Baker Auto — Local services in Baker

The worst experience I have had at not only a “mechanic,” but any place of business period. I had the misfortune of meeting three individuals:

The man I spoke to early in the morning who could not be bothered and had me research availability of my own part (an alternator) from his ‘supplier’ (Autozone). I was actually happy to do it at the time. The man who opened the shop at 11 was not only unhelpful to me an others, but rude toward pretty much anyone who approached. The owner (AKA: A COUNTY SHERIFF) who answered the call of our dispute himself and had me pay in full. Nice enough of a guy. Good cop. Terrible business owner. Copy and paste any small town sheriff and you’ll have the picture right.

I think it is understood by everyone that things are more expensive in remote locations. They have to be. But man #2 not only failed to disclose a simple battery charge (in which I pulled the battery myself with my own tools) was $25 but also that all services are cash only. He vaguely gestured to the entire town when I asked where I could pull cash. After walking a quarter mile to two different gas stations that didn’t have an ATM or cash back, I was fed up. I went back to Baker Automotive, and offered the $8 cash I had. When he would not accept or assist me in finding an ATM, I left the money and took my battery back. Man #2 tried to grab it from me but I kept walking. He then called the police on me, filmed me, and introducing me to Man #3 Owner/Sheriff. In squad car and full uniform.

I tried reasoning with Man #3. But I could see it wasn’t going to do me any good (as he tried to argue $90 to charge a battery is normal and I was getting a “deal.” 🙄). He drove me to and ATM in the back of a squad car. I paid them and got the hell out. I hopefully will never encounter them ever again.

I get that places like this can charge whatever they want because they’re the only option. The price is the price and I’m this case I was more than willing to pay the $25z. But they could at least display an ounce of customer serviceability before calling their “muscle.”

Edit/Response: I have never ‘intimidated’ anyone into doing anything in my life. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer I think my integrity in this regard is well documented. You may also review Man #2s video of me if looking for verification that I did not attempt to “drive away.” I waited calmly for the officer and left a message with the dispatch operator asking for advice in this regard. I did not know what to do as I had never had the police called on me before in my life. I am not sure why the officer CLEARLY described himself as the owner NUMEROUS times. You should ask him why. It should not be difficult as all of you were on a first name basis. You are correct that there was no part to be picked up. Autozone informed me it would not be available until Tuesday. This did not work for my schedule and thus I had the battery charged in attempt to limp my car home without said new alternator. You would have known my intentions and had the opportunity to direct me not to work on my car, while I waited for your two hour delayed opening, had you not interrupted me and hung up the phone after saying, “Someone else will be there at 11 to...

My daughter"s car broke down on her way back home from Las Vegas she was past Baker Ca. she has AAA but only the 7 mile tow so the tow truck driver towed her back to Baker Ca. We live about 21/2 hours away so I got in the car to drive to Baker to see what if anything I could do. My daughter suffers from Anxiety so I knew that even if I was just there I could at least calm her down. My AAA wouldn't be able to tow her car home for another week so I planned to take her home and then go back in a week and have her car towed home. My daughter thought that it was the head gasket because of having a previous car that blew a head gasket. I was afraid that if I took it somewhere in Baker that I wouldn't know if they were telling us the truth or not and might try to charge us more because of us being 2 females but I went ahead and called Baker Auto Repair to see if they could look at it and at least see what it might be. Mark (the owner) came to where the car was parked to look at it and see if he could find the problem. Mark(owner) quickly diagnosed the problem and was able to by pass the problem (i wish I could tell what it is but I can't remember so lets just say you don't need it to drive the car.) so that we could get home and have our mechanic do the repair, It turned out to be a minor repair. Mark made sure that everything was okay and that we could make it home with no problems.When Mark handed me the bill to pay and l truly believed that it would be very costly because of our situation., it was NOT, Mark only charged us for the Antifreeze that was lost when the engine over heated and the feet that he charges for looking at the vehicle The bill was less than $128.00! If you ever find yourself stranded in the desert do yourself a favor and call Baker Auto Repair, Mark is a fair and descent man and knows what he is doing when it comes to repairing vehicles. He also has a good sense of humor and keeps you laughing as well fixes your car. I can't say enough about this man, to find a descent honest man these days is not always easy but I found one in Baker Ca....

My kids and I were on our way for vacation when my van started acting up just after Baker. We did a U turn and landed at Baker Auto Repair. The owner is a PRINCE! He probably doesn't remember me now because it's been a couple yrs. He looked at our van (2009 KIA Sedona) and told me I didn't need him. I could order the Fuel Filter/Pump on Amazon and put it in myself...Yikes I thought but he was sure it was that simple. He said he would pick us up if we didn't make it all the way back to Vegas first...WOW! We made it, I ordered the part and he was completely right. One short Youtube How To video later I changed my own fuel filter/pump. Took about 10 minutes. I have thought of him OFTEN since. He could have taken us to the cleaners but it didn't even occur to him to try. I have since learned how to do a LOT of my own repairs too. He's one of a kind and a dying breed of mechanic. In fact, I came across these reviews because I am looking to call him about a repair on my son's car. I will gladly drive the hour or so, from Vegas, to get there & know we are in good hands AND to finally tell him Thank You for what he did for us so long ago now. Highly recommend this garage. Honest mechanics and good people are few and far between, but that's what we found at Baker...