joyful2beeblogs

As a woman who has taken 15 cars in for repairs over 45 years, in 4 different states, I experienced “the good, the bad, and the ugly” encounters with auto repair shops. I have been lied to, dismissed, overcharged and even endangered! I hope the following lessons I learned may assist others in choosing a trustworthy car service garage or dealership.

First: Get recommendations.

Ask family and friends about their experiences with car repair businesses. If at least two or more people recommend the same place, you have a higher chance of getting reliable service. Ask them to tell you about the whole experience. Were the mechanics friendly and accommodating, or not? Did they explain what was needed in detail, or did they talk in fast-forward? Pay attention to details that matter to you.

Second: Research local car shops.

A list of car repair businesses complete with ratings, addresses, phone numbers and reviews are widely available on the internet. Search multiple sites and compare. If common problems appear across different sites, steer clear. Consider that the list may be incomplete and the reviews outdated. Ownership and employees change, and so does service. Outdated reviews may not be removed.

The helpfulness of the reviews likewise depends on the  number of complaints versus the number of positive comments. Anyone may have one or two bad reviews. Some of them may be unreliable, so try putting them in context. If every other review is glowing and one person is screaming about price gouging, then that person may just be bad with judging prices. On the other hand, friends of the owner may write glowing reviews for their buddy. In that case, check the number of reviews and check their history. A competitor could also write a bad review to drive away business. Some sites have measures against this, but not all. Just assimilate the information and check things out yourself and trust your gut.

The Better Business Bureau also offers a list of some local businesses with their accreditation or reports. Again, be aware of the date the reviews were written. I found one on a business that was 10 years old! That doesn’t necessarily disqualify a car shop, but it may mean the business has moved, the owner has changed or the garage is closed altogether.

3. Check out the business yourself.

Waiting rooms speak volumes about customer care. Are accommodations comfortable? How do the present customers look? Are they relaxed or are they disgruntled? Is there water or coffee available? Are all the facilities, including what you can see of the garage, relatively clean or neat? Is there a bathroom?

I have to admit this is not the gold standard for all good garages. There was one old car shop whose waiting room was only adequate and had one bathroom but I trusted them implicitly. Their mechanics and service personnel are always polite and friendly. They had been owned and operated by the same man for over 20 years. Their efficiency and reputation are well known; and their list of faithful customers was long. I have also heard many tales of their kindness and willingness to go the extra mile. They have a 4.5 star rating too.

4. Observe customer care.

Go in and discuss your car and the services they provide. Listen to how repairs are explained to other customers while you wait. Are questions brushed off with excuses, or are their comments making the customer’s question seem silly?

Do they treat female customers as well as they treat male customers? Do they address female customers with “Baby, Sweetie, Darling, Honey” or other words that make female customers feel uncomfortable? Some older mechanics, especially in the South, may use these terms out of habit. Be careful, regardless. Follow your gut. If you, or your significant other feels uncomfortable, leave!

5. Check credentials and certifications.

Most garages have updated their equipment to care for newer cars and their complex computer systems. Make sure your mechanics are qualified, and their certifications are in order. Inspect their credentials online, or ask to see them at the shop.

6. Consider a dealership.

Even though it may cost more, sometimes it’s better to take a car back to its dealership for repairs. Your dealership should know every nook and cranny of your car. Some of the better dealers will send out notices reminding you of maintenance, too, keeping you informed and up to date on your car’s needs. Don’t dismiss these as cash grabs! A well-maintained car costs far, far less than three or four junkers and will last about as long as all of those combined.

Choosing the best place to take your car is sometimes hit or miss. Sometimes you just have to try a place to be sure. These preliminary steps will hopefully prevent you from making the same mistakes I did! After all you will be entrusting your car and likely your life to a car repair shop.

We women do not have to go in for car service, innocent and uninformed. We have our husbands or better still, we have the internet. Look up your car’s weird sounds or anything the car is doing now that it never did before. YouTube can help you diagnose car sounds to some degree. Here is one of several links about auto sounds. https://youtu.be/GDUODN1Obt8. But do talk with someone who knows cars and is someone you know and trust.

On the whole I think dealerships are the most consistently reliable business to use for repairs. They have a supply of whatever needs replacing and a whole lot of repairmen who know those cars like the palm of their hands. They always have nice waiting rooms and a pot of coffee or candy machines.

Tomorrow I share several of my own encounters with the car mechanics who treated my car or me dangerously. Stay tuned .