Google Review:
“Dishonest. Went for $100 alignment. They refused and quoted me $4800 of services. Charged me $50 for the quote. Needless to say I left. Next day went to another place and got an alignment for under $100. SMH. I’m so tempted to call the Better Business Bureau.”
🪼 Seeing a review like this stings — not because we did anything wrong, but because it shows a customer left without understanding why we couldn’t do the work they requested. And if there’s one thing good shops try to avoid, it’s misunderstandings.
So let’s talk about it openly:
Honest auto shops turn away work.
Not because we don’t want to help, but because we refuse to do unsafe, incomplete, or misleading repairs — even when those repairs are exactly what someone thinks they came in for.
Why We Sometimes Say “No” — And Why It’s the Honest Choice
Starting with the Alignment Review
1. When a “Repair” Isn’t Safe, It Isn’t Ethical
An alignment isn’t just “straightening the wheels.” It’s a precision service that depends on suspension and steering components being solid and functioning correctly.
If those parts are:
- Bent
- Broken
- Loose
- Severely worn
- Rusted beyond safe adjustment
…then an alignment cannot be performed correctly.
In the review above, the vehicle had multiple safety issues that prevented a proper alignment, more importantly, an alignment would not fix the underlying issue. These included excessively worn and loose front control arm bushings and sway bar links, loose ball joints, and a bent rear control arm – among other issues.
Attempting an alignment anyway would lead to:
- Rapid tire wear
- Unsafe handling
- The car still pulling or wandering
- A false sense of safety
- Liability for everyone involved
So when we inspect a vehicle and find major issues — sometimes several thousand dollars’ worth — the ethical choice is to stop, explain the findings, and decline the alignment until the problems are corrected.
Doing the alignment anyway for a quick $100?
That would be dishonest.This same mindset and transparency applies to all the work we do.
“But another shop aligned it…”
Unfortunately, some places will perform a minimal “toe set,” print an alignment sheet, and send you out the door. It’s fast. It’s cheap. It’s not the full service you think you’re getting.
It often ignores:
- Worn ball joints
- Failing tie rods
- Damaged control arms
- Bent suspension & steering components
- Loose bushings
- Frame or subframe issues
Will the car technically drive straighter for a moment? Sure, possibly.
Will it stay aligned? No.
Is it safe? That depends — and we’re not willing to gamble with your safety.
2. We Refuse “Band-Aid Repairs” 🩹
Sometimes people want the quickest or least expensive fix possible. We understand that — but band-aid repairs come at a cost.
They often lead to:
- Repeat breakdowns
- Wasted money
- Bigger future repairs
- Unsafe driving conditions
If a requested shortcut doesn’t solve the real problem — or makes the situation unsafe — we’ll turn the work away rather than take your money for something we know won’t help.
3. We Don’t Install Used Parts
While we’re willing to install customer-supplied new parts, we do not install used or previously installed components.
Used parts come with too many unknowns, including:
- Hidden wear or internal damage
- Previous improper installation
- Shortened remaining lifespan
- Higher risk of immediate or catastrophic failure
Even when a used part “looks fine,” there’s no reliable way to verify its history or safety. Installing used components puts you — and us — at risk, and it’s something we won’t compromise on.
This policy reinforces our commitment to no shortcuts, no temporary fixes, and repairs done responsibly.
4. We Won’t Guarantee Customer-Supplied Parts
We understand some customers prefer to supply their own parts, and we’re willing to work with you — with clear understanding and expectations.
When we don’t source the part ourselves, too many variables are out of our control.
When sourcing the part we can:
- Guarantee the quality
- Verify the correct fit
- Offer a warranty on the part AND labor
- Ensure the quality of the part and that it’s built to last
Installing a part we didn’t supply means the repair carries unknown risks, and we won’t gamble on safety or reliability. We’re happy to perform the installation with the understanding that the repair is not guaranteed or warrantied in any way.
Transparency up front ensures no one is rolling the dice on safety.
No guesswork. No gamble.
5. We Won’t Take On Jobs We Can’t Complete Properly
If a repair requires specialized equipment, software we don’t carry, or manufacturer-specific expertise another shop is better equipped for, we’ll tell you — not guess, not experiment, and not waste your time.
A good shop knows its limits and protects your vehicle by respecting them.
Turning Away Work Isn’t About Money — It’s About Integrity
Some people assume shops recommend repairs just to pad the bill. In reality, reputable shops do the opposite:
We turn away profitable work when it isn’t the right repair.
Why?
Because we value:
- Your safety
- Our reputation
- The long-term health of your vehicle
- Ethical, Honest and professional standards
We’d rather lose a job today than do something unsafe or dishonest.
Bottom Line
When we decline an alignment — or any repair — it’s not because we’re trying to upsell. It’s because the vehicle needs real attention before the requested service can be safely completed.
Saying “yes” to everything might make people happy in the moment, but it isn’t ethical or safe.
Integrity means doing the right repair, not the easy one.
And that’s why good shops turn away bad work.
Sandston Automotive
SMALL TOWN FEEL, BIG TIME SERVICE
804-737-7206
