Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Be careful with car stealers they may advertise $225.00 but when they open it up and they tell you it needs one of these and 2 of those and..... your bill will go way up. most of them are not so honest as we all know.
Sure, telling customers what their car really needs is a dishonest practice?
The coupon clearly states to see the dealer for other important details; anyone who is remotely familiar with a timing belt system will know that a complete service will often require more than just the belt. And don't tell me that this is a bait and switch -- if you are not an educated consumer, that's your own darn fault.
You have a serious, unwarranted bias against dealerships. What makes independent shops so great anyway? They lack the continual factory training, availability of tech line for assistance and are unable to provide the service experience that most discerning clients expect. The dealership is almost always the most consistent, safest choice for a quality repair using the proper parts.
I definitely agree with the first part of your post. It can be pretty frustrating when you tell a customer they need additional work and they look at you with distrust... Like you're trying to rip them off. I suppose being a mechanic is a bit like being a lawyer. Many people never completely trust them and only go when they're in hot water, then complain when they're through...
The second part, I'm not completely in agreement with. The continual lack of factory training to me really only comes in on the newest cars. Good indy shops undergo schooling or look for other ways to stay current on their knowledge. They also have tech resources available to them, including factory hotlines or factory trained hotlines in many cases. All they have to do is pay. The bottom line is, while a dealer can be a safe bet in many cases, good workmanship follows the mechanic, not the name on the building.