Seth Braun Automotive — Local services in Lacon

Hello Seth, you continue to lie, you misrepresented the vehicle saying it needed nothing all lies, the brakes are at 20% and tires will need replaced by winter, you informed me that you will NOT put new tires because the ones on it are ok. You did offer to buy it back but wanted me to drive it back to you which I said I felt uncomfortable doing in it's condition because if further damage occured it would be on me. Your lies made you untrustworthy to do repairs.You were suppose to come and get it but wouldn't after I said I also wanted the money back I wasted registering it. I was never beligerant, I said your a shoddy mechanic. The posts made were based on my proof. Can't trust a liar. I am a 58 yr old disabled grandmother of 5. I recently purchased a 2005 Dodge Grand caravan listed as needing nothing and having NEW tires and brakes from Seth Braun, Seth Braun automotive, 517 N main, Lacon laced by winterIllinois. When taken for the oil change that it needed, multiple oil issues were found, the oil pressure switch needed replaced, it has leaking valve cover gaskets, leaking oil pan gaskets as well as tires and brakes he stated to be NEW, but the brakes are at only 20%, the tires which if NEW would be at a 9 or 10 and safety issues at 4. These " new" tires are 2 at 5 and 2 at 6 with signs of dry rot. When confronted Seth Braun cut all contact and deleted the ad but not before I documented everything, then he ignored me until I gave a bad Google review to which he then messaged me to say if I remove the review he would pay for repairs, ( this is his MO). He will ignore the situation until he is given a bad google review, then he will make contact to say he will rectify the situation if the review is deleted, then when they delete it in hopes he will do the right thing he blocks them from making further reviews, refuses to rectify it,and blocks contact. He will leave one slightly negative review to appear he has nothing but positives. He is obviously deceptive in all areas of business. After I removed my review that is precisely what he did to me, he cut contact again, and turned off his reviews. Unfortunately for Seth he underestimated my ability to make this second review. If you click on my review here you will find photos of our initial interaction and his deceptivness. I also have flyers to be distributed. He needs to be held accountable. I tried multiple times to resolve this issue only to be treated with his uttmost disregard. Being a mechanic if he had properly checked the van before selling it he had to have known the issues, yet he deceptively posted his ad stating it as well maintained and NEEDING NOTHING. He knew my 5 grandchildren would be in this van as it's intended purpose was to go to Maryland to visit the grave of my son. I hate to think what would have happened if I had put my babies in the vehicle and headed to Maryland and those brakes gave out or the tires fell off. I also have multiple physical limitations and ailments that require medication and Dr. Visits. Seeing as where I reside it is mandatory to have a vehicle to be able to get to my appointments, pick up my medication (many of which include diabetes and extreme anxiety to which he is contributing) get groceries etc... Without a vehicle it is impossible for me to do these things, and being limited on funds cannot continue to pay for rides when needed. I used the stimulus money I received to purchased this vehicle because of the "great" condition he obviously misrepresented it as being. I have an extremely limited fixed income. Seth takes advantage of this and laughs in my face because he thinks I have no way to take him to court. I have this posted along with screenshots of my dealings with him, and a couple of reviews he obviously was unable to get deleted through his deceptiveness. Please feel free to look, share, and get the word around so that no more elderly, sick or disabled can be taken advantage of by him. That appears to be who he targets. Best wishes, have a blessed day and thank you for taking the time to read me....

Firstly, he misdiagnosed my issue today. I had already gotten an estimate from Rivervalley in Henry last week when Seth said he couldn't squeeze me in for 15 minutes to check bearings because i wanted to accept a rare but very valuable ($800) offer on a ticket to a 5 day event in Michigan, in 3 days. After missing it, I was simply shopping estimates. Today I gave Seth the exact same description as the guy in Henry. When I told him that the other estimate said my motor mounts (which he confirmed) clearly his ego was hurt. So after getting a vague verbal estimate, & after having missed the detail causing the wobble (motor mounts), I felt concerned for his missing detail. So I politely expressed concern about previous work when having improperly installed & damaged a part of the dash (which was clear & obvious) & damaged lugs by over torquing them, causing them to be deformed & stuck so changing a flat wouldn't have been possible with a tire iron, & that for having overlooked these kind of details (not mentioning today's overlooked motor mount so to avoid salting the wounded ego), I stated "for those reasons I am a little bit weary about continuing to come here". Seth became very mildly defensive (with a slightly condescending attitude), "well why'd you even come back?" I told him "because Most of the work in the past has been good & level of integrity regarding charges being fair, but overlooking little details like this makes me just a little bit uneasy. And I don't really like the attitude while asking me." He didn't that & diverted from that point to tell me he just checked out the car for free (which he missed the primary reason for my visit & I again left that detail alone). He then asked what I do for a living in a slight conscending manner (which seemed off base from the expressed concerns, but I played ball to see where he was goin with it. I politely told him I don't work as I have Lymphoma. He asked what I did before, & I told him tile installation. He asked me if i did free estimates, I said yes. He asked twice more with a different approach each time, but with the same question at hand, I calmly said yes, even if that means pulling a toilet. . .(because I pay attention to detail, which I did not tell him that so to avoid being percieved as insulting). I told him; "we don't charge to give someone an estimate on work, we make money off the actual work, but if you generally don't give free estimates, then I do appreciate it. I honestly thought estimates were free though as Rivervalley in Henry didn't charged me for a 15 minute estimate, & family said you hadn't in the past unless diagnostics is run, with a full check up. But if it's not free, it's appreciated" As none of what I said benefit his irrelevant point of giving a free estimate, he then became insulting, & very condescending by stating (rudely) "well, I didn't build this business for You as a crown" I very calming asked "please don't insult me". To that, he responds "You're insulting me! Ya know what, get the F* outta here!". I said "I asked you to please not insult me, and that's how you respond, that's very mature of you". He turned and looked at me like he was gonna attack me. With my health as it is, I couldn't defend myself, so I quickly got in the car N left. I was very calm & in absolutely no way insulting, till he became immature. In fairness that was just being honest, not actually insulting. I was expressing I was just a little bit uneasy about continuing to have work done there when details had been overlooked, which he refused to acknowledge. The goal was to receive understanding of the expressed concerns (which normally if an understanding is had, an assurance follows) If I was insulting, that would not accomplish my desire for an understanding & assurance.

So due to some integrity of work issues, a lack of understanding, & common respect, this will prevent me from making the mistake to come here again. You veiwers might consider avoiding this owner also in the case that you happen to have an issue that you wish to...

Good experience, I'd recommend. I had bought a car from Seth 3 months back. Just recently the car started running rough, so i take it to Seths shop. He diagnoses it as a bad oil pressure sensor which would cost $169 to repair. Just got my car back today and not only did he drive it to my house and deliver it. But he also didnt charge me a penny. He only had it overnite because he had to order the sensor. I was utterly shocked at the quality of his customer service skills along with being an excellent, honest mechanic. He obviously knows how to win a loyal customer for life. His right hand mechanic Mark is also...