Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2016

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Johnny Page might have been
only 8 when he was sweeping the floor at
J.L. Coastal Service, his father’s automobile
repair shop. But he was learning valuable
lessons about how to do business the right
way from his dad even at that tender age.
“My father always told me that if I treated every
customer like that customer was
my mother, I would do well,”
said the owner of Automotive
Excellence on Coleman Boulevard
in Mount Pleasant. Taking care
of mom has certainly paid off for
Page and his dedicated staff – the
shop has built a loyal customer
base throughout the Mount
Pleasant area and beyond.
“We have customers who bring
their vehicles to us from as far away
as Pawleys Island,” said Page, who
opened the shop in 2001 on what
he called “a shoestring budget.”
“We have worked hard since
we opened to build the shop to the
great business that it is,” he said.
“We have phenomenal customers.
We have been able to keep
employees, and two of them have
been with me since the start. We
try and buy all our parts locally.”
Page said he opened his shop
because “we got tired of working
for someone else. I wanted to take care of our customers
and take care of our employees the right way. We deal in
total honesty, just like my father did with his business.”
Bringing your car into the shop for analysis and work
can be a nerve-racking experience, never knowing if that
noise you are hearing will become a $1,000 repair bill. Page
and his staff strive to make customers feel comfortable and
allay any apprehension they may have.
“We calm their fears and shoot straight from the hip.
We are totally honest with them,” he explained. “We have
the latest in diagnostic equipment in the shop, and that
has been a major investment on our part. We have Jake
Kisor and Johnny Britz (also the head mechanic) doing the
diagnostics, and they are both superb at what they do. My
brother, Joseph Page, is also with us, and the crew we have
assembled is extremely knowledgeable. You can never stop
learning in this business. We have
seen carburetors go out and fuel
injection come in. It’s a different
game these days, and you have
to be able to diagnose problems
electronically. My crew is well-
versed on the computer.”
Automotive Excellence offers a
full range of services, ranging from
oil changes to engine repairs on all
makes and models, both cars and
pickup trucks. Customers should
call to make an appointment to
bring their vehicle into the shop.
“We sell tires $5 over a cost,”
said Page. “We will meet and
match anybody in town. The only
thing we don’t do is body work.”
Page, 40, said doing business
in Mount Pleasant is a rewarding
experience.
“We have a great location, and
Mount Pleasant is doing well and
continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Charleston has
proven that you can’t hold it down, and the same can be
said for Mount Pleasant.”
Automotive Excellence is located at 415 W. Coleman Blvd. in
Mount Pleasant. To learn more, visit
or call 843-216-1599.
157 | |
Photo by Brandon Clark.
Ask the Experts
Building a Loyal
Customer Base
Automotive Excellence
By JOhn TOrsIeLLO
Johnny Page, left, and his brother, Joseph Page, have
loyal customers throughout the Mount Pleasant area.