Tallman's Tire & Auto Repair (Herkimer)

So, you go in for an inspection and get told you have repairs needed to pass. They over charge you for parts (hey, it sucks but you should have shopped around. Still not right though), take off your sticker and tell you that you can’t take your car off the lot until you let them repair it and pay, then it’ll be good and pass inspection. So you begrudgingly pay $800 for parts and service that probably could have cost you $500 elsewhere but this is where you are. This $800 includes inspection and all the parts and service for the repairs they tell you will make your car pass inspection. All is said and done and fixed so you are ready to leave when they tell you “oh, we can’t pass your inspection until you come back another day for MORE repairs.” So what was the $800 for? If more repairs were initially needed why wasn’t the customer told? How do you require someone pay for an inspection AND repairs to make it pass then still fail them by saying it needs more. It’s worse than a typical “over charging mechanic”. It’s theft. It’s deception. It’s lying to keep you paying. Never recommending nor will I be a customer at this or any of the Tallmans establishments. I’ll add, since it seems that Tallman’s jumps on the defensive of these bad reviews, I work in customer service. Being transparent with the customer is essential. Customers would rather have honesty they don’t like than nice sounding dishonesty only to be later charged or told different. Tell the customer “you need these repairs before it will pass inspection and it costs this much” and mean it. Don’t say that, charge for repairs, parts, service and inspection if you’re just going to turn around and say “oh, wait, oops we can’t pass you because more repairs are needed”. That’s what the initial assessment was for. Price is inconsequential as the person has the right to just find it cheaper elsewhere and bring the vehicle there. It’s the honesty and transparency that is severely lacking. If a mistake in diagnosing was made or something broken while repairing, or even something noticed that also failed inspection while making the repairs, own up to your mistake. Tell the customer you apologize for leading them to believe the nearly a grand they just spent would make their car pass inspection. Customers like customer service. My mechanic has never lied to me about my vehicle or their prices, and it’s sucked majorly sometimes, but they’re affordable and they work with you. Also, I’m not a customer and I never have been. This is just me fighting for good customer service on behalf of another individual who is so disenchanted by this experience that they would rather just move on and forget it ever happened.
8 years ago (14-12-2017)

They charged my card twice and it’s going over two weeks now and still do not have my money back, I keep getting the same response every time I call, “should be in your account in 2/3 days. They also did an $80 alignment without calling and seeing if it was ok to do first.
8 years ago (20-11-2017)

Dont go to herkimer store Made me sit I waiting room for 2hrs after work was completed. There a total of 4 hrs for tires
8 years ago (12-09-2017)

Great shop didn't try to sell me anything I didn't need food what I need in a quick timely manner
8 years ago (27-02-2017)

Very efficient company I take both of my vehicles here for inspections.
8 years ago (24-04-2017)