Relative Something

One of the things that happens when people grow into responsible adulthood is that we amass a number of service providers that we like to identify as ‘our own.’ Children may be heard to say, ‘my teacher‘ or ‘my best friend,’ but adults will acquire, ‘my accountant,’ or ‘my plumber.’

Maybe it is my continued reluctance to actually grow up, but I haven’t quite accomplished enough of a relationship with service providers to feel I could call them my own, even in cases where I would really like that to be the case; with one noteworthy exception: ‘my‘ auto repair shop is World Auto Repair in Eden Prairie.

My father always fixed his own cars. He did everything himself. Somehow, I didn’t learn any of it. When I found myself responsible for my own vehicle, with Dad no longer available, I struggled to find an alternative that might somehow compare. I tried some small, independent shops, but had a bad experience at one, and didn’t trust that another would even exist by the time I next needed help. For a while, I gave in and used a dealership, but the return on that investment never really added up. It was sufficient, but never a bargain, and try as they might, they never made me feel like I was getting the personalized attention I desired.

Luckily, I didn’t give up on a quest to find what I truly longed for: a place that could take care of my cars like a dealership, yet made me feel as if I had someone like my Dad looking after my interests. The staff of World Auto Repair have never disappointed. My family has been relying on their expertise to maintain all of our cars for many years.

They have rescued us from disasters, large and small. We bring them routine oil changes, manufacturer-recommended scheduled maintenance, and projects like replacing a broken axle. When my car needed new tires, I asked for advice. I don’t know a thing about tires, except that they can be surprisingly expensive. After I answered a few simple questions, they assured me they could take care of it. It was an early landmark event that told me I had found what I was hoping for. The tires they ordered were on target for my budget, looked great for the car, and have performed flawlessly in all seasons.

The people of World Auto Repair always demonstrate the admirable standard of reasonably interpreting our situation and suggesting the most fitting solutions. I never fear being over-sold, and I have never felt neglected. I have lost count of the number of times they have accommodated our sometimes confused logistics by providing a ride to, or from, our home to pick up and drop off vehicles. One time, when Cyndie and I became confused over picking up a car, we ended up learning from them that they had already taken care of it with our son.

If there is any failure in our relationship with World Auto Repair, it is most likely on me, as a function of my feeling like they are part of the family now, and walking in their shop like I’m the only customer they have. However, they might also be partly responsible, for always providing service that makes it seem to me, I am their most important one.