El Porto Surf Shop + Surf Lessons & Surf Rentals - by Porto Surf Crew (above Player’s Liquor) — Attraction in Manhattan Beach

TLDR: Work not completed as promised.

Now the details. Wish I could post a happier review. Maybe this will help you and the business owner get the results you both want:

Long story short, I brought in a Becker longboard that had belonged to a family member who passed away several years ago. I asked the shop to repair some dings and prepare the board for display—it would no longer be used in the water, but rather mounted in a place of honor in the former owner's home. The employees at the shop who accepted the project seemed to clearly understand the unique nature of this repair order.

Three weeks later I got a call telling me the board was ready, and the repair costs totaled $180. This seemed low to me, as I was prepared to spend quite a bit more for the services I had requested. When I got to the shop, there was the board—with 10-year-old wax still covering the deck, most dings still present, and two moderately competent sealed dings, nose and tail, color-matched but not what I would call "display quality."

The shop outsources their ding repair to someone called Morrow (check my spelling). I knew this when I commissioned the work. There seems to be a problem in communication with Morrow—the work performed did not match the work requested in any meaningful way. The shop employees assured me the board would be returned to Morrow for the work to be completed properly.

After another three weeks, I got a voice mail telling me the board was ready, they were having a hard time reaching me, and they were going to start charging me storage for the board if I didn't come pick it up. I arranged for my sister—the former owner's WIDOW, for whom this work was being done—to go retrieve the "completed" longboard. When she arrived, nothing had changed. The board had never left the shop. It was still covered with wax, dings un-addressed, NOT ready for pickup.

The shop blamed all this on Morrow, but when your name's on the door and you're accepting customers' money and making promises, at the end of the day, YOU as the business owner are responsible for what happens inside the doors of your business. If you can't rely on your employees, your sub-contractors, or your suppliers to live up to the assurances they make on your behalf, YOU have a problem. Own it, make it right, try to exceed your customers' expectations.

In this case, I'm the one who will have to make this right, and I'll have do it on my time with some other shop. Ironically, this is the shop my brother-in-law used back in the day, under...

This place is awesome and embodies what it means to be a local surf shop. Great selection of boards, wetsuits and all the gear you could hope for. Plenty of rental options - and not just soft tops - for folks who are visiting and want to paddle out. Plus surf report by text and their own private wave cam - they even have fresh coffee available in the morning bright and early at 6:30 a.m. for dawn patrol.

What's really worth mentioning is their ding repair service now. TJ is a master with putty, poly, and fiberglass. His color matching is spot on and honestly he'll make your board look like it never had any dings at all. He recently took care of some pretty bad damage to my Mitzven fish and a brand new custom shape. I honestly couldn't find the repairs without a pretty close inspection. And the price is right for that level of craftsmanship and attention to detail, all with a solid turnaround...

One of the best surf shop I have ever been to, they are so kind and welcoming. Luke made my day, and helped me so much! He found the perfect board and wetsuit for me to rent, best price and super affordable! Was trying to catch some surf before flight, they were able to hold my stuff while surfing and kept it safe. Location was perfect right near beach and love their hours of availability… I love this surf shop and will def be back in the future. Highly recommend this place!!! Luke is the best, go see him and he will help you have a...