Mark’s Austin Autocare

I wrote this review and somehow it did not post. The fact that I am rewriting it at all in all it’s detail again should indicate how bad an experience I had with Mark. I needed a state inspection and I was driving by and noticed the normally opened garage doors down. I swung in anyway and when I walked in Mark was berating his employee. Instead of stopping and addressing me his potential customer he kept going. I thought this unusual to display normally behind doors behavior. Mark then turned to me and said «what do you want.» I asked if they were open (because the doors were down, that are usually up) He looked at me like I was stupid and said «well yes» I asked for an inspection and would he like me to pull around? he said «no first bring me your insurance.» I said cant I bring it in when I pull it around (not wanting to make two trips to the car). He aid «that’s not the way it’s done. first bring me your insurance.» I left to go get my insurance and said OK «if that’s the only way you know how to do it.» When I can back in Mark squared up on me and said «Now can we get down to business or do you have more joke’s“I realized this man was trying to bully me and his employee whom had just been scolded was looking on with expectant eyes. I told him «well I might have more jokes but after all I am YOUR customer, or might not be that depends on you.» He said «That suits me fine.» I said great doesn’t matter to me and that I am a big user of Unilocal.I asked «what’s you’re name?» He immediately shrank away. and said that’s none of your business. I said «don’t get scared now, your going to be famous.» He told me to get out. I said «your not going to tell me your name?“he just looked at me like I was stupid. I told him it was easy enough to find out.
Mark it was easy to find out. That photo of you that you took and posted of yourself must have taken real effort to fake even the small smile your attempting there. How dare you treat your employee and the public like you do. You must not need anyone’s money. I wouldn’t recommend going to Marks Austin Auto Care to anyone ever. I would rather walk than give him a dime of my hard earned dollars. There is nothing I hate worse than a bully, and a bully business owner that can’t even fake being polite long enough to collect a customer shouldn’t be allowed to stay in business. The customer is not always right at Mark’s and if his pleasantries at the door are any indication Lord help you if you spend a large amount of good money there and disagree with him. LOL guess it will serve you right for submitting yourself to the control of a bully. Several words come to mind for you Mark. But dismissed is my favorite.
I m not anonymous! My photo is here and I am happy to provide full name address phone or e-​mail if requested. After reading Marks comments. I must say that again if you go there your a fool. This Man is a liar and shame on you for spending your money with someone whom lies. I am sure he must conduct business as well as he tells the truth of what happens. Your skewed sense of reality probably shows thru in your «work». I imagine you cheat your customers and do substandard work convincing yourself your doing them a favor and quality work. I would hate to trust my children’s lives on what you think the truth is.

Great experience. Simply great. If I have continued experiences with Mark’s as good as my first, I’ll change the rating to five. The ONLY reason it isn’t five is my experience with the place is still based on only one visit.
I walked in and the owner politely told me I could ask a quick question, or I’d need to wait until after he had a longer chat with the fellow who was there before me. Listening to him break down the diagnosis of the other guy’s car trouble was encouraging, I thought he sounded very forthright and honest.
I was delivering a car with a mysterious power steering problem that had manifested a couple of days earlier. The problem was air in the system, but how it got there and then how it behaved was baffling. He agreed to take a look for $ 25, and would call if it needed more time or parts or anything. This was about 12.30 or so, and I really hoped to have the car repaired the same day. Without promising anything but to do his level best, he handed me over to his assistant who wrote up the work order, asked some intelligent questions, predicted what kinds of things could conceivably cause delay, and off I went.
Within a few hours, they called and told me to come get the car. They had tried to reproduce the air in the lines (the fluid in the reservoir was foamy when I drove in, but clear by the time they got to it) and couldn’t. The owner said he had expected it might clear up on its own, and after reading some Honda service bulletins and checking a seal he thought the problem had cleared up on its own. He said he didn’t want to throw away a lot of time — and my money — chasing a phantom problem he could not reproduce.
If, by any chance, the problem reemerged, he would deduct the $ 25 from any future bill. And he’d earned that $ 25 bucks already, or more. The odometer showed they’d driven the car for some time, he’d reviewed bulletins, he’d checked things out. So, I happily agreed, and took the car home.
He was right. A week or more later and the one-​and-​a-​half-​day long problem has vanished. No more problems. Everything hunky dory.
He was honest, fast, courteous, inexpensive, and more than fair. Plus he was right in his initial prediction it would clear on its own.
Best in-​town mechanic I’ve visited yet.

Mark has provided quality automotive service for years. He is honest, reliable and affordable. He is also very personable.
My best memory of Mark’s service happened on a chilly Friday evening before Christmas Eve. I was leaving work and could barely start my truck. Somehow I was able to drive to Mark’s shop. He was just closing when I arrived. He took the time to look under the hood and determine the problem.

I always go to Mark for safety inspections and oil changes. He is also great about notifying one of service times and he often offers suggestions on how to improve one’s car. Thank you Mark!

I stumbled onto Mark’s shop 4 years ago, and have enjoyed fine service. Mark’s diligence and honesty has proven very helpful to me as we’ve extended the life of my 2000 Nissan Maxima to 13 years and 180,000 miles. I appreciate how he emphasizes preventative maintenance and cost-​savings over expensive repairs. Plus he went out of his way to fix my tire unscheduled when it blew right outside of his shop.

I ordered a tire online to replace a blown tire. Took it to Mark because he was close to my office. The tire was installed and he charged $ 17
About a week later my low tire warning light came on. I put air in my tire. Happened again a week after that. It was around Thanksgiving, so I couldn’t get back in.
Once I stopped by after the holiday, I explained the problem to Mark. He told me it would be $ 30 to repair it. Thought that was a little high. I figured he would at least look at it, since he put it on.
I told him the price was a little high, and he gave me this look and asked where it was cheaper. I had gone to Leal’s Tires in East Austin last year and was charged $ 12. He told me «the prices haven’t been that cheap in 25 years». I then told him that I could have it done at Sam’s for free with my membership and his response was «well, Sam Walton doesn’t pay taxes in Travis County»
I asked him if I could at least pay for air for my tire, and his response was «only inconsiderate people would be driving around on a bad tire. People like that make it unsafe for me when I drive»
Shocked at his attitude, I left and got some air across the street. I drove straight to Sam’s Club in Round Rock. They guy checked it out and told me that there was nothing wrong with the tire, it was just the valve stem. Whoever installed the tire (Mark’s Austin Autocare) didn’t screw down the valve stem, and it was leaking air.
So thank you Mark, for doing a crappy job. I try to support local businesses as much a possible, but if I pay you to do a simple job and you can’t do it right…
Update — In response to Mark’s comment, I was not offered from Mark to «look at it». I was just given the straight $ 30 price. If he would have told me what he claims to have said, this review would not have been posted.