When it comes time for car care, people need to be able to trust and rely on a company and their staff to do the job right. While this shouldn’t be such a daunting task, there are some companies in the industry that have caused a bad rap for the whole field. However, Sunn West City’s Auto Body, located at 17126 N. 134th Drive in Surprise, aims to change that perception — and has been doing so one customer at a time for more than 30 years.
Patrick and Cindy Gray started leading the Sunn West City’s Auto Body team in June of 2019. With more than 15 years of auto collision experience in his own right, Patrick started his career in the industry at just 19 years old and remains true to the family-owned business model which is so important to the Grays.
Being part of a family-owned business allows them to give back to the community in a bigger way. It allows them to support other small businesses in the area and sponsor local charities such as AZ Charity Poker, Treasure House, Desert Strength and local Law Enforcement with the AZ 100 Club. In fact, one of their holiday highlights is the annual North Peoria UTV Christmas Light Show and Ride that benefits the AZ 100 Club. Patrick and Cindy believe having the ability to get involved with other small businesses and charities creates a strong sense of community for the Upper West Side. They enjoy knowing that Sunn West City’s Auto Body is the trusted auto collision center for their neighbors and the surrounding communities.
Patrick and Cindy not only serve the community — they are residents of the community. The Grays (along with their two dogs Ember and Axel) are Upper West Side residents in the Vistancia Community. Being part of the Upper West Side business community was a very important and mindful decision they made as it allows them to work with their neighbors and friends. Being actively involved in supporting the west valley growth is something the Grays treasure.
“Being present in the community is important to us. Many residents may have even seen us driving around the neighborhood in our Razer or walking our dogs,” says Cindy. “We want the community that supports us to know that we are part of what makes this area so unique and special, we are the local auto body shop.” The Grays feel that their location, amongst many other collision centers, creates a valuable “mall effect” for those in search of the right body shop. The spirit of community and collaboration is strong with the Grays. “We have great relationships with insurance agents and other local businesses because we know we are here to help each other grow” says Cindy.
Being at the helm of a family-owned business also allows them to treat their customers like part of the family. To them, being treated like family is more than just an expression. They help guide their customers to make the best decisions for their repair. For example, they will recommend doing a more cost-effective paintless dent repair or just buffing the scratches or smudges out if possible. For that reason, they are recommended by numerous insurance agents in the area knowing they will be honest and fair. The Grays have believed in that level of customer service long before they were a part of Sunn West City’s Auto Body. They have the freedom to go above and beyond for their customers — and they do, with their staff of 11 following suit. The Grays are proud to say that their employees know they are the driving force behind all the happy customers.
“With over three decades of experience, Patrick knows that promoting within the company and supporting advanced training creates a more valuable and stable work environment,” says Cindy. “Our staff is dedicated, talented and take pride in working for SWC. That makes it really easy to feel like the shop isn’t just a place to work but an extension of our family and a huge part of our lives.”
Sunn West City’s team is dedicated to making auto repair less stressful for customers. The shop is ASE and I-CAR Gold certified, and they offer free estimates and lifetime warranty on all body repairs as long as you own the vehicle. They are environmentally conscious and have chosen to use PPG Envirobase paint, which is a waterborne paint system. They also maintain OEM certifications for Kia, Hyundai, Jeep, Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Nissan, Infiniti and Alfa Romeo. The company aims to provide a completely personalized repair experience with services including door-to-door service and a single point of contact throughout the repair process to keep their customers minds at ease.
While waiting for short-term repairs or other services, Sunn West City’s Auto Body provides a comfortable lounge for guests to enjoy complimentary cold beverages, coffee, and free wi-fi. For added convenience, guests can call to make an appointment or use the easy estimate tool online which provides a form for customers to fill out to receive a repair quote prior to arrival.
Some of the services Sunn West City’s Auto Body offers include Paintless Dent Repair, Collision Repair, Hail Damage Repairs, Car Detailing, Towing, Golf Cart Repair, RV Repair, After Hours Vehicle and Key Drop and Rental Car Concierge.
In addition to its breadth of services, Sunn West City’s Autobody is all about serving the customer. As a locally owned boutique style collision repair facility, they have the ability to put customers and their needs first. With more than three decades of 5-star service, the team proudly provides full-service, quality collision repair for all makes and models. Their goal is to make their customers feel comfortable and informed — and make every stage of the experience as stress-free as possible.
Sunn West City’s Auto Body has been able to build trusted, genuine relationships with their customers and turn an unfortunate incident into a pleasant experience for them. Due to that, they have become the west valley’s oldest and most trusted auto body repair shop. For example, earlier this year, the company was honored to be The Michael Evans Agency’s January Service Provider Spotlight and to be featured in Fender Bender Magazine, Top Seven Key Management Strategies in Auto Body, in February.
The SWC team prides themselves on being customer service driven and providing 5-star quality service. The customer centric mindset of Sunn West City’s Auto Body is what makes them stand out above all. Patrick and Cindy have ensured that the customers will be treated to feel like family, be comfortable while they are in the waiting area and receive outstanding repairs. When asked what makes SWC different than other collisions centers, Patrick says, “It’s a single point of contact, start to finish, in a very welcoming, comfortable atmosphere that makes a huge difference and allows us to provide 5-star service.” Their customer base is made up of local Upper Westsiders and residents of other surrounding communities; the shop also has a strong customer base of retired veterans, which they are very proud of.
For those that are looking for dealership quality services with a customized and personal touch in a boutique atmosphere, Sunn West City’s Auto Body and their staff are here to serve! For more, visit www.sunnwest.com.
