It’s common for consumers to feel nervous about taking their car in to a mechanic for general servicing and repairs, and rightly so. Most people lack the knowledge and understanding when it comes to cars to know when a mechanic is telling the truth or trying to rip you off. Although there are some poor workshops out there, there are plenty of great ones too. Hopefully by reading this article I can help avoid some of the anguish and unnecessary repair bills, keeping your car in tip top shape.
• Word of Mouth – How do you find a trustworthy mechanic? Ask around, friends and family will no doubt have already used a workshop they are happy with.
• Check for a Repairers Business Licence – Not that this ensures a trustworthy mechanic, but it does ensure that they have complied with the necessary licensing requirements. Businesses can be searched here:
http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/…/consumer-protection-licence…
• Do some research – A quick flick through Google can often lead you to find out if the issue with your particular car is a common problem or if it is simply routine maintenance, there will be a wealth of information to ensure you know what your mechanic is talking about.
• Go Independent – Why? There may be reasons for using a dealership over independent workshops and vice versa. Usually independent workshops are cheaper (due to lower operating costs) and rely heavily on repeat business over a longer term to ensure a healthy business. Independent workshops will go that little bit further to ensure their customers keep coming back and you usually get to deal directly with the owner themselves.
• Ask for evidence – Ask for your old parts back, I doubt any workshop will mind holding on to your old parts for you and explaining why and where they play a role in your car. Ask them to show you where they go in the vehicle (within reason) so you have an understanding. If the workshop in question can’t find time to explain this to you then they obviously don’t want your business.
• Get a Quote – Ask for a quote to be done before any work is done on your car. If it’s a routine service then a quote should be provided for the service schedule that was booked and a quote should be provided for any extra repairs needed.
• Get a second opinion – If the quotation seems too excessive or you are simply unsure, don’t be shy in taking the vehicle elsewhere for a second opinion. This could save you big dollars.
• Beware of the upsell – Beware of workshops that consistently try to upsell services or find a large list of faults every time your car enters the shop. Transmission flushes, power steering flushes, emission servicing, throttle body cleaning and injector cleaning are some of the more common upsell items that many shops use. While some of these items may be required from time-to-time, for the most part, if the vehicle is running well and has never missed a beat then be wary of the common and unnecessary upsell.
• Ask Yourself – Ask yourself if the workshop really cares about you and your car. Look for the little things that show you they go that little bit further – such as:
- Washing and/or vacuuming the car
- Tyre Shine
- Complimentary air fresher or fragrance
- Complimentary wiper blades
- Service reminders by text or email
- Windows cleaned
- Old parts kept for viewing
- Communication prior to performing extra repairs
Finally, here is a quick list of things you can do to help your workshop which will show your mechanic you care and they will more than likely go that little bit further for you.
1. Clean out your car – No mechanic likes rummaging through a boot load of junk to check the spare tyre or a glove box so full it takes 5 minutes to find the log books, and most mechanics will probably just close the compartment and walk away.
2. Avoid booking for a Friday – Most shops are already flat out on a Friday and might tend to rush things to get the jobs out the door before the weekend. Booking earlier in the week is the safer option.
3. Don’t ignore the warning signs – If your car has a dash light on or is making an unusual noise then get it in as soon as possible. Ignoring the warning signs can mean the difference between a few dollars or a major repair bill.
4. If you can’t make the appointment then call and cancel with as much notice as possible. Simply not turning up without a quick call doesn’t allow the workshop to fill the vacant spot and can cost them in lost income for the day.
5. If you have problems with your car, try and take notice of when the problem occurs. By giving the mechanic as much information as possible you will make their job easier in diagnosing the issue and perhaps even save them time, in turn, saving you money.
For more information, visit our website: www.currenttech.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/currenttechauto/
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