Yaw's Auto Salvage at 919 SE 21st St, Des Moines, IA 50317

The people at the front desk had an attitude—so much so I’m not even sure how else to say it. It felt like if they wanted to kick me out they’d just say, “Black people aren’t welcome here.” That’s the kind of vibe I got.

I didn’t even buy anything from them first, but Yaw’s still went out of their way. My car wash tore the mirror cover cap off this morning, and I couldn’t find anything online that didn’t look like a rip-off. So I started calling salvage yards instead. Gave Yaw’s a try, explained what happened. They didn’t just say they’d look, they actually hunted one down for me. Turns out they didn’t have my exact part, but they tracked down something that worked from another shop. If I need anything again, Yaw’s is the first call I’ll make.

I drove 30 minutes out of my way because they swore they had the part I needed for a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Got there, and—surprise—they didn’t even have the car. Just a waste of time. I don’t like leaving bad reviews, but this was frustrating. The whole place felt disorganized, and honestly, I wouldn’t trust them to tell me the truth about anything else. ---

First time at a salvage yard and I had no clue what I was doing. The staff at the front desk took the time to walk me through how everything works—no confusing jargon, just straightforward help. Found exactly what I needed without any hassle. The guys running the place were actually pretty cool to talk to. My only complaint? They wouldn’t let me bring in my backpack of tools, which would’ve made the whole trip a lot faster. Still, 10 out of 10, no regrets. ---

Honestly, the one thing that stood out was how many cars they actually have crammed in there. But the way they stack them on top of each other? Not safe at all. You’ve got to climb over a car just to reach the one you’re looking at—seems like an accident waiting to happen. And the workers? Not exactly friendly. One guy acted like we were trying to steal something just because we had a backpack for our tools. We even opened it up to show him, but he didn’t seem to care. Prices are way too high too. I’m not coming back here. I’ll stick with the places I usually go—U Pull It and Wrench n Go—where I don’t feel like I’m being watched or overcharged. ---

The people here are seriously the best. I was looking for some rims with decent tires, and they not only had them but gave me a price that was way better than I expected. The tires were practically brand new. If I ever need parts again, this is the first place I’m calling. No question.

Called for a quick price check, and they gave me a number over the phone—only to hit me with a way higher bill once I showed up. Wasted my time digging through their lot just to get stuck paying more than I should’ve. Ended up at Wrench N Go instead, where the same job cost $40 instead of their $125 "pull it yourself" scam. Absolute rip-off. ---

The place isn’t terrible, but you’ve gotta watch your step. Cars are piled up two or three high in some spots, and it’s easy to feel like you’re one wrong move away from getting crushed. Still, if you’re careful, you can find what you need. ---

The owner didn’t just point me in the right direction—he *knew* exactly where to find the part for my car. Saved me hours of digging through the lot. Honestly, if he hadn’t been there, I’d still be looking. ---

They actually know their stuff—figured out exactly what I needed and got it ready fast. Only weird part? Asked two different people for the same part, and they quoted me two different prices. Knocked off a star for that, but overall, they’re fair and don’t waste your time. Matched my engine, and I was out the door. ---