Mad Hatter Mufflers & Auto Repair

176 Queen St, Southington, CT 06489, USA

Address:	176 Queen St, Southington, CT 06489, USA
Phone:	+1 860-628-8888
Site:	madhatterautorepairs.com
Rating:	3.9
Working:	8AM–5:30PM 8AM–5:30PM 8AM–5:30PM 8AM–5:30PM 8AM–5:30PM 8AM–1PM Closed

Location

Photos 6

Reviews 4

Anonymous User

Here is the run down of my experience during April 2010 with my 2001 Nissan Sentra SE: Car issues I asked to be checked: 1-Light friction noise coming from front driver’s side wheel. 2-Alternator overcharging battery. 3-Car alarm goes off randomly. I also had a $50 coupon for an oil change, tire rotation, and other very minor work. I brought my car into their shop at 8am on a Wednesday. I was called the next day and informed that all the work had been done but there was an issue with replacing my alternator. I was told by Jeff that they would need to order a new alternator from New Jersey as their local supplier did not carry specifically what they needed. On Friday, the same week, I called and was told the alternator from NJ was defective and they needed to reorder. I was reluctantly offered a rental car for the weekend. I refused as I had no plans and my wife has a car. Monday I heard nothing and ended up calling one hour before they closed and was told by Jeff that everything was done. So, JUST related to the alternator the shop had my car from Wednesday to the next Monday night (six full days). Now here are my major complaints: 1-I was told by Jeff that the friction noise disappeared after the tire rotation. I assumed that maybe it was due to tire wear on that specific tire. When I picked up my car the noise was EXACTLY the same, no improvement. I informed Jeff, he was very disinterested. 2-Jeff told me, only after I asked that the car alarm thing was nothing he was willing/able to handle. He simply offered to disconnect the alarm component. 3-After I picked up my car I noticed a VERY prominent “rattling” noise from under my hood. I noticed this roughly 12 hours after picking up my car from their shop. I had no idea what the noise was but assure you that it NEVER made that noise for the five years I have owned it. I called the shop and told Jeff about the new issue. He told me to bring in the car as soon as I could for him to look at it. I had no choice but to bring it the next morning at 8am. I informed him that I had to be at work and would need a rental, as he previously offered due to my hassles. He said I would be able to borrow a Jetta in order to get to work. I arrived at the shop that morning and the receptionist was informed that I could “wait” if the issue was simple. I ended up waiting for 45 minutes as there was confusion with the staff/mechanics. Jeff arrived and told me that the issue was due to two front bushings being dry rotted and damaged/missing due to being up on the lift for the previous work. He offered to order new bushings and install them at no cost to me (great!, right?). That was two weeks ago. Jeff called and told me he ordered them, I have heard nothing since. In short, I will NEVER go back and will NEVER refer anyone to their shop. I was offered nothing for all the hassles. The total for all the work ($50 coupon, new alternator, wheel alignment, and labor) was $700. The entire time I interacted with Mad Hatter I felt like an annoyance, not a customer.

Anonymous User

2 hours for an oil change are you kidding me! First the fat lazy F*** at the desk took 10 minutes to say hi to me and asked me what I needed (with an attitude like I was bothering him) Then I asked him how long he thought it would be he said he would find out soon he was busy (trying to hit on all the women in the store, like he had a chance) I asked him a half hour later if he could see how long it would be so I could go for a walk or something instead of sitting around waiting. He told me he couldnt get up because the phone kept ringing (personal phone calls, and he was to fat and lazy to get out of his "fat lazy person wheel chair") I asked them to use 10w-30 and they didnt have 10w-30 who the hell owns a oil change place and doesnt have 10w30. The oil change is finally over the kid brings in the keys and put them on the desk in front of the fat lazy guy and he looks at them and tells one of the ladys there her car will be done shortly and starts trying to flirt with her again like he had a chance. Then the phone rings and it turns out to be another personal phone call about dinner (go figure a fat lazy guy talking about dinner for 15 minutes while Im trying to get my keys and go) then another guy brings out keys for the lady there and he gets off the phone and rings her up then it took him 15 minutes to get his fat lazy A** out of the "fat lazy person wheelchair" and get me a quote on wiper blades "becuase they were bad" I just replaced them myself a month ago. I finally get out of there and a day later I get a phone call from my fiancee telling me there is a huge puddle of oil under her car turns out they stripped the oil pan too! Oh and 12 5 star reviews on september 5th really your gonna tell me they didnt sit there on a slow day of work and create new names to give themself good review at least wait a few days and come up with some good comments! Needless to say Im upset I cant rate any lower than 1!

Anonymous User

These guys are the best!!! I went to a few different repair facilities before deciding on this one for my first repair over 5 years ago. At that time I lived in West Hartford. Now I live in Southern Vermont and after checking out the repair shops in my area, still make the 90 mile trip to see Jeff if something is wrong with my vehicle. The service here is unmatched, they always communicate exactly what is wrong, in plain English, before they begin repairs. 2 Years ago I had a near complete overhaul on the top-end of my Mercedes Benz engine performed here. This car.. runs so beautifully after the repair.. everything clean, handled with care. I just purchased a newer Jeep and the first thing I did was bring it here. Mad Hatter was able to identify both safety issues, and maintenance issues that needed to be addressed, and broke them down for me. In and out fast - now I do not worry about this vehicle. I know after these guys check it out, it will be reliable, and thats the best feeling you can get from your car. Anthony Torello Torello & Associates LLC

Anonymous User

Though the service was pretty bad. Made an appointment in person. Receptionist and mechanic then started arguing about the time of my appointment. Came back for appointment, guy at front desk greeted me with "What do you want?" and told me to sit down that he be right with me. I watched in amusement as he proceeded to take three personal calls, have a fifteen minute conversation about the "good old days" with another customer, and then I got angry as he took a walk-in before me. From other reviewers I gather that this is the owner who likes to talk a lot. He made silly comments such as "I cant remember my name." It shows. I walked out without saying anything, did not want to speak to them because I was so angry and did not want to cause a scene. I am writing bad review because its not the first time, my wife got jerked around by them a few months ago over tires. Apparently other reviewers dont mind and still give good reviews after being jerked around like this.