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Review of Guy Algar and Motorheads Performance, Leesville, Texas:
This review is based on verifiable facts. The facts can be confirmed by invoices, emails, small claims court documents, and related information. As a consumer, you should research any business involving large money investments. With Guy Algar and Motorheads Performance, please make sure you receive an estimate from this business prior to any work commencing. Then make sure you check the quality of the work you requested and prior to paying. You may be billed, as I was, for pickup of parts, research for parts, ordering parts, and more pickup of parts. If a small metal mount has to be fabricated, you may be charged a "design" fee as was reflected on my invoice. This fee was not discussed with me prior to Guy Algar placing it on my invoice. You may find your bill and subsequent invoices skyrocketing with this business. The business owner(s) allegedly are not certified ASE mechanics, they are not a certified I-Car paint shop, and they are not a certified engine rebuilding or machine shop. Certifications may or may not be important to you. However, if you want to pay high labor rates to a non-certified individual who claims he is a mechanic, and without checking on the individual's qualifications, then that is your choice. In Texas, any individual can open an auto repair shop, an auto restoration shop, or a trailer repair garage without any state certifications or testing. This is why ASE Certifications and training are paramount. This is also why the Texas AAA has a limited list of certified shops they recommend. If an individual indicates that are not ASE Certified, then ask for any community college or automotive institute technician training. Ask for the list of auto repair and automotive restoration seminars the individual may have attended. Ask for references.
The Motorheads Performance "shop” is located out in the middle of farm and ranch country on a country road several miles outside of Nixon, Texas. During my last visit to this company, there was no business sign. This is why I passed by the residential property on a small country road. The business is run out of the owner's garage on his property. Other internet businesses are also run by Guy Algar and Andrea White via various internet websites. For example, check out their website entitled "ScorpioDesignServices." Guy Algar and Andrea White aka Motorheads Performance, claim they are a full service trailer repair shop. However, when they bill you for parts pick up to service your trailer, they then tell you they are no longer a full service shop . Therefore, they advise you that must incur their charges for travel to pick up basic parts like nuts and bolts. For example, you may be charged $35.00 to pick up bolts or other fasteners that cost less than $10.00. They will even charge you to place a tire back on the trailer that they took off. If they can find a charge to place on your invoice, they will gladly do so. If you question their charges, they will tell you that you authorized the charges (although you can't recall the authorization). If you attempt to negotiate a settlement price, they may secretly video tape record you without your knowledge or consent.
Guy Algar is a Mechanical Engineer. However, allegedly he is not an ASE mechanic. Many Engineers will admit that they are not good automotive mechanics. In short, an Engineer is not necessarily qualified to pull apart and rebuild your engine, paint your car, or restore your classic car.
Guy Algar allegedly does not have any articles in automotive restoration magazines. It appears and it is alleged that his training in this complex field is vague. Andrea White advertises, among other areas of expertise, that she is a marketing consultant. Additionally, Ms. White indicates that she repairs transmissions and is listed as an automotive "shop technician" on the Motorheads Performance website. When dealing with Ms. White ask her to produce her training certifications in auto transmissions or any other automotive training achievements. The fact is that auto transmission repair is a complex field requiring extensive training and continuing education.
Both Guy Algar and Andrea White also indicate on their websites and blogs that they have years of experience in automotive restorations, trailer repair, and a variety of additional non-related areas, e.g., Web design, Internet hosting services, business cards, and medical management--among additional areas of alleged expertise. They should be commended for their expertise in a vast array of different fields. However, consider checking the facts and asking for proof.
Caveat: compare estimates of Motorheads Performance's bids or estimates for your project to other businesses. Other businesses may not charge you to research parts and then hourly rates to order parts. Compare the cost Guy Algar will charge you to fabricate a basic tire carrier. Then compare the fabrication of a tire carrier with your local welding shop. You may be surprised in the price difference of the respective businesses.
In short=Caveat emptor!
Guy Algar and Andrea White allegedly have inaccurate information on their website at www.motorheadsperformance. com.
There is a distinction between a disgruntled person and a company listing inaccurate information on their website. If you call the companies that Guy Algar and Motorheads Performance indicate they are certified by, you may find the companies deny this fact. If the facts placed on Guy Algar's and Andrea White's website are inaccurate, embellished, or display alleged false advertising, then how do you trust the rest of this company. For example, would an "upstanding individual" place self-authored endorsements on a published website that are basically untrue.
Guy Algar is not a certified mechanic or certified anything according to various companies. Guy Algar is not a certified ASE Mechanic. Guy Algar allegedly is a guy who decided to open up an auto restoration shop with no certified qualifications in any automotive field. If you feel comfortable with this, then hire Guy Algar to restore or repair your classic auto or other project. If you are comfortable with Guy Algar "liberally using words" to indicate he is "Certified" then that is a choice you make. Just call the companies on his website that he states have certified him. Ask them if Guy Algar is a certified installer for example. Then don't be surprised by the responses you receive.
Guy Algar and Motorheads Performance = Consumer Beware!
Guy Algar and his business partner Andrea White are gifted marketing experts. They have a very nice glossy website at: www.motorheadsperformance.com.
I was taken in by their nice website. Then I found out about their services. First, Guy Algar advertises he is a Shop Manager of his business. In reality, his shop is his residential garage. He allegedly has no other personnel other than Andrea White who is not ASE certified. She worked as a marketing consultant and now allegedly is an expert at fixing auto transmissions. Yeah, right? Second, their place of business is their home located out in the pastures of Leesville, Texas. Good luck finding this off the beaten track place. They apparently have no business sign, but a long dusty road leading to their house.
