Barney’s Service Station

I’ve been to so many mechanics, I’ve been ripped off so many times in the past. My trust? Non existent. But Vito and his friends here, wow, you guys are amazing. Every time I bring my car here or have friends come here, I never think twice about the advice I’m going to get. No matter if it’s a costly ordeal or something minor, I know that these guys actually care about the customer, I never ever feel I’m being ripped off, or that something is too high priced, it’s trust. Let me put it this way, if I were to ever move out of state, I would call Barneys and double check another mechanics information with theirs.

I’ve only come here twice for an oil change. My gut feeling told me not to any more. Something just didn’t feel right while driving. So I went to a new place and guy said that oil was so low and black, it was almost empty. I’ve had my car for 9 years and always maintain it. I was shocked that I almost ruined my car because of them.

Since I get a new car every three years I never need repair work other than an occasional flat fixed but I have been using them for oil changes and scheduled maintenance for years. Five or six years ago i was sitting in their office/​waiting room while they did an oil change. A lady comes in and among other things requests they replace her timing belt because she has a lot of mileage on her car. Tony, the owner, looks up her car and tells her that her car has a timing chain, not a belt, and that it does not need to be replaced.
This was a perfect example of someone who could have been easily ripped off without any suspicion but this repair shop chose to take the high road and save the customer a large expense

This service station is as good as it gets! My family has been using them for as long as they have been around. Vito is kind, explains everything and won’t make a move on your car without discussing it with you. Tony is a great guy and genuinely cares about the customer. I wouldn’t think of bringing my car anywhere else.

RIPOFF! BEWARE!!! The owner and the manager come off as being «friendly and honest»… however that is not the case. I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 26 years and although this is not my «repair shop of choice», I have used them occasionally for minor things… inspection, oil change, bulbs, because they are very close to where I live so it’s convenient. I’ve only used them a few times over the years… and that is the problem… They seem to have a very good rapport with «regular customers» but they have everything on computer (which I think is a good thing) but if they see you are not a regular customer, they try to rip you off at every opportunity! Last week was the last straw for me! About two years ago, when my car was due for inspection, I knew I had a headlight out and I never had a headlight replaced on my car before so I had no idea what it was going to cost, but I left my car for inspection and told the manager, Vito, about the headlight and I asked him how much it would cost… He said he would have to find out… So, I told him to call me before they do any work on my car if he finds anything else wrong that would prevent me from passing inspection. So, he called me and told me that headlight bulb that I needed would cost $ 25 PLUS labor and tax. (I forgot what it came to, but it was EXPENSIVE just to have a headlamp replaced!!) I flipped because I had no idea how costly it would be! and deep in my heart, I knew I was being ripped off… but he gave me a whole story about how it’s a «special» type of bulb and it’s expensive and the labor to get the headlamp mechanism off to replace it is time consuming, etc. So just not to have a hassle with re-​inspection, etc., I told him to go ahead with it. They know they have you when you are there for inspection… AND I was a prime target… female, BLONDE, and need inspection toward the end of the month, etc. So then a few months later, that headlamp that they replaced burned out! and mind you I don’t use my car that much to begin with and EVEN LESS AT NIGHT!!! So, I went in with my receipt and told Vito the story so he checked the computer. and told me that he will replace it, BUT he said he would still have to charge me for labor. Labor was $ 15 + tax!!! just for the labor to replace the bulb! I think I used them one time after that for an oil change, and my recent experience last week was the straw that broke the camel’s back!!! I had a coupon for an oil change «special» $ 24.99 instead of the usual $ 29.99 (big deal!!) but again, I only went there for convenience. The owner checked my car in and I told him that my brake light is out and also told him to have my car checked for anything else like hoses, etc. but to call me with a price before any work is done if they find anything else wrong. (because I know the «game») And I asked how much the bulb would be and he said «about $ 10». I KNEW this was way over the top for a REAR bulb… Even I (a female) knows that a rear bulb is replaced through a panel in the trunk and it’s relatively easy, and all it is, is a tiny little bulb that can be purchased in an auto parts store for a few bucks! He saw my facial expression so he asked if he should do it so I reluctantly said ok. About ½ hour later, Vito called me and told me that the bulb replacement was going to be $ 15!!! I lost it and I told him that the owner told me $ 10, so he checked with the owner and the owner said that he told me «ABOUT $ 10! COME ON!!! How could the owner be off by $ 5 for a stinkin’ bulb!!! ! I told him to forget it and not to replace the bulb. He told me it was already done and he asked if I wanted him to take it out. I said YES! So, he apparently put my old bulb back and BROKE another bulb that is on the electrical panel that houses the rear bulbs! I found out via the internet, the # of the bulb that I needed and I went to an auto parts place and purchased a pack of TWO of those bulbs for $ 5.99 AND I put the bulbs in myself. I lucked out that the other bulb that they broke was the same # bulb, so I used the extra bulb to replace the one that they broke!!! So, it ended up costing me $ 6.51 for TWO bulb replacements and NOT $ 15.00 FOR ONE BULB REPLACEMENT!!! NEVER AGAIN! Auto repair shops usually buy bulbs in bulk at wholesale prices; it probably cost them ONE dollar for a bulb. I’ve had rear bulbs replaced numerous times at various repair shops and most recently, I recall being charged $ 3 in one place and $ 5 in another! I don’t mind paying more sometimes for the convenience of having it done, but these guys are just plain GREEDY!!! For many years, I got my gas there EVERY WEEK, but no more!!! I’m DONE with this place!

Just replaced all the needed items and actually found a car jack for $ 25 at sears. I took it to another repair facility and guess what… It passed withing 20 min. Well G Dam. So it ended up costing me$ 35 dollars less. When I went to this new car repair center they told me that I could have taken it back to the where it failed first and it would only have cost me $ 5 for the re-​check and inspection. Those grease balls are one of a kind. Well back to CA.

I just read the two bad reviews that Barney’s Service Station received, and am thinking it must be from the same person, because they couldn’t be further from the truth. I came to Barney’s after it being highly recommended by at least a dozen people in my area (Bayside). At least a dozen. I heard nothing but raves and great things about this place. After having the same mechanic for 15 years, I was very leary about having to get a new one. Vito, the manager and Tony the owner were nothing but courteous, friendly and very nice. Vito talked me through everything he was doing, every step of the way (and even quoted me prices of everything). Their prices are reasonable. I was in and out in about an hour with my problem fixed. They took me right away with no questions or attitudes and if my car would have had to stay there, they would’ve driven me home and came back to get me if I couldn’t get back to them. That’s customer service. I will refer anyone to them. They do excellent work and are fair and reasonable. The mechanics themselves were very courteous as well. If you don’t believe me, check them out for yourselves…

I used to think these guys were great. Their prices seemed honest and they are usually able to stick to their quoted price and time within reason. However, over the past two years, it’s felt like their prices have climbed and their quality of work has weakened. On three separate occasions, I’ve had to take the car back to fix again what they were suppose to have fixed already. Mind you, I’ve already paid but then I find I still have to pay a little extra because they find something else wrong and that’s why my original issue is still an issue. Sound confusing? Yea, because it was. The last straw was when we sent the car in for our check engine light… and without even having anything fixed, we were charge 75 dollars! When we asked why… they said it was for it being hooked up to a machine for diagnostics AND for having a guy just look at it. He didn’t even tell us what caused the light to go on… just something random like «Some tubes and flush the liquids» was given to us as an explanation. They tried to get us to change the shocks too… and it would have came out to $ 500 or so. But then, we just had the shocks changed less than a year ago. So, what’s up with that? Feeling shammed here.