Kidd’s Towing & Auto Repair

Last May they recommended about $ 1500 worth of work, including the replacement of my alternator.
My regular mechanic that I trust is only ½ mile away from my house, but I let them convince me to use their free tow to their Beaumont shop, 12 miles away.
What was I thinking?
From May to October 2012 I had constant mysterious electrical problems with my car. Three different times I took it in to different places when it died, thinking there was a transmission problem, a dirty fuel line or in need of a tune-​up. None of those shops could figure out what the problems was. I never suspected the alternator because I has just replaced it!
Finally, the car died for the umpteenth time and I opted to try out a foreign car specialist in Yucaipa, Exclusive Auto. They found the problem in 30 mins — the alternator!
They replaced the «new» alternator and all the mystery disappeared.
The May alternator replacment was still under warranty, but my daughter didn’t realize that and authorized the new replacement. Exclusive said that if they had installed a faulty part, and a customer came to them with the core (the old part), in such a situation, they would refund the entire cost of the faulty part, but not the labor charge.
When I approached Kidd Auto Repair with the core, the guy I spoke to laughed at me. He said since another shop had touched it, Kidd’s would have nothing to do with it. He said we should have brought it to them. I responded that I didn’t know what the problem was, so why would I call a shop 12 miles away?
It is probably not Kidd AutoRepair’s fault that the part was faulty (unles they installed a used part, not a new one?), but I feel they treated me shamefully.
I would NEVER go back there.

I was stranded on the 215 FWY when my car quit running, unfortunately it was right smack dab in the middle of the new construction. I could barely get over to the side of the freeway and had my 2 year old granddaughter in the back seat with me; we were right behind a curve, kind of hidden and I was so worried someone would hit us we were so close to the side of the freeway. My insurance company GEICO called 2 other towing services who said they would be there within an hour; this towing service said they would be out to us much sooner. By the time the service guy arrived, I was close to hysterical since every time a big truck whooshed by my car would shake… the young man who showed up in a black Honda took charge immediately, checked and re-​checked my car as other cars zoomed by (sometimes frighteningly close by). Within minutes he got my car up and running and I was able to get home. I understand his name was Jimmy… and let me tell you, Jimmy had a really great attitude and made me feel really confident that he was going to help me out of that situation… and he did it quickly and very professionally and with a big smile for me at the end– not once making me feel bad to be crying like I was! Kidd’s Towing, I appreciate the fact that you were there so quickly and employ someone as helpful and professional as Jimmy… and oh yeah, cool beard, too! Thank you for being there with such great service!