Phoenix Mechanics Phoenix, AZ

Best Phoenix Contractors of 2010

The Romeros say they rely on word-of-mouth for advertisement. Photo courtesy of Tony and Lisa Romero

Full Circle Auto Body | Phoenix

Bill Raleigh of Scottsdale, Ariz., took his 12-year-old BMW to Full Circle Auto Body for a new front bumper. What he says he received in return was above and beyond customer service. "They exceeded my expectations at every turn," he says. "Everything from an estimate provided on the spot to detailing my car and touching up other areas of the car that were not in the bid - all at no extra charge."

Tony Romero and his wife, Lisa, say going the extra mile for customers is one of the things they enjoy about owning their own shop after decades of working for other people. "The problem with body work is everyone has had a bad experience," says Tony, whose work doesn't require a trade license. "We try to make it as pleasant and comfortable as we can."

The company gives back to the community by painting football helmets at cost, or for free if there's a need, for local teams in the Young American Football League. The shop also recycles solvents and uses eco-friendly DuPont Cromax Pro paint. Members also cite the company for its pet friendliness.

Phoenix resident Craig King, who took both his BMW and Honda to Full Circle for $3,500 worth of body work, appreciates the Romeros. "They are honest, detailed and offer a lot of extra services most shops charge for as part of their normal operating procedures," he says.

Action Gates | Mesa, Ariz.

Susan Jensen of Tempe, Ariz., says Action Gates impressed her throughout the design and installation of her $1,900 wrought-iron gates. "[Co-owner] Gary Lynch was very helpful with suggestions to customize the design to improve my original idea," she says. "I now have the best-looking gates in the neighborhood."

Co-owner Diane Lynch, whose company has a state contractor license, says earning and keeping customers' trust is her company's top priority. "Customer satisfaction has always been the backbone of our business success," she says. "We could not consider providing our customers with a product that we ourselves would not be proud to purchase and own."

Victoria Welch of Scottsdale says that commitment showed during the installation of her garden gate. "They were friendly both in person and on the telephone, they cared about their work and their product, and they could not have been nicer to me," she says.

The three-time Super Service Award winner, often praised by members for their child and pet friendliness, also gives back to the community by donating to local nonprofits.

C & L Tile | Phoenix

C & L Tile owner Chris Grillo doesn't like to talk about himself. He won't even put his name on his truck. "My wife makes fun of me for that," he says. But Angie's List members say the three-time Super Service Award winner lets his tile work do the talking.

"He wanted it to be better than you wanted it to be," says Gail Chadwick of Tempe, who paid C & L about $21,000 for extensive tiling of her 2,350-square-foot home during a recent remodeling project. "I'm kind of a detail-oriented person and I knew that he and I were on the same wavelength as far as quality. I could relax because I knew he would take care of it."

Grillo, who has a state contractor license, says his basic philosophy is to treat his customers as he would want to be treated, and it's a philosophy he expects his crew to follow. "I'm pretty small - eight men deep - but my least-tenured guy is six years," Grillo says. "They know what I expect. I don't have to baby-sit them."