As to be expected, it hasn’t been easy for R & S Bagnell’s Service Centre since a fire erupted at its Hilden based business last fall.
The evening fire basically destroyed the inside of the building, located on Hwy. 2 (1406) and put the service centre on hiatus until about a week later, in late November, when it was able to put together a temporary setup at 21 Brunswick St. in Truro.
Richard Bagnell, who co-owns the business with his brother Steve, said at least having the same phone number (902-897-4945) meant many of their customers could reach out and follow them to the new location.
“But it’s not the same as yours,” Richard said, some frustration from the past few months coming through. “You go to get something or do something you did previously (and it’s all different) … and I have had to order all this stuff.”
Richard said one of the biggest problems is the inability to put half-tons up on the hoist at the temporary location.
“It’s not safe enough, so we’re losing business on the half-ton side,” he said.
And awareness of the new location hasn’t been strong either, despite some early advertising by the business to alert previous and potential customers.
Richard’s son Thomas took to social media recently with a notice. He points out in the post, since the fire, “business has been slow. If you need something done right away, now is the time to call. Get your car fixed.”
Thomas said it has helped.
“I asked my dad about it, he said the Facebook post did generate a few more appointments,” Thomas said. “This time of year is always slow, but this year it’s worse.”
He noted he’ll do the same for when they’re ready to reopen in Hilden.
“I will definitely be sharing a post when they move back into their building,” he said. “My father and Andrew (Saunders, mechanic) miss the old garage greatly.”
As for when they can return to their Hilden location, which will allow them to go back to providing all the services their customers have come to expect and appreciate, including being the Krown Rust Control dealer in the area, Richard said he is being told by mid-February or the first of March.
In the meantime, which Richard stresses he hopes isn’t much longer, it’s doing as best they can for the people they serve.
“That’s the name of the game,” Richard said.
