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Poughkeepsie Mechanics Aim To Bring Honesty, Convenience To Industry

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Adam Albertelli, a Poughkeepsie native, knows that bringing your car to the mechanic is often an unpleasant experience. 

Adam Albertelli and Justin Ross of Bolt Mechanics.

Adam Albertelli and Justin Ross of Bolt Mechanics.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Last year, Albertelli opened Bolt Mechanics, an auto repair shop at 211 Cottage Street #105 in Poughkeepsie, with the goal of being as transparent and convenient as possible for the customer. 

Bolt provides photos and video documenting the repairs, while also offering complimentary pickup and drop-off services for customers.

"We understand that the industry as a whole has a bad reputation," Albertelli said. "It lacks trust and transparency."

Albertelli and his partner, Justin Ross, are the only two employees, working on about 15 to 20 cars a week. He previously ran a shop in Long Island.

Albertelli, who also worked in the finance industry held focus groups with friends and family to find out what they didn't like about the auto repair industry and what they can do to fix it.

"We kept hearing how inconvenient the repair process was," Albertelli said. "You bring your car in and it stays there for days on end. You have to coordinate your whole life around the auto repair process."

Bolt Mechanics is more like a concierge service, Albertelli said.

"We try to explain everything to the best of our abilities," Albertelli said. "We're trying to educate them and get them to understand- this is what it costs and this is how long it will take."

Business has been going well since they started, with most reviews coming from word of mouth. Albertelli points to the shop's positive ratings on review sites like Yelp. 

"We're getting strong repeat business," Albertelli said. "People are surprised that something like this exists." 

Customers often come in feeling like they're about to be taken advantage of, Albertelli said.

"They expect the experience to be terrible," Albertelli said. "The bar is set very low.  They come in very guarded. That's why our first encounter with a customer is the most critical. We're trying to build lifelong relationships."

Albertelli said he is happy to be out of finance and getting his hands dirty for a living.

"I worked for such a large company that I felt like I was a cog in the machine," Albertelli said. "It was the same thing day in and day out. It was very routine and very boring."

For more information on Bolt, contact 1-888-494-2658 or visit www.boltmechanics.com 

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