Norauto Apt

I don't usually write long reviews but I was so dissatisfied by my experience I felt compelled to tell all. I had heard many a time that Norauto was average at best but i came here anyway simply because their trading hours fit my busy schedule. I had a list of problems with the front and back suspension that had been identified during my Contrôle Technique and I presented this list to a staff member. They seemed annoyed at having to deal with me, and explained they were very busy (it was just before Christmas) and that someone would look at the list and contact me with a quote in the next few days. Days turned into weeks and no contact. I was on holiday at the time so it wasn't too inconvenient and I decided that seeing as they had most likely forgotten I would need to go in again. Once again the staff member I ended up with seemed reluctant to have to deal with me and after a quick look at the list decided a mechanic would need to look at my car to confirm what parts needed replacing. OK. All the work necessary was clearly marked on the report from the Contrôle Technique but I went along with it and booked in a visit a few days later. After dropping the car off I was told the wait would be 10-15 mins so I quickly went to the supermarket next door and as I came back I noticed my car was still where I had left it in the waiting area. I went inside to wait and no more than several minutes later I received an SMS saying the car was ready and looking outside I saw it had indeed been moved to the parking area. My first thought was that they can't have looked at it. There just wasn't enough time to examine the car and then move it. Impossible. My suspicion was confirmed several days later when I received a hugely exuberant quote that did not correspond with the list. It included buying and installing pieces which were in fact recently replaced/brand new, work that was completely unnecessary, and also made no mention of several of the most important problems that actually needed fixing. When I rang to complain the staff member said he could change the quote but insisted I would need to come in to the store to talk about it. I should mention it is 30 mins drive each way to the garage so I was already annoyed about having driven an hour to have my car looked at just to have them brush me off and make up a quote out of thin air. Nonetheless I went back and was greeted by the same staff member who 'forgot' me at Xmas and told to wait for the person handling my quote who was busy. After some time sitting in the waiting area I went looking for assistance and was told they thought I had gone (which was an outright lie as I had been seen by and made eye-contact with all the staff present including this one who was saying they thought I had left) and that the person I had been told to come in and see had just finished and gone home... Totally ignoring me! When I tried to explain the situation the staff were uncaring and dismissive, each trying to push me onto someone else, and when finally someone was forced into stopping to help all they did was scribble a rough note and say they would pass it on to their colleague who would contact me when they could. By then I had given up all hope. So a month after my first visit and after stopping by 4 times, during each time I was treated like I was the problem, I was not one step closer to getting an accurate quote let alone any work done. Absolutely the worst service I have ever had from a garage. Reading the reviews I see my experience corresponds with numerous other - the prices are anything but cheap, the staff are dismissive and unsympathetic, and if you need anything other than the simple services they offer you can expect problems. This Norauto may look like the real deal but honestly, If you can avoid coming here then I recommend that you do.

I can write in French but am writing this in English as the English comments were very critical of Norauto. My wife and I are Americans who have chosen to live near Apt for past ten years. In these ten years we have often taken our cars to Norauto because of the quality of the service and the care we received. Jean-Luis has been there since our first visit as was Tony, one of the mechanics. Both have been so patient with us, so pleasant to work with and always gave outstanding service. Over the years others have joined the team at this Norauto and there hasn't been one that has not been polite and helpful and always ready to answer questions and to fix our problems. Michel joined the team inside the shop a few years ago and he is a great addition to the team. He is always patient with us and like all of the team is serious and do their jobs well and with a smile. I could say nothing against the professionalism of the entire team and they have made our French lives much less stressful. Thank you to all the team at Norauto for these many years of such good service. David Fox

Really helpful from booking our car in to check the tyre loosing pressure, to the wonderful welcome including delicious coffee, to the repair ( in our case nothing was found so we were not charged which is very honest and the windscreen wipers were changed without a fuss. Really the place to got to if you have a problem with you car. Thank You Michel

This is basically a tyre centre, although they do minor repairs. They behaved very unprofessionally and were positively rude towards us. We made an appointment earlier to repair our fuel pump. It appeared that they were not able to fix the problem, because they have no license to repair GPL-cars. Subsequently we couldn't get the car started, we were right in front of the workshop. They ignored us completely and forced us to leave the premises. My husband and I had to push the car across a very busy street, without them lifting a finger to assist us. Fortunately our insurance arranged for a depanneur to collect the car and take it to a real garage.

Power steering problem when arriving at our vacation spot. Good reception and consideration by the manager of our return date constraint to carry out the necessary work as quickly as possible despite a busy schedule. More substantial work remains to be done (rack) but the intervention allowed us to return home calmly.