2020 has been unusual, to say the least. COVID-19 has not only affected public health concerns around the world, but it has been extremely tough on so many businesses. As a small, family owned business, Ralph’s Transmission has faced its own challenges in the past couple months and we’ve been forced to make some very tough decisions. Automotive repair was deemed an “essential service” business under California’s statewide stay-at-home order, which allowed us to maintain operations. In the process, we implemented many new safety and sanitization procedures at the shop in order to protect our staff and our customers.
A Difficult Decision
Unfortunately, things were definitely a little slower at Ralph’s Transmission in March. With fewer drivers on the roads and financial concerns for many families, it’s understandable. Because of this, we had to reduce hours for some of our staff, which didn’t feel good. At the same time, we were having challenges getting original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts from the large automobile companies whose factories had been shut down. We depend on those for a healthy percentage of our repairs.
We made the very difficult decision to temporarily close our doors at the beginning of April, expecting to be closed through at least this month and possibly into May. However, during this time away, we were still getting a lot of calls from customers who were in need of transmission repairs. And of course, we were also worried about the well-beings of our team members. We know how much they depend on their jobs and incomes in order to provide for their families.
Moving Forward
After taking a couple weeks to reassess the situation and weigh all of our options, we decided to reopen Ralph’s Transmission on Monday, April 20. We will not live in fear and we will forge ahead with business as we will continue to do everything we can to take care of our loyal customers and our amazing staff of customer service advisors and transmission technicians. At this point, we expect to maintain normal business hours (8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday) and we will be here to help with all of your transmission repair and maintenance needs.
We still have increased COVID-19 safety precautions in place to keep our parts, vehicles and common areas in our office/shop as clean and disinfected as possible. We are practicing recommended social distancing measures. Though you are welcome to drop by our downtown Modesto shop, we highly urge everyone to call ahead and book an appointment. This will avoid crowds and back-ups on the days when we are busiest.
Vehicle Pick-Up and Delivery
We would also like to remind everyone that we offer free towing within a 30-mile radius and we are extending special vehicle pick-up and delivery services to help people who should stay at home. That includes anyone who is feeling sick, who has been in recent contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and people who are in high-risk groups looking to minimize public exposure. If you are a health care worker or first responder, thank you for your hard work and sacrifice. If you are too busy working, let Ralph’s Transmission know how we can help. Please call us at 209.526.1909 and we will do our best to make special arrangements for customers in need.
Special Financing Options
Lastly, we want to remind everyone that Ralph’s Transmission offers special financing programs. We understand money is a concern for a lot of people right now and dealing with transmission repairs is not ideal when times are tough. However, you need your car running right and driving safely, so contact us to see what repairs you need and which financing options you might be eligible for.
We hope everyone is staying safe and staying sane. When it comes to Central Valley transmission repairs, Ralph’s Transmission is back open for business and we’re ready to serve you whenever you need us. Call us today at 209.526.1909 or schedule your service appointment online.