I searched for a scooter/bike service at the doorstep, because my Honda Dio was not starting. I searched on the net and found about Autobrix and called them up (I wish I had gone through Mouthshut reviews). The representative said, they will send someone to my place and they will review the condition and if possible repair the scooter then and there and if required, they will take it to their garage to service & repair it. The minimum charge is Rs. 350 /- for the mechanic to come and visit.
I gave them my address (i stay in Bangalore) and the representative said, their mechanic will come tomorrow at 11 am to inspect and then decide.
What I had not realized that they don’t have any mechanics of their own and neither they have any service center or garage of their own.
The next day, the mechanic called me and said, he will come at 11:45 am and asked me to WhatsApp my location. I did that. And he came by that time. So-far-so-good.
He came and checked my scooter. Let me give a background about my scooter. It’s Honda Dio and I have been regularly servicing it. But due to Covid lockdowns, I had not done the service for almost ten months. But, I used to ride it once or twice every week for doing local purchases. But the weekend of Mar 2nd week, it started and stopped and after that, it never started.
After checking the scooter for 2 min, he said, sir, the engine oil is over and that’s why it’s not starting. It may need repair for the engine itself. So, I asked how much work to be done and what would be the cost. He said he can’t tell that. He has to take it to his garage and within 1 hour he will tell me what fixes are needed and how much it will cost.
By the way, the mechanic had no dress code from AutoBrix, neither his own service center dress code. He was a local mechanic from somewhere nearby, with whom AB had tied up. So, I was not sure, if this guy takes the bike and never comes back or does not pick up the call after picking the scooter, etc, or changes vehicle parts and I have no way to realize that. So, I told him, I need an email from AB, which says that the scooter is taken by their mechanic for repair. This was part of their workflow and I got an email and then I allowed the mechanic to take my scooter. So-far-so-good.
Now the BAD THINGS START
2 hours went by and I did not get any update on what needs to be fixed and how much it will cost. I called up the support center number and someone picked up the call and said, they are still working on it. I asked them how much time it will take to give the cost estimate. She said, sir, I don’t know. Maybe one hour. So, I asked her to pass the call to the representative named "Sohail", who had talked to me at the time of scooter pickup. She passed my call to him and he told me that, the information will be available by 5 pm. I said OK.
I did not realise that it’s already 7:45 pm and no one had called me from AB. But it was already late, so I did not call their support. The next day morning I called them up and asked them about ’Why I have not received any update and the estimated cost?’ She said, Mr. Sohail Sheik will call and inform me about the progress. After 15 to 20 min I got a call and it was from Mr. Sohail. He said, sir, your engine needs to be overhauled and that would cost Rs. 9000. I told him that, I don’t want that to be done. I will take the scooter to the Honda Two-wheeler service center and do whatever is needed. SO, RETURN MY SCOOTER SOON. He said, ok and said the mechanic will come by 12 pm and return my scooter.
12pm crossed - And no call or anything from the mechanic. I called the mechanic at 12:30 and his phone kept ringing, but he did not pick the call.
12:45 pm - I called Sohail and his phone rang and he did not pick up. After 10 min he called and said, "I have already informed the mechanic to return". I asked him, he is not picking my call even. So, you talk to him and return my scooter immediately.
I probably made calls another 5 to 6 times and finally, at 5 pm, the mechanic came to my apartment main gate and called me.
I was pissed off and irritated by then because of so many calls and no update on the scooter return. So, I was angry with the mechanic. He said, in Hyderabadi-Hindi "pay me 350 first and take the scooter, I don’t want to listen any crap". I asked for the invoice and he said, I don’t have any invoice. I asked him to call Sohail and get me an invoice first. Sohail generated one and sent it to me. Then I paid him 350 and got the scooter.
Then I asked the mechanic, whether you are part of the company or you are just some 3rd party mechanic. He said, he is just a mechanic and has his own garage and nothing to do with the company. I said, fine. The company is a very bad one. I wasted my money and spent so much time and the vehicle is not repaired even.
In my anger, I murmured that ’Mereko company ne chu banaya’ (The company made a fool of me). The mechanic heard that and he started abusing me with BC and MC slangs. I told him, you are recorded by my apartment camera and I will take your photograph. Then he left.
The next day, I took my scooter to the Honda service center and in 6 hours they serviced my scooter and everything worked fine. My scooter is working fine for the last 15 days and no problem.
Moral of the whole thing:
Never take the service of AutoBrix.
They will try to Cheat you and never keep their time commitment.
Their mechanics are not of good quality.