To get in touch with the owner, there are a few convenient ways to reach out and connect. You can easily reach Tad Butitta through email by sending your message to Tad@MarksAutoIL.com. We strive to respond to all inquiries ASAP. Alternatively, you can reach out by phone at 815-669-9124. A text message will be best, but if you call with no success, please leave a voicemail, and he will get back to you as soon as possible. For more immediate assistance or urgent matters, you can also reach out to our Operations Manager, Juan Sena. Juan can be reached at Juan@MarksAutoIL.com or 224-387-1863. Your feedback and inquiries are important to us, and we look forward to assisting you in any way we can.
FAQ
Marks Auto Service has a rich history that began in 1949 when Sam Butitta founded the company as a Radiator Repair Shop in downtown Rockford on Madison Street. The business quickly gained a reputation for delivering quality repairs, cleanliness, and exceptional service. In the late 1970s, Sam’s son Mark joined the company, and together they continued to build on the business’s solid foundation.
By 1984, Rockford Radiator had grown significantly, prompting the move to a 15,000 square-foot facility on South Alpine Road. The new facility allowed the company to expand its services, catering to all automotive and truck repairs. As a result, the business rebranded as Mark and Sam Butitta Automotive.
Under Marks ownership, the company continued to thrive, culminating in a rebrand to Marks Auto Service in 2012. This was also the year when Tad Butitta, Marks son, rejoined the family business as General Manager. Tad had previously left to explore his passion for customer service, working in big box retail stores. However, his love for the family business and customer service drew him back, and he played a pivotal role in the company’s growth and success.
Today, Tad proudly runs the company as a third-generation owner, upholding the values that the company was founded on almost 70 years ago. The customer support staff at Marks Auto Service is highly knowledgeable and experienced, providing unparalleled service to clients. In late 2017, the company expanded to a second location in Loves Park. In July 2022, they acquired their third location in Belvidere, and shortly after in March of 2023, they upended their fourth location in Roscoe, IL. And finally, a fifth location in Woodstock opened in 2024.
At Marks Auto Service, our technicians have years of experience working on all Foreign and Domestic cars and trucks. They are continuously seeking education and investing in the latest equipment to keep up with the fast-changing technology in vehicles on the road today. Many of our technicians are ASE Certified, ensuring that our clients receive the highest level of expertise and service.
In summary, Marks Auto Service has a rich history spanning over 70 years, built on a solid foundation of quality repairs, cleanliness, and exceptional service. Today, under the leadership of Tad Butitta, the company continues to grow and expand while maintaining its commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience.
There are many differences but the most important is that at Marks Auto Service, you are never more than one person away from the owner. They are always available to you. Simply ask a member of the team for their business card, or they can transfer you during a call. Direct contact info to Tad Butitta, Tad@MarksAutoIL.com or 815-669-9124. Juan Sena can be reached at Juan@MarksAutoIL.com or 224-387-1863.
All of the Marks Auto Service team has been chosen with you the client in mind. Additionally, they all answer directly to the owners as there is no middle management. This is important because the owner wants all his customers/clients to be happy with the level of service they receive. It is only by eliminating this middle management that the owner can stay in constant contact with his staff and employees, and he is able to do that to ensure the highest level of service. It is important to know that we really do care if you return for future service. Our viability as an independent depends on our client’s happiness.
Other Benefits Include:
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- Cost-effectiveness: We have a lower overhead cost compared to dealerships. As a result, we can offer more competitive pricing for parts and labor without compromising on quality. Choosing us can save you money on routine maintenance and repairs.
- Personalized service: We typically provide more personalized attention to each customer. Since we have a smaller team and handle far fewer vehicles, we can focus on building relationships and understanding your specific needs. This personalized service can lead to a more tailored approach to maintaining and repairing your vehicle.
- Flexibility and expertise: We have mechanics with extensive experience working on a wide range of vehicle makes and models. We possess the expertise to handle various automotive issues effectively. Additionally, we are generally more flexible in terms of scheduling appointments and accommodating urgent repairs, which can be beneficial when you need prompt service.
- Customer satisfaction: We rely heavily on positive word-of-mouth and customer satisfaction to maintain our reputation. We strive to build long-term relationships with customers by providing excellent service and exceeding expectations. This customer-centric approach can result in a more pleasant and trustworthy experience.
- A wider range of services: While dealerships focus primarily on specific vehicle brands, we service multiple brands. This versatility allows you to bring different vehicles from your household to a single shop, saving you time and effort.
At Marks Auto Service, we prioritize providing our customers with the highest quality parts that meet or exceed the standards set by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). While we understand the value and reputation of OEM parts, we have carefully selected alternative parts that offer exceptional quality, reliability, and value for our customers.
Our team of Team members work closely with trusted suppliers to source top-grade aftermarket parts that are specifically designed for your vehicle’s make and model. These parts undergo rigorous testing to ensure their compatibility and performance. We firmly believe that using these carefully selected aftermarket parts allows us to provide you with reliable repairs and maintenance at a more cost-effective price point compared to OEM parts.
We take great pride in the quality of the parts we use and the expertise of our technicians. Rest assured that when you choose Marks Auto, you are receiving the highest standard of service and parts that have been thoroughly vetted for their quality and performance.
If you have any concerns or specific requirements regarding parts for your vehicle, please don’t hesitate to discuss them with our team. We are here to address your needs and ensure your complete satisfaction.
Short answer: We have a 5-year 50k mile warranty valid on most repairs. But this can not apply to everything, so a more comprehensive page of details can be found here: https://www.marksautoil.com/warranty/
Short Answer, YES!
