Duane's Dealer Alternative — Local services in Safety Harbor

Courteous and professional!!! Very interested in making sure you leave safely!!

(Review reads from the bottom up. ) Thursday 3/6/2025 I was told I didn't have to adjust any of this. I was interested in streamlining.. But I suppose you get to see a very real life how they deal with situations. I really appreciate them doing their best to make things right (that's how we are a 5 ⭐. ) Rick did his best to be kind and courteous.. though im sure it's hard when I am taking up a borrow car, materials and space...I have not been even spicy to them. Although Things I learned.. Always double check front and back paperwork given to you upon pickup before signing.... Somehow they misunderstood me and gave me a $40 rear windshield wiper replacement 🤦‍♀️😜 I'm not arguing it's just a drop in the bucket at this point. Unfortunately there is still front end clicking. Now that it is been returned it is consistent.. hopefully when we replace the tires today It will remedy that.

It says on my pickup paperwork (yesterday) that it is absolutely essential to replace all four tires immediately otherwise it will potentially affect my transmission which is amazing information to have. I knew they needed to be replaced (not quite so urgently though) but didn't want another shop touching it over the weekend while I waited for Monday... Once the kids are off to school ... I'm off to whatever tire shop has tires available. Who knows, maybe they'll be able to see what's making the clicking sound! (Extra eyes are always good) Also Dwayne's is still saying that they do not hear any clicking in the front end even though every person who has gotten in the car or heard me moving the car to a stop has heard it 🤷🏼‍♀️ But tbh we aren't mechanics.. and they seem very very confident at Duanes *I will be coming back and updating if the clicking resolves (whether on its own or in relation to tire replacement etc)

Monday 3/3/25 Wow better than expected!! They found a piece that had slipped just enough to leak a tiny bit of fluid onto the exhaust pipe causing a constant burning smell. They are in fact fixing everything at no extra cost. What a great shop!

I've gotten a lot of bad advice and situations dealing with this vehicle I am so thankful I will absolutely be back!!

Friday 2/28/2025 After over $9,000 worth of work I drove away with warning signs showing up on the dash My key fob isn't recognized and it once I get the car started if the door is opened for someone to get in or out it immediately thanks I have no key in the vehicle. I'm headed back since I had to wait for the weekend I don't know why my catalytic converter is reading as bad by the next morning

That was not a light at all on I was told almost $10,000 and the car would be almost like new

I will leave this with updates and hopefully a much better star rating... I'm going to give them two stars because they liked the people... So much so I truly believed this would not happen.

I am so incredibly disappointed I had such faith in them and to immediately have issues is just so.......... disappointing7:30am

8am, they will look at it .. they did not make me aware of the fact that there were new codes showing and there was a potentiality of having the entire catalytic converter go bad. Although they did try to remedy the problem without mentioning it.. And I do appreciate the efforts, if I would have known my $8,000 car( I bought this year ) was going to cost me so much to repair, we may have been trading in and upgrading opposed putting $13,000 into a used 10-year-old SUV.... They have no idea why the key fob now is no longer recognized in the vehicle and I have to continually confirm it with the system. Having to attempt to push the button to start the car five times before it starts is very...

I have had my Lexus serviced by Duane's for about four years. During that time I have posted two 5-star reviews and referred dozens of friends and neighbors owning Toyota products. It pains me to write this review because Duane and Kimberly are really nice people and I trusted them. I want to start by saying that it's a 2-hour round-trip drive for me to Safety Harbor. But to me it was worth the drive. I had an appointment today to get my tires rotated. This is kind of important, because the company I bought my tires from is 2 miles from my home....and they do free tire rotations after the sale, but I didn't want anyone but Duane's working on our car. Less than 5,000 miles ago....7 months....our vehicle was at Duane's for rotation, oil change and a recommended BG Induction Kit. After taking my keys, the Service Writer said that I was due for an oil change. I told her three times that I don't need an oil change and she told me three times that I did....and that further....Duane would want it done. I told her that I wasn't going to argue, but that if she was determined to do the oil change, she could go ahead, but that it would be the last time my car was in their shop. She didn't seem to care. Once I realized how stupid it was of me to okay the oil change, I told her to hand me my keys. She did and I drove one hour home. I feel that it's also important to say that in my previous trips to Duane's, I have never questioned any recommended repair by Duane or his very capable mechanics. I have never even asked for the price of recommended services, because I trusted them. As a former business owner, I know that sometimes you can loose loyal customers for the wrong reasons....like an employee that could use some retraining. I'm truly sorry to lose you but you lost this customer today. I won't be bullied by a combative, disrespectful 20-something that wants to start and win a debate.

After reading Duane's 6/28 response, I wanted to explain a couple of things for readers. Yes, Duane phoned me shortly after the posting of my review. I respect him for that. I thought that we had a very cordial and professional conversation. The problem, in my mind, is that during that phone conversation, he offered me a free oil change in exchange for "pulling" my review. I didn't want a free oil change. I wanted an apology. I owned a business most of my adult life and I can assure you, Duane, a sincere apology goes a long way and costs a lot less than free service. I was further offended by Duane telling me that before taking any action, he was going to review the video and audio surveillance that he has running in his office area to play back my conversation with his employee. Apparently, Duane was able to confirm my claims via his hidden equipment, or he certainly would have disputed them in his...

UPDATE: Duane, Susan, Rick and crew continue to provide me peace of mind by keep my family's vehicles running well and being a mechanic shop with integrity! I bought a new-to-me 2021 Toyota Sienna last November. I needed new tires and noticed that on the CarFax there was no indication that brake work had been done so I called Duane's and told Rick I needed new tires and brakes since I had almost 70K miles on vehicle. Rick called me later and told me that the brakes were good and had, in fact, been replaced. I feel like many dealers would have seized that golden opportunity and provided the services I requested because I would have never known the difference. If you want an honest and expert mechanic, go to Duane's Dealer Alternative--they are truly the best in the business!

I have been going to Duane’s for more years than I can remember. The first time I took my car to him was to get a second opinion for what was going to be a $1500 repair. Duane looked at it and told me that the other mechanic was pricing it based on replacing an entire part (so long ago I don’t remember what it was) and that it really just needed a piece of the part replaced and it was around $500! My first visit and he saved me $1000!

Over the years, all 6 members of my immediate family have taken their cars to Duane and would not go anywhere else. Duane and his team are honest, ethical and know cars inside and out. I have referred many friends and family members and everyone agrees that he is a rare and valuable find in a sea of dishonest, disreputable repair shops.

I can say with 100 percent certainty that he is the absolute best, most trustworthy mechanic around. Thanks for taking such good care of our vehicles and providing an alternative to the money hungry...