Ell-Bern Self-Serv Gas

Don’t take your car here. Will not change your oil without appointment, even if the garage is empty. Then, after making appointment at 8:30 AM the next day (he only takes appointments in the dead of morning), he changes his mind and doesn’t serve you then either. Avoid at all costs.

Cheaper than the Shell a block away and gets the job done. Can’t say much regarding the quality of the inspections here and based on others’ reviews, I’ll keep it that way.

I didn’t even stay for the inspection– that should say enough. The guy who was outside when I pulled up was nasty. He wanted cash for the inspection which is just shady. I said that I had to hit the ATM around the corner, but he wouldn’t let me leave my car parked at the garage while I went to get cash. So, I left and went to the Shell station on Boylston in the Fenway and had a very pleasant and customer service friendly experience.

I went there for a state inspection just after moving to Boston. I’d been up to the RMV earlier that day to get my new plates. The guy at the desk told me it was a 5 minute wait, which was no problem. I then asked if my new MA plates needed to be mounted before the inspection, and he said yes. So I asked if I could borrow a wrench, and he said no… but he’d be happy to put them on for $ 20. Yup… $ 20 for 2 minutes (or less) of «work». I told him I’d go home (around the corner) to take care of it and I’d be right back. It took me 11 minutes to be back at the garage with my new plates on. He then told me that they had to put the machine into self-​maintenance mode, and it would be 40 minutes. Naturally, I told them I’d back back in 40, and I just went to another shop. What a terrible place! I definitely don’t intend to go back.

Can I give it zero stars?!?
I had a *TERRIBLE* experience here. I just moved to Boston from Chicago and, while I realize that the Midwest is a kinder/​gentler nation than Boston, the guys at Ell-​Bern were off the charts Massholes. Mind you, I spent the entire morning at the DMV and that was heaven in comparison to Ell-​Bern…
I took my car in for inspection and the guy that approached me was nasty from the get go. It wasn’t really what he said that offended me so much as how he said it. Every time he finished a sentence, I had an overwhelming desire to throw him the double-​flip off — or punch him in the face.
They refused to do it unless I had my new, MA plates on the car. They would put the plates on for me for an extra $ 10 — oh, but wait, my plates were «difficult» to get off so they charged me more. I asked if I could borrow a wrench — as if it’s difficult to remove/​install license plates — but that would have been a charge as well.
My car failed the inspection, but they didn’t have time to look at it that day to determine the problem. Again, the news was delivered in about the most obnoxious tone possible. Plus, they were going to charge me $ 50 just to put the car on the lift to look at it.
I could go on, but I’m done. It was my fault for not asking around before I chose a service station. I just went to the one that was closest to my apt…

OK. This is ridiculous. Every time I pass by this gas station, there’s all these ghetto fabulous cars coming in and out of it. SERIOUSLY, I’ve never seen so many pimping cars at a gas station… and in multiple occasions. I SWEAR: Escalade, Lexus, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Bentley –MOTHA FUCKA BENTLEY-…I mean, is it where the cool kids with the cool cars hang or is it gangsta rapper central?
I’m just hoping one of these days, I bump into this car there:
Now, that’s class!