This might sound funny
but, the scene of an accident is no time to figure out CPR. It’s kinda like
that with your car, not so much the accident part, but when you have a car
problem is no time to start looking for a repair shop. You're most likely and
hopefully, never have to perform CPR in your life but if you own a car there is
about a 100% chance you’re going to have a car problem at some point. So what
do you do if you have a car problem and don’t have a shop you’re already a
customer to bring it. That’s not a great situation to be in, you panic. The
next step is you ask for a recommendation on Facebook, and that is a bad idea.
I see this happen often, when you ask for a recommendation on facebook you find
that everyone and their second cousin has an opinion, seems everyone has a need
to participate. that scary. Half of them recommend someone that works out of
their garage, in their alley at night or on weekends. Like it’s their side hustle.
Could you imagine choosing a doctor or lawyer who just does it for a side
hustle? I mean, what could possibly go wrong? Just about everything!! Or even
worse, instead someone tries diagnosing your problem over social media. Oh
yeah, they'll tell you what’s wrong with your car, never mind that they aren't a
mechanic or know nothing about cars while basing their guess on a need to
participate. Heck, they’ll even tell you that you can fix it yourself, what part
you’ll need and how much that part costs ALL THROUGH COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
That’s not going to end pretty.
Let’s say you’re wise
enough not to use Facebook to find a shop. The next step people try is calling
shops direct and asking for a quote over the phone on what the problem might or
most likely, not be. This is actually worse than using facebook because you are
going to end up choosing the most unethical shop you call, it happens every
time. Let me explain. You pick a part to be replaced, such as a starter or
alternator of the fuel pump or whatever. As a side note, for the life of me, I have
no idea how callers come to the conclusion that is the problem with their car,
but that subject is a whole other blog. A good shop will talk with you, ask you
questions to get a general idea of what is going on. Even come up with a list
of possible corrections to your car problem, then have you bring the car in for a proper diagnosis. Some shops will give you the price of what you are asking for
(this is a huge disservice to you, it’s leading you to believe that your guess
is accurate without any proper diagnosis so that you make a decision on false
information) but then there is the most unethical shop, the one you’re going to
pick. That shop will give you a ridiculously low price, far below in comparison
to any other price you were given. You get that warm fuzzy feeling like you
just found the right shop for you. Understand that the service adviser is
experienced at recognizing price shoppers of the phone, know that the price he
or she is giving is irrelevant because it’s most likely not what the car needs.
In the very few cases where it is, that shop won’t honor that price given
because of some fake variable that it found once the car arrives at the shop.
Example, “you didn’t tell me over the phone that your car had the series 3
traction and handling package, that changes the price on everything.”
So how do you choose the
right repair shop? Do your homework.
Ask for a
recommendation of a friend that keeps very good care of their car. Do not ask
just any friend, ask the one that you would like to own their car. Next, look
at that shop online, read their reviews, look at their social media, look at
their website. look at all their PR work, do they get involved with causes or
in the community? Next call the shop on the phone, do they sound professional?
Schedule a visit to take a tour of the shop, is it clean, organized and
professional? Schedule a service such as an oil change. What was your
experience like? Let them know your expectations for your car such as you need
to keep it running for the next ten years or maybe you’re planning to upgrade
cars this year. Good shops work with you. In the end, you’ll find just choose Ek
Automotive and you’ll have nothing to worry about.