Other points: Guy Algar will nickel and dime you on every imaginable cost item. This includes researching for auto parts, gas to pick up your parts, design fees, and any other fee they can drum up. A comparison with other shops indicates that their prices and labor costs are triple the local communities labor rates. Guy Algar apparently thinks he still works for a North East USA Engineering Company and can bill local Texans a big city rate. He will pad your bill until you realize your being gouged. If you attempt to negotiate on the bill, these knuckleheads will secretly tape record you and act unprofessional in the process.
Guy Algar and Andrea White were caught red handed with false advertising on their website. JC Whitney, for example, had to write to Motorheads and ask that they remove false certification information they had made involving JC Whitney. In another case, they claimed that a magazine listed them as one of the recommended shops to repair classic Corvettes. A call to the editor of that magazine resulted in the fact that the magazine is now out of business. Plus, the rating was not based on any visit to their place of business. So who knows how they were recommended?
Guy Algar and Andrea White have several websites and claim expertise in a myriad of business areas. You have to scratch your head and wonder what they are trying to do and what they are truly expert at. They did buy land in Texas to have horses, so you have to assume that they have to support themselves via their websites?
I'm not telling any reviewer who reads this to not hire Guy Algar and Motorheads Performance. That decision is up to you. I'm merely alerting you to the business practices of Motorheads. If you do hire this Guy at Motorheads, make sure you have a firm bid in place, and don't let Guy jack up your repair bill. In short, consumer please be aware !.motorheadsperformance.com.
Update: Guy Algar now claims he is an ASE mechanic. This may or may not be true. (You can contact ASE and inquire on Guy Algar's status. Is he an ASE Technician or ASE Master Technician. Ask Guy Algar what shops he worked for to gain his auto mechanic and auto restoration experience. Then contact those shops for verification). However, his shop is not an ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Program shop. The latter statement was confirmed by ASE, Inc. His Motorheads Performance business is also not a Texas Triple AAA rated auto repair shop. If you plan to visit Motorheads, look to see if their shop is an actual shop or their residential garage next to their house. Then inspect the equipment they have.
Guy Algar and Andrea White, aka Motorheads Performance, have recently updated their website located at www.motorheadsperformance.com. They deleted their alleged false claims that they were certified installers for JC Whitney. Eckler's Corvette also advised that they had false claims on their website pertaining to their relationship with Ecklers.
Motorheads Performance now claim they will charge customers for the time to research auto parts. They will also charge a pickup fee for parts. The latter charge is due to the fact they live out in farm and ranch country and are miles from thriving business communities. So, they have to pass on their fuel costs to you, the customer. Motorheads now states they will give their customers a policy guideline outlining how they will charge you for various fees. I was not afforded a copy of their billing and related policies. Caveat: Please read that policy carefully. This policy will permit this business to charge you fees that may substantially increase your invoice. Your subsequent legal choices will be limited if you agree to their policies.
Take a trip down the street and see what other auto shops or auto restoration garages have regarding policies and billing practices.
In sum, buyer beware.
Consumer Alert and Update dated June 17, 2011.
Guy Algar and Andrea White allegedly have inaccurate information on their website at www.motorheadsperformance. com. This has been confirmed by several companies that Guy Algar and Motorheads claims he is certified by.
Can a company listing inaccurate information on their website be trusted to provide accurate facts about their qualifications? If you call the companies that Guy Algar and Motorheads Performance indicate they are certified by, you may find the companies deny this fact or advise you a certain program no longer exists (yet the program is still displayed on Motorheads Performance's website). If the facts placed on Guy Algar's and Andrea White's website are inaccurate, embellished, or display alleged false advertising, then how do you trust the rest of this company? Credibility and honesty above reproach are key ingredients for a successful business.
As noted previously by reviews above, Guy Algar is not a certified mechanic. Guy Algar and Andrea White allegedly are not certified in any automotive technology field or auto restoration area. And, according to various companies that he lists on his website at www.motorheadsperformance, they indicate he is not a certified installer. However, Motorheads Performance alleges they are certified installers by companies on their website. Guy Algar is not a certified installer by companies he lists on his website. You can confirm the latter statement by calling JC Whitney, LaSalle, Illinois, or Ecklers Corvette Parts, Titusville, Florida. If you feel comfortable with this misleading information, then hire Guy Algar to restore or repair your classic auto or other project. If you are comfortable with Guy Algar "liberally using words" (as one company stated) to indicate he is "Certified" or a "Certified Installer" by companies listed on his website, then that is a choice you make as a consumer. Before you hire Motorheads Performance to work on your car, your trailer, or any other project, take the time to call the companies on his website that he states have certified him. For example, ask the companies if Guy Algar is a certified installer. Listen carefully to the company's response. And, don't be surprised by the responses you receive.
If an individual claiming to be certified by a company, is found to be either embellishing words or outright fabricating statements on their website, can you trust them to work on your classic car?
The point of this commentary and review of Motorheads Performance is to be an informed consumer. Make informed choices based on available information. Remember, in Texas, any Guy can open up an automotive repair shop or auto restoration shop. There are no certifications or licenses required. There is no agency to advocate for you. Therefore, check the facts I have outlined herein. Be an alert and informed consumer.
As in most bussinesses you will always get disgruntled consumers as this person is. I've known Mr Algar for over 40 years and know him to be an up standing individual. He is as he says he is a very qualified mechanic. Mr Algar has many satisfied customers unfortunatly you also have one unhappy one .