Focus on Local Business - Feb. 6, 2020

It has been over 60 years that Arly's Appliance first opened their doors for business, and today they are still the go-to repair men when it comes to appliances and small motors

Back in 1959, Arly Feil moved to Shafter and worked for Witham's. Arly would spend his spare time servicing his neighbors and other customers in the Shafter and Wasco area. He finally asked his bosses if he could work in Bakersfield three days a week and spend two days a week servicing the Shafter/Wasco customers. Two days turned into three, and before you know it, Feil was deciding to strike out on his own. Feil acquired the Maytag franchise eight years later and still holds it to this day.

Feil brought his son Rod on board a couple of years after he finished college. Rod had worked for his dad during his last two years of high school but took a couple years off to go to school at Fresno Pacific University. Rod would come back home after the two years and return to the shop, working side by side with his dad.

With Arly's eyesight starting to fail, Rod's and Arly's roles reversed, with Rod making the service calls and Arly working on appliances in the shop. Although it was a trying time for the men, Rod said that it is almost a blessing in disguise as it has enabled him to have such a special relationship with his dad. "It has been a gift from God to be able to work with my son Rod for all these years," Arly said.

The community of Shafter is responsible for a lot of their success through the years, according to Feil. "I am so thankful for the support we have received from the community through the years and we consider ourselves lucky to be a part of this wonderful community," commented Feil.

Feil said that business is still going good, if maybe a little different in its makeup. "In the earlier days, you could fix something on a washer without having to take the thing apart. Now, you end up having to replace an entire board or system, with today's technology," said Feil. One thing that has not changed over the years is the excellent reputation enjoyed by the father-and-son team. "You know, a lot has changed, but some things stay the same. Take our reputation; we have a good reputation because of word of mouth. Sometimes you can't replace all of the online ads or Facebook things, except by good word of mouth. We are servicing residents and families who have parents and grandparents who were customers of ours."

Rod still services the Shafter, Wasco, Buttonwillow and Lost Hills area at least twice a week, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. By visiting with this duo, it is easy to see why they are still going strong after all these years.