How Ropat Started

Ropat Auto Electric Service was started by Roy M. Ehlenfield. After working for his father, Roy decided to start his own automotive repair business. The name Ropat is a combination of Roy and his wife's name Patricia. Ropat Auto Electric Service opened it's doors for service back in 1960. The first location was at 310 Kensington in Buffalo, New York. In 1970, Roy moved Ropat to one of its current locations, 3521 Harlem Road, in Cheektowaga, New York. In the years that followed the business grew. When Roy's son Bryan graduated from Alfred Technical School they decided to open another location. The new location was 2280 Niagara Falls Boulevard. Bryan was the owner and the manager was Bryan's good college friend Mark Siegman. As time went by Roy decided to retire. When he did Bryan moved back to the Harlem Road store to work with manager and long time family friend Nick Condrell. Every day we continue the great service and tradition of excellence that Roy instilled in us all. We show it off in all that we do at Ropat Auto Electric Service.

A Family Business

Ropat is and has always been a family business. We spend as much time together at work as we do away from work. Our families spend holidays and vacations together. We truly love the challenge that our daily work brings to us - new cars, new problems, and new friends. For us work is not really work - it's getting together with our good friends and solving problems - your automotive problems. When you come to Ropat for service you will become part of our family of customers that we work for. Treating you with respect and giving you the information you need to make the right choices when it comes to your automotive repair. We use a team approach to our work, combining our years of experience and education to provide you with the best possible service your dollar can buy. We all know that getting repair work done on anything today can be a bit intimidating. We are just like you, we know that spending money on maintenance and repair is not what we really want to do with our money. That is why we take the time to talk to you and make sure you understand what we are doing to your vehicle and why. This way you can make the right choices for you and your vehicle to make sure it runs well, and lasts as long as possible. If for some reason you are not clear on what we are doing, just ask us. Automobiles are very complex and change from year to year. You have too many other things to worry about in life. Let us worry about the latest advancements in your automobile. Together we can make the right decisions for you and your vehicle.

Dollar Value

Today's cars have the latest in technology not only running the engine but practically everything else in the car. This is why technical information, advanced diagnostic computers, and the know how to use them is so important.

At Ropat we are committed to staying at the top of our field in all three categories:

The winning combination of these items combined with our family owned and operated way of doing business allows us to offer you the best service possible with labor rates that are lower than most dealers. When you take a look at all Ropat Auto Electric Service has to offer its customers, it is easy to see that they offer the best service your dollar can buy.

Extra Steps

At Ropat we take the extra steps the others guys don't. We are always looking out for your best interest when it comes to your car. Whether it's the extra steps we take when we perform a complete professional oil change or the extra steps we take rebuilding your starter so it will last longer. We feel that every job should be done complete and with all the necessary steps. Some of these steps may not be that necessary to our competitors, but we would never do it differently.

Flat Rate

Flat rate is an ugly term that is used when paying a mechanic. This form of payment is based on a time guide to perform a job. If the guide tells us it takes two hours to complete a job then the mechanic gets paid for two hours of work. If the job takes the mechanic three hours he gets paid for two, and if the job takes him one hour he gets paid for two. This payment method rewards the mechanic for finishing the job fast. Fast is not always the best way to do a job. Long jobs can lead to modifying steps and procedures or skipping them altogether. At Ropat Auto Electric Service all our technicians are paid salary for their work. They finish a job when the job is done correctly, not when the clock says it should be done. This allows all of our staff the ability to complete a job and take the extra steps to make sure the job will last. In the end we both benefit - your car is serviced properly and our technicians are proud of the work they performed.

90 Days Same As Cash

Ropat is currently working on a new form of payment for all of your automotive needs. With the Ropat credit card you will get 90 days, no interest, same as cash for any service performed at Ropat*. We are working as fast as possible to bring this service to you, our valued customers and hope to have the 90 days, same as cash credit card ready soon.

*qualified applicants. See manager for details