EP 517: A Trusted Auto Shop In Dallas

What makes Vanessa and Carlos with AHS Automotive a good neighbor?

We talk with Vanessa and Carlos of AHS Automotive about one of the biggest challenges vehicle owners face: knowing who to trust when repairs are needed. From collision repair and hail damage restoration to routine maintenance and diagnostics, they share how their team helps customers navigate automotive decisions with confidence and clarity.

Carlos shares his journey growing up around the automotive industry and eventually taking the leap into business ownership after years of working in the field. Vanessa discusses how her entrepreneurial experience helped shape the customer service and operational side of the company, creating a process focused on communication, transparency, and long term relationships.

We also tackle some of the most common misconceptions drivers have about auto repair. Vanessa and Carlos explain why dealerships are not always the best or only option and why insurance deductibles do not automatically mean customers will face overwhelming out of pocket expenses. They walk through how clear explanations, consistent updates, and documented before and after results help customers feel informed throughout the repair process.

One of the most valuable parts of the conversation is their commitment to honest guidance. Rather than pushing unnecessary repairs, they focus on helping customers make practical decisions based on the vehicle’s condition, value, and long term needs. Their philosophy centers on earning trust by putting people first, even when that means recommending a different path than the most profitable one.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed by the repair process or wondered how to find an automotive shop that prioritizes honesty and communication, this episode offers helpful insight and practical advice.

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Guest Info: AHS Automotive | is https://www.ahsautomotive.com/ | (469) 578-0560

Transcript

Welcome To Good Neighbor Podcast

SPEAKER_00 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

SPEAKER_03 0:10

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of an automotive repair company? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbors, Vanessa and Carlos with AHS Automotive. Hi guys, so great to have you on today. Now we are so excited to learn more about you both and your business. So let's kick things off.

What AHS Automotive Actually Does

SPEAKER_03 0:34

Tell us a little bit more about your company.

SPEAKER_02 0:37

Okay, so we do a little bit of everything. Our main uh things that we do is collision, hell damage repair. And then from there, we also do service maintenance and things like that.

SPEAKER_01 0:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:50

Anything else you'd like to add, Carlos?

SPEAKER_01 0:52

Um, we also do like the basics as well, like oil changes, brakes, stuff like that as well. You know, just kind of all in one stop shop.

SPEAKER_03 1:01

Love that. So, one stop shop, how did you guys come up with the idea for this business?

SPEAKER_01 1:07

Well, I've been in the automotive industry for about maybe since I was like uh 15, 16 years old. And so it just kind of something so just came so natural to me. So I just kind of did that for a long time, and then I worked for other companies as well, and then just kind of told myself, I just need to stop working for somebody else and just work for myself, and then that's when she came in as well.

SPEAKER_02 1:34

Yeah, so on my side of the story, um, I I grew up with an entrepreneur father that did flooring. It just kind of came naturally as far as like I was always doing the paperwork, managing, and things like that. So we just kind of became a perfect duo because I became like the managing side of it, and he well, he came with all the experience for automotive.

unknown 1:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:57

Sounds like you guys definitely are that dynamic duo.

Common Myths About Car Repairs

SPEAKER_03 2:01

Now, question for you both What is the number one misconception you come across in your industry that you'd like to address for all of our listeners today?

SPEAKER_02 2:12

I feel like the biggest one would be I know that everyone always thinks the dealer is better than just going to someone outside of the dealership to repair their vehicles. And it's a big misconception. I think it's just going with someone that you trust. And that is one of the biggest misconceptions that I've come across with different customers and having conversations with them.

SPEAKER_01 2:38

Uh, for me, I would say the same, actually. That is a good, that's a good very good misconception for sure. Um the biggest misconception to me is um the why people don't get their car fixed. You know, people don't want to fix their uh vehicle because they're deductible or they think that they're gonna come out of pocket. So that's kind of why we come in and we cover that deductible, you know, to kind of help them. So a lot of people think that they have to pay it, and that's why they won't fix their vehicle.

SPEAKER_03 3:11

Now,

How They Find Customers In DFW

SPEAKER_03 3:12

Vanessa and Carlos, we're gonna go ahead and switch gears here for a second. We do know that marketing is the heart of every business. So, ideally, where in the DFW are some of these clients you're looking to attract, and how are you attracting them today?

