spot on.

Great Prices! But you have to deal with sales person dealing their products.

I went here about 10:50PM and from the light I was at, there were a few cars filling gas at the station. By the time I pulled in, those cars were leaving. The clerk clearly saw me pull up to a pump (I drove past the little booth he works out of) and proceeded to walk to the machine to pay with my ATM card and he shuts the gas station down! I dont know what his deal was but it was definitely not time to close, I know because I came before a few minutes after they closed at 11 previously.
I’ve had too much trouble with this location with money being jammed in their machines, pumps not working correctly and now this.
I’m just going to give my business to the Arco on Thornton and Fremont. Never had a problem with them and its cheaper by a few cents; I’ll drive the extra distance now.

Always come here to get my gas, pretty clean gas station, and always cheap

I disputed the charge with my credit card company, I also filed a Better Business Bureau dispute and a Bureau of Automotive Repair complaint. The BAR talked to the owner and the owner stated he admitted he did give a verbal promise of a refund if my car passed elsewhere, but he simply refused to honor it. So unfortunately since this warranty was verbal, my only option is the credit card dispute or failing that, small claims court.
I honestly suggest you take your business elsewhere. I certainly won’t be giving them any of my business anytime.
And I DID write to Arco Corporate who simply stated this was a owner /​operator shop, so they have no control over what the shop does. Considering Arco is part of BP, they should be bending over backwards to do anything to satisfy customers.

I needed to get my registration renewed for the car which required a smog test. I called to see how much the smog test was and was quoted $ 39.95. I went to the bank and withdrew $ 45.00 just in case of tax, but that was unnecessary as when I went to pay, it really was $ 39.95. Renewal + fast smog test = happy and repeat customer.

This is the Arco at the Brookvale Shopping Center. I go to this one sometimes when I have cash. Today 3÷20÷07 I did.
Gas prices 3÷20÷07 were $ 3.119; $ 3.239; $ 3.339. I only filled up half a tank Pump 9 and it was $ 20 exactly. Evil greedy bastards.
Cash only or pay their transaction fee extra .45c
One squeegee near the cashier’s door. Free Air & Water on the side.
Cross Street: Nicolet Ave.