It's a little sad having to write this review because I genuinely like to support local businesses. (e.g. I know all my Dunkin Donuts servers by name 🥰) But I recently had an unfortunate experience with Nerger's...and I have a funny feeling I'm not the only one. FYI: If you’re reading this review and thinking a 4.7 rating for a car shop is good, please note: -- 4.6 is the bare *minimum* for adequate service. -- Nerger’s is only *one* point above this threshold. -- My regular mechanic is a solid 4.9 🏆 When it comes to my car, I don't mess around. However, after a shaky first experience with Nerger's (details not important), I wanted to give them a second chance. 💚 I tried them again because they really seemed like nice people. So I left the past in the past and decided to stop by in person to get some quick info about addressing an urgent issue with my car. But here's what happened: 1. I explained the issue and asked for a ballpark estimate for the cost of a diagnostic. 2. Unfortunately, when I asked how Nerger's $189/hr diagnostic rate compared to the dealership’s quote of $239 plus tax, the Nerger's front office rep got oddly defensive. I just wanted a way to do an apples to apples comparison instead of...apples to dinosaurs. But, instead of answering my honest question: 3. The Nerger's front office rep went into a 30-second speech about how Nerger's has been around for 30 years...how they really know what they're doing...and how they really have the expertise and technical skills to do a thorough diagnostic...none of which had anything to do with my question. 4. She then complained about me asking a similar question in a conversation we had a *year* ago. Yes, really. 5. She made it personal. This was not only unnecessary, but unprofessional. I wasn’t being rude. I wasn't disputing Nerger's "30 years of expertise." I just wanted to understand their pricing in the context of the quote I had gotten from the dealership. When the Nerger's rep became visibly upset (talking faster, raising her voice), I tried again to clarify my question. - I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't be commissioning diagnostic labor that would expand beyond the scope I was willing to pay. - Nerger's open-ended hourly rate seemed like a financial gamble. - I wanted to respect both Nerger's time and my budget. But, somehow, this was not the right thing to do...? 😮 The Nerger's rep seemed more interested in airing out a 1-year grudge (why?) than helping a customer who was just trying to give them a second chance. Ah well...I tried. Lol. FYI: I’ve dealt with plenty of car shops over the years - from local shops, to national chains, to dealerships - and I've never had this experience before. THE LESSON: ⚠️ If you ask a car shop to clarify their pricing and they instead launch into a speech about how they know what they're doing because they've been around for XYZ years, etc, but they never answer your question? That's a red flag. It means they're likely over-charging you for the same work a dealership does. ⚠️ Any car shop worth their salt should be able to handle a basic question about their pricing model in a professional manner, without deflecting the question, taking offense, or making it personal. *Not if they truly care about you as a customer. ⚠️ Also: I don't tolerate unprofessional behavior. Ever. As a customer, you shouldn’t either. ✅ I’ll be sticking with my regular mechanic in Manville - 4.9 stars. They do phenomenal work, give pricing that makes sense, don't get offended if you ask questions, and they treat customers with genuine respect.❤️ And they once saved me $2000 in maintenance work. 💸 They're busy at the moment (ahem, cuz they're 4.9 stars) but, after the experience I had with Nerger's, 4.9 stars is worth the wait! And if you had a similar experience with Nerger's, please don't feel bad - you're not the only one. And you deserve better. My advice: Find a car shop that's 4.8 or above. It's like night and day. 😉 You can thank me later. Hope this review is helpful to you. 🌺 #vroomVroom
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We always appreciate feedback, even when it’s critical, as it gives us a chance to clarify how we operate and what customers can expect at Nerger’s Auto Express. We’ve proudly served our community for over 36 years with a team of highly skilled, certified technicians. With over 500 Google reviews and a 4.7-star rating, we’re proud of the trust our customers place in us—especially when it comes to complex diagnostics, including intermittent electrical issues like the one you brought to us. Our diagnostic process and pricing structure are always communicated clearly before any work begins. In your case, we explained multiple times that due to the intermittent nature of the issue, a precise estimate could not be given upfront. That’s not unusual in auto repair—especially for electrical problems that are not consistently present and therefore require a methodical, step-by-step approach to diagnose effectively. Our diagnostic rate reflects the experience of our technicians and the time and equipment required to get to the root of such problems. While we aim to treat every customer with professionalism and courtesy, our front office staff felt the conversation was repeatedly derailed by insistence on a fixed price for a situation that simply doesn't allow for one. We regret that this led to a frustrating interaction, but we stand by our commitment to honest, thorough diagnostics and transparent communication. We wish you the best with your preferred shop moving forward. — Nerger’s Auto Express Team
- Nerger's Auto Express