Why the auto repair industry gets a bad rep

[punisher]

Originally Posted By: Scott_Tucker

Long ago, I had an electrical engineer come in.........


Oh, as soon as I read that.

I worked in Austin during the 90s, and electrical engineers were a dime a dozen then. More than once I had one come back in the shop to question a diagnosis, and even argue with me as to how certain sensors worked. Dumbfounded them when they found I have a vocabulary and a degree.

So glad that career is behind me.

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
I'm This is one industry where I wish there was some meaningful
gov't regulation that would at least make these places somewhat
responsible for their quality of work and questionable





I couldn't agree more. There are currently no license requirements or education requirements to work on a car and there should be. My barber has to get a license, why not mechanics?

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: Scott_Tucker
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
I'm This is one industry where I wish there was some meaningful
gov't regulation that would at least make these places somewhat
responsible for their quality of work and questionable

I couldn't agree more. There are currently no license requirements or education requirements to work on a car and there should be. My barber has to get a license, why not mechanics?


As far as $tealerships go I wouldn't be surprised if they have highly paid professional lobbyists in DC that keep the
Congress from even thinking about such licenses or regulations.

And you can bet that independent shops and chain shops probably contribute on an individual basis to help those regulations never happen, so they can keep on ripping off and cheating the customer.

 

[hattaresguy]

Like anything with shops YMMV.

I have used a number of good ones, and a couple are hacks.

One did a transmission flush for me and hacked off the transmission cooler line to do it, replacing it with fuel hose and barb fittings.

Another a GMC dealer no less was offering an oil change, tire rotation, and alignment special. They managed to screw up everything except the oil filter, wrong weight oil and to much of it, they ignored the tire rotation, and when it came time to align it they were more interested in selling me a new rack than doing the job. Yes my steering rack weeps slightly, just enough to make the joints dirty, it has for 70k. But my brand new tie rod ends did not hinder their ability to align the truck in any way.

So in the end I did a CC charge back and will never darken their door again.

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Originally Posted By: Scott_Tucker
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
I'm This is one industry where I wish there was some meaningful
gov't regulation that would at least make these places somewhat
responsible for their quality of work and questionable

I couldn't agree more. There are currently no license requirements or education requirements to work on a car and there should be. My barber has to get a license, why not mechanics?


As far as $tealerships go I wouldn't be surprised if they have highly paid professional lobbyists in DC that keep the
Congress from even thinking about such licenses or regulations.

And you can bet that independent shops and chain shops probably contribute on an individual basis to help those regulations never happen, so they can keep on ripping off and cheating the customer.


Is this a serious statement? Do you really think dealers and shops are solely in business to cheat you?

 

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Ditto on the " I run my shop the way that I want comment."

You can run your shop into the ground for all I care, but I still have the right to reasonably visually inspect the work that you did and that I paid for to see that it was completed in a satisfactory manner.


I would GLADLY pull your vehicle in a Service Bay. And check ALL your fluids & go over ANY repairs performed including putting on a lift, With you standing right there, That IS service. I do not like the oil drips from people checking fluids in my parking lot.

Yes, I do run my Shop My Way!

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: Scott_Tucker
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Originally Posted By: Scott_Tucker

I'm This is one industry where I wish there was some meaningful
gov't regulation that would at least make these places somewhat
responsible for their quality of work and questionable
As far as $tealerships go I wouldn't be surprised if they have highly paid professional lobbyists in DC that keep the
Congress from even thinking about such licenses or regulations.

And you can bet that independent shops and chain shops probably contribute on an individual basis to help those regulations never happen, so they can keep on ripping off and cheating the customer.


Is this a serious statement? Do you really think dealers and shops are solely in business to cheat you?


MOST shops ARE in business to cheat the customer, there are a
small MINORITY that are honest businesses. The reason I say this is because of all my experiences (dealt with dozens of shops as I am now in my late 40s ) I've had perhaps ONE where they didn't try to stick it to me in some way, shape or form.

