As a car owner, taking care of your vehicle is an important part of ownership. When you buy it new, it works great for a while. But as a driver, you also understand it’s going to take a little TLC along the way to keep it in good working condition. New motor oil every few thousand miles. New tires when they start wearing down.
How you approach your car’s maintenance routine will set the stage for how well it operates throughout the years.
Should you trust your car to just anyone? Is there a difference from one mechanic to another? Should you shop around for a new mechanic with every car repair? Or should you trust one for the life of your car?
Let’s look at it from a few different angles.
Trust
Most people have daily routines. You drive to and from work. You drop the kids off at school. You stop at your favorite grocery store for dinner supplies. You have your favorite shops for clothes and other personal items.
Chances are you trust each of those shops for a reason. You like their products. You enjoy the staff. You feel good about the purchases you make.
That’s what trust is all about.
Why should it be any different with who services your vehicle? By looking for a new mechanic with each service you require, you’re trusting your car’s mechanics to someone you have no experience with. Will they provide you with the best parts? Will they perform high-quality service? Are they reputable? Or will you pay the price down the road?
Let’s say you take your car to a new mechanic. It’s a service station you’ve passed on your way to work. You received a coupon; why not give them a try? You receive a call shortly after you drop off your vehicle. While you only wanted new brake pads, they tell you there’s a lot more wrong with the braking system. And the price goes up, up, up. They even add a few scare tactics in for good measure: “I wouldn’t drive it under these conditions.” Now what do you do?
By finding a mechanic you can trust, you won’t have to rely on coupons and scare tactics. You’ll work together to ensure your vehicle is always working well.
Reputation
Let’s talk a little more about reputation. We’ve all heard the horror stories from friends and family who feel they’ve been ripped off by going to a less than reputable mechanic. What started out as a simple routine maintenance item turned into an expensive several day event. And even driving away, you were left wondering if your car was really okay.
That won’t happen if you pay attention to reputation first. Reputable mechanics care about their customers. They start a business to help people, and do what it takes to stay in business for the long term.
They join local organizations to be a part of the community. They get to know their customers, and care about what’s going on in their lives. They work hard to build a business that thrives, and aren’t interested in making quick bucks right off the top.
How can you test potential mechanics? Give them a try with something small. Find out what they say about the condition of your car. Do you agree?
Trust and reputation go hand in hand; you can’t have one without the other. The more customers who put their trust in a mechanic, the more their reputation will grow.
Attitude
Most people don’t have a deep understanding of auto mechanics. Nor do they have a desire to learn.
Modern day cars have over 10,000 parts all connected together to get you where you want to go. They also have complex technology that fine tunes the various systems.
It takes a lot of experience to understand what to look for when you bring your car in. You may tell us your car shakes and shimmies, or makes a loud honking noise, but what does that really mean? It can take a while to get to the root cause.
While you might not be interested in the nitty-gritty details, it’s also important to understand what happened? If a mechanic takes the time to sit down with you and explains what happened, you will feel better about the solution.
A good mechanic may also give you several options. They can help you choose what’s right for you, then help you keep your car in good working condition. They can watch a problem, nurse it along, and continue to make suggestions as time goes by.
But it all starts with a good explanation. A reputable mechanic knows this, and will take the time to sit down with you. They won’t rush the job, push you towards spending more. They will help you make the right choice for your situation. And keep you safe in the process.
Notice how the three work together: trust, reputation, and attitude? The more you pay attention to one, the more you’ll discover all three.
There’s one final way you can work with a reputable business and avoid looking for a new mechanic every time you have a problem. Ask about their guarantees.
Some parts have warranties. Some processes have guarantees. Most good mechanics will be upfront about both, and tell you what you can expect right along with their estimates.
With guarantees and warranties in place, you’ll know you’re covered in the future. Be sure to ask what keeps the warranty good, and what will null and void it. In some cases, you may have to make certain maintenance schedules to ensure the warranty stays valid. A reputable mechanic will give you all the information you need before you drive away.
Do you have a repair you’re in need of? Are you shopping for a new mechanic?
A better approach might be to find a reputable service shop, one you can trust and talk with.
Stop by today, we’d be happy to discuss your service needs with you. We’re here for the long term, and look forward to serving you.