To the editor:

My stepdaughter recently moved to Beverly, MA to start her Master’s Degree at Salem State, so my wife, her dad and my youngest stepdaughter made a trip half-way across the country in my wife’s 2005 Chevy Trailblazer from Baraga, MI, about 1,200-1,300 miles one-way. Once we had her settled in we visited relatives in the RI area, did the tourist things for a week and enjoyed the area. Two days before we were set to drive back, the Trailblazer’s transmission stopped working, a hose had broken and the fluids leaked out in minutes while we were heading down the interstate. Imagine the stress, grief and uncertainty we had at the moment when we realized we were stranded.

Enter Steve’s Transmission in Bristol. From the moment my wife and I stepped into their business, we were treated with respect by Kristin and told our options for replacement. Derek the owner could rebuild the transmission, but the warranty would not help us as we lived out of state, or we could get a rebuilt transmission with a warranty that would be honored anywhere in the country.

From there, Derek and his two employees worked on our vehicle as if it were their own, while Kristin kept us informed every step of the way. When problems were encountered, Derek called me and provided a detailed update on the situation. When problems were encountered again, he again filled me in and gave me an option to get me back to work. On his own dime, Derek rented me a rental to drive back to MI while they fixed the problems from their supplier, meanwhile not getting paid until I could arrange to fly back to the East Coast four weeks later. Imagine, renting a car to help out a stranger who didn’t even live there, and allowing the bill for a small business to remain unpaid until I could return, all for someone they didn’t even know!

The kindness, truthfulness and hard work erased the stress from our minds. My wife and I were floored at the genuine care they showed us, so I want the people of Bristol and the surrounding area to know, you have good people in your community whom you should cherish an reward, and I only hope we can repay that hospitality back in time!

Justin M L Schaub

Marinette, WI