SPEAKER_02 3:29

I feel like the biggest area is obviously always five miles from us, the biggest main point for us, but then it does spread to the whole DFW area. I feel like the biggest thing is posting, trying to be consistent with that. People see different things. Obviously, they want to see the before and afters. They actually want to see your work. So I feel like that's really important, and that that has helped us, especially when customers are like, oh, we kind of want to see what y'all do or how y'all fix that. And then now we have a full reference of the for them to actually be able to see that.

SPEAKER_03 4:03

Wonderful. And Vanessa, where are your most popular platforms that your audience is located on?

SPEAKER_02 4:11

I feel like the biggest is I would have to go with Instagram right now. We do have them on TikTok, but we've noticed that more customers do come to us from Instagram rather than TikTok. I feel like TikTok are just more like people are getting to know the brand, but Instagram is more people actually coming in. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:35

Now, in terms of educating more potential clients, have you guys ever thought of having your own branded podcast for the business before?

SPEAKER_02 4:47

Yes, we've had so many conversations about that.

SPEAKER_03 4:53

Wonderful, wonderful. Now, I am so curious, and I'm sure all of our listeners are today too.

Life Outside The Shop

SPEAKER_03 5:01

So, what do you both like to do for uh fun outside of work?

SPEAKER_01 5:06

For me, I just like to I have an old pickup truck, and to me, it's just actually just driving around and just enjoying the day. That's it. Something so simple is just driving around or reading.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

Reading for me, I feel like it's something so crazy that I always it's not crazy, but going to the coffee shops, reading, researching, I'm a very hands-on learner. I like to learn a lot. So anything that I can do on my free time like that is the thing I like to do the most.

SPEAKER_03 5:39

I love that. Now

Building Trust With Honest Advice

SPEAKER_03 5:42

focusing back on your business for a second, what is the biggest takeaway you would like our listeners to gather from learning about AHS automotive overall?

SPEAKER_02 5:56

Uh for me, I feel like the biggest take would be I feel like we're always here to help, not all the time. I know some body shops are very pressured and hey, bring your car, bring your car. We try to focus on actually helping the person. Is it really a good idea to fix your car? We want people to know that we're we're we always try to help people. And if it's not worth it for them, we're not just gonna be like, oh yeah, just bring it in because we just want the work. No, we're here to help you beyond us benefiting from you coming to us, if that makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 6:30

You know, long-term relationships because, like I said, I've been in the uh the business for well, the industry for a long time, and I kind of see how people kind of get uh screwed over or like you know, taken advantage. And like me and her, we don't like to do that. We want to keep the relationships and keep them coming, our customers coming back and coming back and coming back, even years and years and years, you know. So that's what we try to do to build the trust, yeah. For sure, for sure.

SPEAKER_03 6:58

Wonderful. And what are three key ways that you build that trust before we close out today?

SPEAKER_01 7:06

Just being honest with them, uh straight, yeah, straightforward with them. Um, like she said, it would kind of tell them, hey, if you know, sometimes we're we like to hold on to older things, like I'm gonna say a vehicle and then a car, like say a car is like maybe worth like three thousand dollars, two thousand dollars, like an older car, and then the car needs like five thousand dollars worth of work. I would be honest with my customer and say, hey, we can do this, but it might still break down the road. I suggest maybe I can help you figure out maybe buy another car or help you look for another car, or I can go actually go out if you find a car, I can go out and help you sit and tell you, hey, this is good, this is a good car, this is a bad car. Like just give them advice in that sense.

SPEAKER_02 7:51

To add to that, I guess the biggest thing is communicating with our customers. And then another thing I feel like that has helped us a lot is I mean, keeping them updated. I know customers are always like, Well, their whole vehicle is in in here. If you keep them updated, they feel more safe, like they can trust us more. And I feel like that's yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_03 8:13

I love that.

Where To Find AHS Automotive

SPEAKER_03 8:14

Now we've covered a lot of amazing information today, but final question for you both is where can our listeners go to learn more about AHS Automotive?

SPEAKER_02 8:25

They can go to our website, which is ahsautomotive.com. You can find our social medias there, they can find us on TikTok, on Facebook, on Instagram, and then yeah, and then we're here at 2630 North Haven Road, suite 112, Dallas, Texas, 7522.

SPEAKER_01 8:45

And you can find us on Yelp and Google. Oh, yes. So, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:52

Well, Vanessa and Carlos, I really appreciate you both being on the show today. We wish you both and your business the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_02 9:01

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 9:03

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNP Frisco dot com. That's GNP Frisco dot com or call four six nine two two two two two two two two two two two two one nine three four four four four four five.