Service

Today I want to recognize those who make my life easier. They are my go-to people when I need a helping hand. I like to keep my service people under wraps so they’re not swamped with other customers, but they deserve more business that comes their way. If you contact them, please spread the karma and let them know I referred you.

Oscar is not only a handyman, he’s a plumber, a problem-solver. There isn’t a single task I’ve thrown his way that has stumped him. I consider this guy a friend. My mother considers him part of the family. My coworker thanked me for referring her to someone who was so genuinely nice. The man has keys to my place–that’s how much I trust him. He works round the clock and has no problem working into the wee hours to paint, tile, move, whatever you need. I don’t know what I’d do without Oscar. He really does make my life run smoothly. 415-912-9123

My coworker referred me to this auto repair shop after I burst into tears when the Honda dealership quoted me more than $1500 in repairs. Liars! She promised me her mechanics were trustworthy; she’d been going to them for years. I brought my piece of shit Civic in, they reviewed the work that Honda said needed to be done. Nope, they agreed with one of the items–of which I didn’t need to worry my pretty little head for several months out. And they’d do it for one-third the price. Not only that, they did a full inspection because they simply didn’t trust the work Honda had done. They didn’t charge me a penny. Unbelievable. The Toy Shop, 4818 Geary, San Francisco

It’s so difficult to find a good, responsive cleaner in San Francisco, but I’ve got one. Maria answers my calls immediately and always agrees to come when I need her. None of this, “I’m booked all weekend” bullshit. She comes with an assistant and they spend over two hours making sure my one-bedroom (either our apartment or my condo) is spotless. When my tenants moved out, she removed the dark grime that had accumulated in the bathtub tiles–all the way to the ceiling. Spotless. She brings her own supplies. Plus, she speaks perfect English. Sometimes it can be kinda awkward telling immigrant cleaners what you want done using sign language. And get this, she doesn’t give you any pricing. She tells you to pay her what you think is appropriate. “It’s important for me to maintain the relationship so you should pay me what you think is right.” How’s that for customer service? Maria 415-756-7579

It hurts to blog about this guy because he’s already overwhelmed, but if you can wait a week or two for your alterations, his prices are worth it. This Chinese guy, with his shop hidden in the middle of a residential block, is living in the dark ages. He charges very little for dry cleaning and alterations. I’m talking a few dollars to hem your pants. Quong Sing, 465 7th Avenue, San Francisco

These people are my all-time faves. I’ll have to blog about nail salons, massages, and other services later.