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December 27, 2006
Auto Mechanics Complaints About Customers
by Jack Lee
I was having a conversation with a friend of mine who runs a car repair shop and he was telling me about some of his pet peeves commonly found among auto mechanics. I thought it might be helpful to share them with you so you can be aware of them. Who knows, it might get you better service and even a lower repair bill! Here you go, the big 6:
1. Don't bring in your own parts, let the shop buy them. Sure it costs more, but if you supply the parts the shop generally won't warrantee them, this is where that extra costs comes in, its like buying an insurance
policy. If it's a minor part with a big labor charge, you won't be saving much and if it the part fails the cost of replacement could be really expensive.
2. Don't call the shop and ask for advice on how to fix your car unless you want to pay them for the advice. Would you call your lawyer for advice and expect not to be billed for his professional services? Then, why would you expect any less from your local car repair shop?
3. Don't call the shop just to see how it's going! This is an unecessary interruption and in a small shop time is money. When you delay a mechanic to answer your silly phone call it's either going to cost him money or cost you money. Don't do it. Resist that urge! I'm told ladies do this all the time because they are impatient and they are clueless about how it works in a small repair shop. The funny part is when the mechanic explains, "I am currently aligning the pinon shaft and I'll be installing the throw out bearing in about 10 minutes..." he might as well been speaking Greek. But, somehow these people think by calling and bugging the shop they encourage them to fix their car faster or they will discovered their car has been ready for hours. When its done, you will be called, afterall, they need the money and the space!
4. Don't stand around to talk with the mechanic...go home! Save your socializing for your own time. He has a shop to run and he is on the clock....again time is money.
5. If you pick up your vehicle and something isn't right, then by all means you go right back and tell them, but don't assume they screwed up. Wait to see what they have to say about the problem before you flip out. Sometimes they have fixed the problem you complained about, but there was another problem and it didn't get addressed and this could be your fault. Also car repair, even with computer analysis, is not an exact science. A mechanic will try to use his best judgement to repair your vehicle, but sometimes problems are elusive in the best of shops. Be aware of this and don't think the mechanic is an idiot because he didn't find an elusive problem the very first time.
6. This one is mostly for the guys. Don't spend forever describing the problem and then telling the mechanic your theory in tedious detail about what YOU think must be wrong. So, unless you are a mechanic, please just keep it to the basics, he'll appreciate it.
Most mechanics are honest, skilled craftspeople and they try to do the very best job they can, but sometimes customers who wouldn't know a radiator cap from a hub cap are the first to criticize the mechanic when all does not go as planned and that's hardly fair. So, I hope you can find the time to really communicate with your mechanic and don't just talk, listen to him. Good communications and reasonable expectations between you and your mechanic will solve about 90% of all the problem that come up...could save you some money too.
Posted by Post Scripts at December 27, 2006 12:29 PM