 

[DoubleWasp]

I would never get angry at someone for wanting to check their car over before they left. If anything, most of customers kind of blow me off when I go into detailed explanations and show them exactly what I have done to improve their car.

Many of my customers enjoy getting a good look at the results of my work, and the improvements to their vehicle, so why would I get offended?

I'd feel like a psychopath telling someone they better get off my property before they check the results.

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Is your faith in humanity so low that you think everyone is out to cheat you? What other businesses don't you like? What business are you in?

 

[DoubleWasp]

Originally Posted By: Scott_Tucker


Is this a serious statement? Do you really think dealers and shops are solely in business to cheat you?


He's not exactly wrong. The current business model for dealer service departments is based on profit over service. I can honestly say that I have never spoken with a dealer's service department without encountering some sort of sleaze or incompetence.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Originally Posted By: Scott_Tucker


Is this a serious statement? Do you really think dealers and shops are solely in business to cheat you?


He's not exactly wrong. The current business model for dealer service departments is based on profit over service. I can honestly say that I have never spoken with a dealer's service department without encountering some sort of sleaze or incompetence.


While I cannot agree that ALL stealerships are bad, I can definitely say that my experiences of late have been very poor. Plus my family continually relates more horror stories to me as well.

They have structured their work to where the advisor virtually has to sell unneeded services in order to earn a living...

 

[kschachn]

In this case I think it has just as much to do with the customer as it does the shop.

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
MOST shops ARE in business to cheat the customer, there are a small MINORITY that are honest businesses. The reason I say this is because of all my experiences (dealt with dozens of shops as I am now in my late 40s ) I've had perhaps ONE where they didn't try to stick it to me in some way, shape or form.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
In this case I think it has just as much to do with the customer as it does the shop.


I'd have to agree. I use two excellent dealers(one BMW, one Mazda) as well as three indie shops- not to mention an outstanding tire shop. Yes, I've encountered bad shops, but in most cases the problems were due to rank incompetence rather than greed.

When I was in private practice I quickly "fired" or, better yet, refused to take cases from clients who assumed the worst about everyone. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I wound up on the negative side of their ledger.

 

[antiqueshell]

Ah, here we go again, "blame it on the customer".

That is exactly why the automotive repair industry has one of the sleaziest reputations among consumers. Which it deserves fully.

 

[eljefino]

My cousin would always argue, even as a kid. To him being right was the most important thing in the world. Even when we gave up and said "whatever" he considered that winning an argument.

Now he's a nuclear engineer working on submarines. Thankfully he's civilian and doesn't go to sea on them.

 

[DoubleWasp]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Ah, here we go again, "blame it on the customer".

That is exactly why the automotive repair industry has one of the sleaziest reputations among consumers. Which it deserves fully.
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Ah, here we go again, "blame it on the customer".

That is exactly why the automotive repair industry has one of the sleaziest reputations among consumers. Which it deserves fully.
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Ah, here we go again, "blame it on the customer".

That is exactly why the automotive repair industry has one of the sleaziest reputations among consumers. Which it deserves fully.


This will always be true for all markets where the average consumer prefers impression over hard information.

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Ah, here we go again, "blame it on the customer".

That is exactly why the automotive repair industry has one of the sleaziest reputations among consumers. Which it deserves fully.


What business are you in?

 

[kschachn]

I absolutely stand by my statement. More so now than ever.

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Ah, here we go again, "blame it on the customer".

That is exactly why the automotive repair industry has one of the sleaziest reputations among consumers. Which it deserves fully.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Totally agree with this.

Remember when I was dating my now wife in 1992. She had a 1987 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z. She took it to a Firestone for an OC and they gave her the song and dance about how bad the brakes were and the damage would be over $700.

I took the car to the shop that did my work. Damage was $145 OTD.
An honest and competent mechanic is worth his or her weight in gold.
I wouldn't let Firestone work on my wheelbarrow.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
I absolutely stand by my statement. More so now than ever.


Ditto.