Long Answer:
Our policy with Insurance, Extended, and Aftermarket Warranty Companies:
We will be glad to contact your Insurance or your Warranty company to see if they will cover the repairs on your vehicle.
The administrative demands of working with 3rd party companies are very time-consuming and taxing on our resources. When we call them, we often get put on hold for over 30 minutes. In some cases they may force us to wait a few days while they send an adjuster out in order to verify our findings. When the adjuster arrives we have to stop work on another client’s vehicle in order to allow the adjuster to look at the warrantied vehicle. Many times we have to push a disabled car from a hoist to pull the warrantied one in. Again, this is very time-consuming and a financial burden, so our administrative fees will be $150 for working with these companies.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Calling 3rd party company
- Working with the field adjuster/inspector
- Filing supplements
- Collecting payment
If the warranty company denies coverage, this administrative fee will not be passed onto the customer, as long as all repairs are approved and paid by the customer.
Short answer: No
Long answer:
There are many reasons why an automotive repair shop will not install customer-supplied parts. Such as Liability, Warranty, Reputation, Efficiency, and Profit.
Liability
When a business installs a customer-supplied part they may be indirectly accepting the liability regardless if the failure is caused by the part itself or improper installation of said part. Due to the litigious nature of our society, this becomes a very large risk for the business.
Warranty
If a shop installs a faulty part that they did not supply, the finger-pointing begins. The shop will state that the part is defective and the parts warehouse may say that the part was not installed properly. Now the consumer is stuck in the middle because the shop doesn’t want to do a job the second time and the parts warehouse won’t pay for the labor.
While we strive for perfection, we acknowledge that in reality, parts can occasionally fail. If a customer provides us with a part and it happens to fail after installation, we understand that it can lead to a negative experience for them. As a company that values our reputation and prioritizes exceptional customer service, we are committed to minimizing any potential risks to our customers’ satisfaction.
Reputation
We take great pride in the reputation we have built based on positive customer experiences. To uphold this standard, we recommend using parts sourced directly from our trusted suppliers. This allows us to ensure the quality, reliability, and compatibility of the parts we use during repairs and maintenance. By doing so, we can offer our customers greater peace of mind, knowing that the parts installed are of the highest standard and longest warranty.
Our intention is to provide a seamless and reliable service, free from any concerns related to part failures. By utilizing our carefully selected parts and leveraging the expertise of our experienced technicians, we aim to deliver exceptional results and exceed our customers’ expectations. Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. We are here to address your needs and provide the best possible experience.
Efficiency
In a perfect world, every part is a perfect fit. But if a technician has a car disassembled and the part either doesn’t fit or is incorrect, the efficiency of that hoist is lost while we wait for a replacement. We will have lost time and revenue as a result, and the client could go a few extra days without their vehicle.
PROFIT:
Addressing this topic is crucial to understand the dynamics of a sustainable business. In order for an automotive repair shop to thrive, it is necessary to make a profit, which enables the provision of cutting-edge tools, equipment, and comprehensive training for handling modern, intricate vehicles, as well as offering competitive compensation to skilled technicians. It’s important to note that, for most auto repair shops, approximately 50% of their revenue is derived from parts sales. This is because labor charges alone are insufficient to cover the expenses associated with running the business effectively.
I hate to say it, but automotive shops are known to play games with their pricing. Please do not be fooled by someone advertising a low labor rate. Many shops may have a lower rate per hour but estimate twice as many hours to complete the repair. Many others just increase the price of their parts or add on large fees. If you are price shopping, the absolute best thing to do is compare apples to apples. To do this, you must compare written estimates.
We utilize a bid-style pricing system to ensure fair and accurate estimates for our customers. Instead of having a fixed labor rate, we assess each job individually based on factors such as the complexity of the task, the required expertise, and the specific needs of your vehicle. This approach allows us to provide transparent and tailored pricing that reflects the unique requirements of each project.
Short answer: We really wish we could, but very few repairs are able to be estimated on modern vehicles without having the vehicle in front of us.
Long Answer:
We kindly request that you understand our position on providing estimates over the phone. As a reputable automotive service provider with a strong online presence and a history of satisfied customers, we often receive a high volume of inquiries from individuals seeking estimates or quotes for specific jobs. While we genuinely want to assist you, we have several reasons for not offering estimates or quotes over the phone, and we aim to be transparent about them.
Firstly, accuracy is of utmost importance to us when it comes to estimating repair costs for your vehicle. To provide an accurate estimate, it is crucial for one of our certified technicians to inspect your vehicle and, in some cases, diagnose the problem. Even with the VIN number, certain manufacturers may have multiple options for the same part, and factors like rust, corrosion, or aftermarket modifications can affect the repair process.
Secondly, we have learned from experience that relying on diagnostics reports from other repair shops or dealerships can be unreliable. Therefore, we insist on conducting our own diagnostics before providing any quotes or estimates. This ensures that we address the actual problem and avoid situations where we replace a component only to find that the symptoms persist.
Moreover, we choose not to engage in price shopping or engage in a race to the bottom. As an independent shop, we offer competitive pricing compared to dealerships while providing better value and a superior warranty. Our business model is built on fostering relationships with our clients, rather than focusing solely on transactions. We aim to serve customers who appreciate the quality of our work and the benefits we provide, rather than those solely focused on finding the lowest price.
Lastly, we prioritize shop productivity and timely repairs for customers who have already brought their vehicles to our facility. Generating estimates for vehicles that are not present would require redirecting our technicians and parts specialists from their current tasks, potentially leading to delays for customers who are already in need of their vehicles.
We genuinely appreciate your understanding and encourage you to bring your vehicle to our shop for a thorough inspection and accurate estimate. This approach ensures that we provide you with the best possible service while prioritizing the needs of all our valued customers.