April 11, 2019—A mechanic from an auto repair shop in California was fired after doing donuts in a customer's vehicle, KCRA 3 reports. According to the station, Big O Tires in Elk Grove, Calif., fired the employee after the customer revealed dash-cam footage from the incident.
Customer, Michael Burke told KCRA 3 that the dash cam revealed the mechanic's joy ride, where the car was revved up and began to spin.
"I can't believe it. Yeah, it still makes me very upset—very upset," Burke said to KCRA 3.
Bill Thomas, a manager for the state Bureau of Automotive Repairs saw the video and expressed his frustration to the station.
"Under no circumstances of diagnosis is that necessary in the operation of a consumer's vehicle," Thomas said to KCRA 3. "So, we definitely have concerns the minute we see that aspect of it and want to look into the entire transaction."
The shop's manager, David Alvarez handled the situation after the customer came forward, KCRA 3 reports.
"As soon as the customer made us aware of the situation, we felt, you know, extremely embarrassed for one, and apologetic for sure," Alvarez said to KCRA 3. "This is the one incident that was brought out to our attention and we don't condone that type of behavior, so yeah, definitely a first time—and the last time."
Alvarez told KCRA 3 that the incident was a lesson and the business is considering issuing cameras to employees so they have to record the in-shop process to rebuild customer trust.
