Reviewed : 08/21/2025
Comment : READ ME!!!!! Updated from 5 to 1 star, they are SLIPPERY. Very very bad experience with New Concept Merriam. I took my car in for what seemed to be a simple AC problem. I was scheduled for a Friday or something and they were backed up and gave me a call, so I did them a favor and rescheduled my appointment back a few days. Their "Free AC diagnosis" made me think I would save a few bucks... but this is exactly how they get you, and fair play on that. Anyways, It turned out to be a puncture in my condenser which would have to be replaced. They replaced it after 3 days (I ubered or barrowed my GFs car to get to work.) They finally got it fixed, it took longer then expected and it was quite a bit more then I would have liked to pay, but it was done and seemed to be working fine... Until about a week later... My car began blowing warm air again. I was so unhappy mainly because the time it would take. Having a full time job with a 20 minute commute, you almost NEED a car. I at least figured, whatever the issue was, I had a warranty and it would be fixed for free... Wrong! I took my car in on a Tuesday morning before work and returned after to get the diagnosis. THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR. It was in the same exact spot I parked it. Why set up an appointment up for me if you aren't going to even look at my car? Whatever, not great but I digress. At this point I am getting frustrated with New Concept, I've been nothing but patient and they keep doing me dirty. I needed my car for work so the plan was to take it in next Monday, so I did. I called everyday and got NO updates. Finally, about 5 days later, they discovered a new leak! This time in the evaporator... so no warranty coverage, instead a new charge THREE TIMES the amount of the initial repair.... I was so mad at this point but went ahead and told them to fix it as I needed my car. THIRTEEN DAYS. From that Monday I dropped it off (not even including the week before that it wasn't even looked at), New Concept had my vehicle for 13 total days. When they discovered the leak, I was told the car would be ready for pick up "Tomorrow or early the next day", well it wasn't ready for a whole week after that particular call. That is around 17 days if you include the first repair and the Tuesday drop off, that they had my car. After all this, I was so upset with this company. The amount of broken promises and time wasted at this shop, I will never get back, but it doesn't end there... My car blows cold, sure, but no where near as cold as before this whole saga with New Concept. I almost just wanted to let it go because I was so tired of dealing with this company, but decided to let them know via text. This was over a week ago, I was told "Let me reach out to our powers above and I will reach out ASAP".... Well, I never heard back. Yesterday morning, I texted one more time to check in on this matter and they read my message without replying. Obviously, they've got more important matters to deal with.
I respect Mike as he was one of the few helpful employees. But at the end of things, he never got back to me on the most recent problem which is quite disappointing.
I was very unhappy with the new owner, Vicente.