NASHUA – As confirmed cases of coronavirus disease continue to rise, health care workers are working tirelessly to combat the public health threat, and one local auto repair shop owner is aiming to show his appreciation to them by offering 100 free oil changes.

The free oil change services and vehicle health checks are being offered to any health care professional working at a hospital or doctor’s office through the first two business weeks of April (Monday through Friday). Beginning April 1, owner of Gurney’s Automotive Repair Bill Gurney, will aim to do five of these complimentary services a day at both his Nashua location at 83 Broad St. and his Milford location at 419 Elm St.

This kind gesture is twofold, he said, in that it helps ease some of the stress health care workers are under while giving thanks to them, but it also provides his employees some work to do as business begins to slow because of COVID-19.

“We want to brighten everybody’s day because, right now, a lot of people are stressed, so we don’t want to make auto repair more stressful for them,” Gurney said. “We want to encourage people and help people through the day.”

Gurney is able to offer the service through a partnership with Sanel NAPA. He said if there is nothing for his staff to look at or work on, then people would have to go home, or whatever next steps there are. Just as many others businesses across the country, Gurney has had to make adjustments\, including shortening business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition, he also has had to furlough a couple employees, while another is out of work because of child care. Despite these challenges, Gurney said they all stick together and will get through this.

“Obviously, like every business, our normal flow of work is less than what it would normally be,” Gurney said.

Meanwhile, the business also has implemented a number of safety measures to protect both employees and customers. All technicians are using a new pair of gloves every time they get into a customer’s vehicle. Once they are done servicing vehicles, they wipe down all the areas of the vehicle they touched, such as the steering wheel and door handles. Also, in an effort to limit in-person contact, the business is making things more accessible for all customers.

Gurney’s instituted a drop-and-go offer to customers, in that they email or call to schedule an appointment, bring their car in and leave the keys in the vehicle and let an employee know it has arrived. In doing so, customers do not even have to come inside the building. An employee will go out and get the key, bring the car in and all the paperwork can be done over the phone. Gurney’s staff also is disinfecting keys so that when technicians get them, they are clean.

While they will take people here and there who are interested in waiting for their vehicle to be done, Gurney’s is discouraging people from occupying the waiting area. A number of chairs have been removed, and those that remain are spread apart. People still can drop their keys off inside the building, but a sign is set out asking customers to keep their distance from the front counter as an additional precaution. People can leave their keys in an early bird and after-hours drop, as well.

In addition to these safety measures, Gurney’s is offering another service, pick up and delivery to all customers. If someone is home and cannot get their car to one of the two shops, or if someone works in downtown Nashua and is in need of a service, a Gurney’s employee will come to them and pick up their vehicle, service it, stay in contact via phone during the process, and when the vehicle is complete, they will then return it to the customer.

“We’re trying to do everything we can for the customer, but also for ourselves,” Gurney said. “We want to keep people employed. So, if people aren’t comfortable going out and bringing their car if they need service, and we can go get it and bring it in, it’s twofold. They get a great service, and they get what they need done, and our employees stay employed. So, we’re trying to keep as much of a normal schedule as possible.”

Gurney’s is a family owned business, with Gurney and his wife, Charlotte, starting their Nashua business in February 1985. The couple opened their Milford location in March 2011.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

——

EDITOR’S NOTE: This content is being provided for free as a public service to our community during the coronavirus outbreak. Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Telegraph at https://home.nashuatelegraph.com/clickshare/checkDelivery.do;jsessionid=40C089D96583CD7318C1C1D9317B6162.

Newsletter