Bo Jonsson's Volvo-Saab Svc

This morning (2/12/2007) I witnessed an act of kindness that warmed the heart and validated my belief in the general goodness of folks I come across. Heres the scenario: Due to a miscalculation (OK, OK. Ill let you call it for all its worth: bullhead stupidity.) on my part while backing up my Saab into my garage, I did so before the garage door had completed its ascent. Thus, I snapped the antenna mast in half. It was either looking at that miserable antenna, which was still able to pull in most AM stations, or getting it fixed to allow me to forget my stupid act. Thus, I came upon Saab-Volvo Bo Jonsson's Independent Service at 111 E.20th Ave in San Mateo, a hitherto pop-son business now run entirely by son Patric after his dads demise a couple of years back. Hed quoted me a very reasonable sum of $100 for the job, as the antenna mast cost him $42. All well and dandy.

Pats a very congenial Swede who must stand at least 6 6 tall, a frightening figure in a strange dark alley but a gentle cheerful giant of a man in his shop. While chatting with him as he began opening the shop this Monday morning, I saw a Chinese woman in her 50s pull into his driveway in her Volvo. Shed somehow lost a hubcap over the weekend and asked Pat if he could replace it. In the vast recesses of Pats well-categorized mind, he recalled he had just the identical hubcap the lady needed, whereupon he searched for it, found it, and replaced it for her on the spot, a transaction that took less than 10 minutes. When the lady asked for her bill, Pat said to forget it. The hubcaps on the house. ( I just did a perfunctory search on Google, and a good condition hubcap goes for $50. ) I didnt see any scratches or flaws on the hubcap Pat installed for the lady. It was gratifying to see the surprised look on the ladys face, as she incredulously asked if he were kidding. Nope. No charge, Pat repeated. The lady drove away radiating gratitude that I could feel from 20 away.

After the lady drove off, Pat told me the lady had been a regular customer for years, but hed rarely seen her after her husband died unexpectedly 5-6 years ago. Undoubtedly, shed fallen on hard times and had to curtail her spending. Pat understood this, as his own father had died similarly 2 years ago, so he knew how devastating a death could do to the family finances. Besides, he said, that hubcap was probably given him by a customer who no longer needed it. Why shouldnt this lady benefit from that customers generosity? And why should he even think of profiting from it? Wow! Could we use this mentality in corporate America!

My friends tell me Im overly sentimental, tending to gush effusively on encountering a deed such as the one above. I dont care. Let me reside in the company of all the Pats in the world rather than those who wouldnt dream of performing an act of kindness when its least expected. By the way, my final bill came to $82, well under the original estimate of $100, a sum I wouldve gladly paid to blot out my momentary act of stupidity. ;-)

When I moved to this area, the Saab mechanic I used previously recommended him. I had a brake job done and they came in under there estimate -- I paid $450 or so. And I had 5000 mile service done as well which was $170 ore less (off the
top of my head). I though this was a bit expensive
but...they are honest and pointed out minor problems to keep on top of but that did not need to be fixed right then and there. Being a woman I felt good about them.

I also really liked that I could drop my car off the night before (after hours) and pick up the car the next day, also after hours given my hectic schedule.

PROS: Honest, fair service; over night drop off/pick up
CONS: