Albert Lea Auto Repair

I definitely will be coming back to Sanderson’s. Johnathan was amazing to work with, he listened to what I knew what was needed to be done on my car and what another company in town told me needed to be done. The other company in town quoted me 1,200 just for a wheel bearing and tie rod. I know better than to pay that price. I called Sanderson auto and had my car looked at 2 days later. Johnathan really looked out for me, I gave him a budget and he was able to keep it on the lower side of that budget. Johnathan let me know what else I needed to get done on my car to keep it in tip top shape. He also told me how sick it made him when I let him know the other company in town quoted me for services I didn’t need, and that they didn’t mention any of the obvious issues that could have been handled quickly. I really appreciate Johnathan and his team in how quickly they took care of everything for me and got me back on the road the next day. I will be a returning customer for any vehicle needs/ maintenance on my vehicles.

rav4 rides better now. less jarring over bad roads. But negotiating the AAA labor discount.

I was treated with respect! I was informed of everything that concerned my vehicle! I admire their professionalism!

I think the most important thing anyone can be, especially an auto repair company, is honest. Tell anyone what is broke, give them a fair price, and then fix it. The next best thing they need to be is communicative. I came in with a busted water pump and asked them to replace it. They did replace it and the cost ($670) was in the ballpark. Everything else was bad. They filled my windshield wiper fluid ($2.50). I didn't ask them to do that. They replaced my air filter ($35). I didn't ask them to do that, and it didn't need it. I do it myself on regular intervals. The most egregious cost was the coolant flush ($333). I didn't ask for that and I did it last year. They will counter and say because of the pump failure, it is necessary (maybe small metal parts?), but if you google this, it's at least $100 more than everyone else. I came here because my co-worker said they have loaner cars. I waited 3 1/4 hours in the waiting room for them to tell me it was the water pump for sure. They didn't tell me anything until I asked (which it was), but then they gave loaner cars to every aunt, uncle and cousin who walked in, but didn't have any for me. I stressed the importance of getting to my job, and the least they could have done is let me have a loaner car when one came back, but they seemed to be uncaring. They also claimed they didn't have time to also replace the thermostat (which they said should be replaced). The car was in the shop for two full business days and they had at least 4 hours after the parts came Friday. They could have removed all the bad parts on Thursday and installed the new parts on Friday when they came with time to space, unless they take much longer than the industry average. Anyone who will cheat you on costs, not tell you about service and won't communicate with you about your car isn't worth the time. But at least they didn't start my car on fire like someone else's, right? And I did get home with a new water pump, so that's something. Responding to the mechanic: Yes, I came in a the "front of the line" but I listened as a pile of customers added things to their requests that weren't known. I listened to other customers, "can you also do this or that". So I felt that everyone needed stuff right away, not just me. If there's a 20 mile range on loaner cars, that's either BS or new, because my worker, who came to my jobsite 30 miles away used one several times. Charging people $333 for a flush, even if required, without telling them, is wrong and also much higher than everyone else. Do you flush it better than everyone else? Is your flush special? When I did my flush back home last April, it was more than $100 cheaper. Estimated time to replace a water pump is 3-5 labor hours. So assume 3 hours to take it off and two to put back on, at the top end, for an unskilled mechanic in a tough situation. When I went to my shop back home, they asked for approval before fixing anything. No one is against you filling the windshield wiper fluid, but don't charge me for it. Jiffy Lube doesn't. I can buy a whole gallon for what you probably charged me for a quart. Yes, its $2.50, but its $2.50 you didn't ask me about. You feel that I should be grateful that you fixed the part for me. I paid you for it. You didn't do it for free. How far is gratefulness supposed to extend? If you couldn't have done it then, I would have found someone else in town. You created your own work. I feel that several other people in town could have also fixed the part for me, not overcharged me, and also not hand out loaner cars. I feel you should be thankful for the customers you keep. I feel I got taken for $400. For some people, $400 is a week's wages of take home pay, plus the two days I lost of work time due to being stuck in town. I guess they really are indifferent to caring. ASK, don't assume. Get approvals, don't assume.

Repairs were better than expected and much sooner than expected. I was very pleased.

We wanted a estimate on our car and we're told we had to leave our car for a week or it would have to cost us $140.00 if we wanted our car back the same day! It is our only car! We can not go for a full week without a car! We are very low income and need our car fixed that is why semcac was going to help us fix the car! Now we have to go without getting our car fixed cause we are getting strong armed into paying for an estimate! What a crook!

Staff has been very helpful in my search for a vehicle to replace mine after a deer incident, thank you!