About Us
Don, Lisa and the kids started out the business in 2010 on a shoestring budget. Gritty, raw, and unpolished are words that come to mind. All focus was on making sure customers were taken care of, satisfied, and that their hard-earned money was well spent. Lots of hard jobs, lots of rewarding jobs, and many scars and memories later, we still are focused on making sure our customers feel like they are valued above the almighty dollar.
The above picture is Don, Lisa, and three of their five boys.
Relationship is Everything
Sure, fixing cars and trucks counts, but it's really about the relationship for us. Connecting with our customers on a much deeper level instead of just fixing an issue or changing the oil is so rewarding. From the recent Camp Fire tragedy to the Covid lockdown and many personal tragedies and triumphs in between, we have had many tears, hugs, and prayers inside the lobby of this humble mechanic shop. Above is a picture of just after the Camp Fire- customers comforting one another after huge losses and unsure futures unfolded...
Service with a Smile
At Spencer Automotive our goal is your satisfaction. We want you to walk away with full assurance that you had the best experience possible. Our reputation for transparency and thoroughness coupled with our technical expertise will give you what you need and then some. We specialize in mid-90's and newer Volkswagen & Audi vehicles. We also service most other foreign and domestic vehicles/light trucks as well. Pictured above is Mike, one of our four ASE-certified Master Technicians.
About Us
Need a Volkswagen or Audi Mechanic?
That is something we are well acquainted with. Audi owners may find that, with the nearest dealership almost 100 miles away, that our service actually meets or exceeds that of their dealership and all that without the drive! Want OEM parts every time? No problem- just ask and we can arrange it. If not then we will use what we feel is best and we can avoid some of the high-failure items that are inherent at the dealer (that they won't tell you about). Volkswagen owners do have a dealership in town but we are here for you if you are looking for an affordable alternative.
We specialize in mid 90's and newer VWs and Audis but work on most makes and models with specialists in almost all common manufacturers.
Why A Four-Day-Work Week?
At Spencer Automotive we have instituted a shorter week with longer work days. Why? Because taking care of our employees translates into taking care of our customers. To us, the benefits far outweigh any detriment of being closed on a Friday.
Allow me to explain. We are still here working a full 40-hour week so the same amount of work is actually being done. Actually more if you ask me. The ten-hour day seems to lend itself to a more productive technician. And since we are typically booked out anywhere from several days to a week or more, the Friday closure doesn’t seem to come up all that often.
We believe that it’s important for a person to have a true day of rest, if they choose, before coming back to work Monday morning. If they are working five days then that leaves only Saturday for family stuff, chores, etc. if they really want to relax on Sunday. Add to that the ever-increasing need to see a doctor, dentist, or any other service provider that’s only open Monday through Friday. If the employee has Friday off then they can typically shoot to make their appointments for Friday. This results in still being able to work a full week, still having extra time for shopping, helping a friend, or whatever, and they still have Saturday and Sunday left.
We are truly closed Friday. The doors are locked. Yes, there is a loss in potential profits. Yes, we could make more money if we were open more hours. We’ve heard it all. We are just not interested. Living life with our families, spending time helping others, leaving room to be able to breath, collect our thoughts, relax, and come back to work on Monday fresh and relaxed are important things to us.
Thank you for considering my thoughts on this lifestyle and we hope that our happy employees make your auto-repair experience that much better.
Don Spencer