AUTOMOTIVE
Turning the Spotlight on Sharp’s Auto Centre
By Anne Marshall
A family business, Sharp’s Auto Centre has been serving St. Catharines since 1962. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF SHARP'S AUTO CENTRE
LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE MECHANIC?
Every issue, we spotlight a member of the CAA Approved Auto Repair Services™ (AARS) program. Companies must have been in business for at least two years and offer quality service at a fair price. They provide exclusive perks and benefits for Members, including a one-year warranty on parts and labour, and you earn three percent in CAA Dollars® on the total invoice amount (before taxes for parts and labour). This issue, get to know Sharp’s Auto Centre in St. Catharines.
THE SHARP FAMILY has been working on cars in the Garden City since 1962. Growing up around his dad’s auto shop, Ken Sharp — owner of Sharp’s Auto Centre — picked up more than just technical skills. It’s a point of pride that Sharp’s Auto Centre gives very accurate estimates to customers before beginning any work. “[The estimates] are almost always right on the money all the time,” Sharp says. “We don’t believe in upselling here. We’re not in the business of ripping people off.”
He estimates that 75 percent of their clientele are returning customers. What keeps them coming back? “Honesty is the key to our business. I’ll be honest with you if we can’t do the job. We’ll tell you where to take your vehicle if it’s not our specialty.” This has cemented Sharp’s reputation for maintenance and repairs.
Customers also appreciate that it’s a family-run business. Sharp’s father worked for him after closing his own shop and his cousin works alongside him now. “That personal service is what makes us unique. People have been coming here for years. We get to know them and they get to know us.”
In addition to diagnostics and repairs, their most popular services include brakes, wheel alignments and oil changes. “Always change your oil at an auto shop if you possibly can,” Sharp recommends. “You will learn a lot.” And unlike most lube shops, Sharp’s employees are licensed mechanics who look at more than just fluid levels, air filters and tire pressure. While you’re relaxing in the lobby, these professionals are examining ball joints, steering systems, brakes and more. “We always let [customers] know when essential repairs are necessary. Your life is in the hands of the mechanic. So are the lives of the people on the sidewalk.”
With pride in his work and confidence in his team, Sharp’s Auto Service has become a place that their customers trust. CAA