Store focused on customer service

Most of us don't spend too much time thinking about alternators, generators or regulators.

But one Southeast Missouri business has for more than 30 years. Cape Starter and Alternator Service Inc. has been serving the Cape Girardeau and Jackson community, providing quality and speedy service to its customers.

The business had it beginnings in 1976 when Leon Baker decided to use his engineering degree and start his own business in Jackson. A few years later, the business grew after Leon began running local sales routes, welcoming son Lin into the business in 1982. Things expanded in 1990 when Leon and his son opened the Cape Girardeau location. Although Leon retired in 1989, the family has carried on the success of the business. Lee's sister oversees as account manager and booker while Lin's brother-in-law manages the sales routes for the business.

The business likes to keep a large inventory as a way to serve their customers faster.

"We like to keep a large inventory because it helps us better serve our customers," Baker said. "Having two locations allows us do this and our customers coming in from out of town are able to have their car serviced and ready on the day they bring it in."

Cape Starter and Alternator Service Inc. prides itself on its service to customers. Employees hold a one-on-one relationship to a client when servicing a car, focusing on providing the utmost attention to detail. It's also important to the success of the business to supply a quality product.

"We don't buy cheaper products to compete with other businesses in the area," Baker said. "Instead we choose to focus more on building a quality product with quality parts."

The business' sales route covers five states and stays on top of the latest technology. Currently, the business owns a data testing computer which runs a car's alternator to simulate actual driving in order to find problems faster.

"We really strive on our service and like to have a one-on-one relationship with customers so they know they are getting quality care," Baker explained. "We also keep up on the technology of today's vehicles because many of them operate on complex computer systems. When the alternator quits, it takes more than just replacing it, you have to know the car's system entirely."

Baker says he intends to purchase a second computer in the near future to keep up with demand.