Merchant’s Tire & Auto Centers

Haven’t had a lot of luck with mechanics in this area. I was satisfied with Merchants until I took it in for a «check engine» light diagnostic. They charged me $ 110 just to tell me they can’t fix it. I understand it’s a diagnostic fee and the diagnoses was they can’t do it, but common courtesy should of dictated at least a partial refund for being so unhelpful. No such luck.

I had a very good experience getting an alignment at Merchant’s. The mechanic was very knowledgeable and friendly. I would most certainly recommend Merchant’s to others.

Although I had always heard positive reviews about Merchant’s in general, it wasn’t until I went in-​person to this particular one last week that I realized just how high of a standard they have for taking care of their customers and their cars.
I went in for pretty routine maintenance: an oil change and tire rotation. My family was vacationing at the time and were not familiar with this area, so we arrived 15 minutes after our appointment was set to begin. The employees teased us but still made every effort to see our car as quickly as possible. They waited patiently for us to locate warranties and other paperwork in the car, which took even more of their time.
While we were talking about the oil change and tire rotation, the guy helping us noted that we might want to consider replacing some of the tires that had been on there for nearly a decade. One of the other guys in the shop peered up under our car while it was jacked up in the air. He was friendly and said to his coworker, «Look, bud, I’m not trying to keep you from selling these folks new tires, but I just don’t think these ones are quite done yet. They could probably hold on to them for another year.» Most places will do anything to make a buck or two (or $ 400, since tires aren’t cheap), but both of the employees debated our options back and forth, which I really appreciated. They weren’t trying to make money off of us but rather give the right and most cost-​effective option to my parents and me.
While the car service was great and cheap, it was how they took care of us while we were there that impressed me most. Before the appointment, my parents and I had been at a pool, and in the process of leaving for Merchant’s, my mom got sunblock in one eye. For the first 20 minutes we were waiting for our car to be serviced, my mom kept rubbing it, which only worsened the problem. The main guy helping us noticed and proceeded to lend my mom eye cleaner they had in the shop. He then stayed with her and helped clear out the sunblock for 10 minutes outside in the parking lot. Because he was also an EMT, he knew what he was doing and seemed really concerned with helping my mom feel better.
This is a great Merchant’s and is primarily so because of the employees whose focus is their customers’ well-​being. I am grateful to them for getting my car in working order and for helping us with the sunblock issue when that wasn’t in anybody’s job description there. They went far above and beyond the call of duty. Good, honest people like that are hard to come by.

I came in late and they took care of everything, with a coupon and a great attitude to boot! Highly recommended.

These guys are crooks. I was lured here by the 24.99 oil, tire rotation, inspection etc. coupon. I fell for one unnecessary procedure and almost got suckered into another one. At 43,372 miles on my car, they strongly recommended a Fuel System Tune-​up. Ignorant me agreed and they charged 99.99. Come to find out, that was unnecessary and something I could have done myself for under 20 bucks. Looking at my itemized invoice, I see that strangely one of the mechanic’s names is printed under the FST. I can only imagine that the name belongs to the guy who suckered me into the service and he got a little extra in his wallet! Thank god I didn’t fall for their recommended brake repairs (wanted to replace rear brake pads and rotors)! I wasn’t hearing any noises and with such low mileage, I declined. A month later at a trusted Ford service center (I drive a Fusion), I asked them to inspect the brakes and they said they were perfectly fine. Please beware this Merchant’s auto center at 430 N Mason Street in Harrisonburg, VA. Makes me wonder if they even changed my oil!

As a young woman, I’m used to mechanics writing me off as having no knowledge of cars, but never in my life have I had to be so much on the defensive.
The store manager, Eric, is incredibly rude and disrespectful. He has repeatedly been short with me and tried to sell me cheaper tires so he didn’t have to special order them. Roy is sweet as pie, but I feel the company vision is to sell as much as possible. I get it, it’s a business, you have to meet sales goals, but they’re over kill here.
First my tires were lost then found. Then I was told my back rotars needed to be replaced to pass inspection. Surprising since they’re only 3 year’s old. I agreed to replacing them but if I hadn’t gone over the bill, I would have had unnecessary tune ups made such as flushing brake fluids and a lifetime balancing/​rotating membership. It added up to almost $ 100 of «extras.»
As I sit here 3 hours later waiting I’m weary my bill is going to be more than the estimate they gave me 3 minutes ago.
Go to the Merchants n Staunton. They are so much more considerate of their customer. Or better yet, avoid the whole Merchants chain! They are a money hungry company. I can’t blame the workers as they just doing their job. I blame the company and it’s values.