Whether by referral from a friend, co-worker or family member a mechanic
entrusted to repair our car should never be chosen casually. Flipping
through the Yellow Pages or searching the Internet in hope of
discovering an honest and trustworthy car repair technician may not be
an alternative to the search either. Car repair is a serious business,
as each person relies upon their chosen mode of transportation to get to
and from work, run errands and shuttle friends and family around town.
While trekking to work one morning the car hesitates, begins to emit a
foreign sound then a seemingly random plume of smoke swirls from under
the hood. Alongside the road, the driver pops the hood and stares
blankly into the labyrinth of hoses, tubes, belts and other “stuff” that
resides within that realm of the unknown, the engine-the heart of every
automobile. As the car is being hooked up to the tow truck, it occurs
to the driver this may not be the time to be phoning a friend in hope of
learning the identity of a worthy car repair facility. The tow truck
driver may be able to assist in providing a repair location, but should
that decision be left in the hands of a stranger?
A car repair facility should be selected with the same level of care
that a person would put into choosing a surgeon or dentist. Whether a
driver decides an independently owned and operated business is the way
to go, or feels more confident putting their trust with a national
franchise, the repair location should boast that their technicians are
both Licensed and Certified. A menu of services and cost of labor should
be prominently displayed. Warranties and guarantees offered on labor or
parts should be thoroughly explained to every customer, along with any
exclusion prior to any repairs being done.
Before any work begins on the vehicle, a written estimate should be
requested by the customer and provided by the car repair facility.
Parts, labor and disposal fees should be included within that estimate
and a time schedule for the work to begin and to be completed agreed
upon. If the vehicle is newer and still covered by a manufactures
warranty, a return to the dealership where it was purchased may be
necessary. Whether the towing fee to the dealership will be covered by
warranty will be dependent upon the dealer/manufacture policy and
guidelines.
Car repair is in most cases an expensive and stressful experience. Many
customers approach a trip to the mechanic with the same trepidation they
do a visit to the dentist. But if careful thought, a little time and
effort are put into the decision making process prior to the start of
work, most of the stress can be alleviated. Be certain the business
offering to complete the repairs has Certification of their technicians
on display, a business license posted and up to date, the cost for
labor, parts and disposal fees clearly stated and many locations have
chosen to create a wall touting customer testimonials about the work and
level of service their business has provided to other drivers . A
customer who takes the time to fill out a survey for a business is the
greatest compliment they can offer a repair location.
