Trust in your auto repair shop
Do you look forward to visits with your auto mechanic? Do they make you feel valued and respected? If you’re thinking, “not so much,” then I recommend you ask yourself whether you really trust your shop. Let’s face it—auto repairs can be very expensive, and unfortunately, sometimes some shops can be less than honest.
As a business owner, family man, and mechanic, I have found that trust is the key to customer satisfaction when it comes to auto repairs—not cheap prices, fast service, or fancy facilities.
Wherever you go for auto repair services, ask for these trust-building basics:
- All of the information you need to make a fully-informed decision. Your shop should fully inform you of each issue, its severity, and your repair options. This is often a two-way conversation, and when done well, you will feel comfortable making the repair decisions that are right for you.
- The unembellished truth about any safety concerns on your vehicle. Listen to your gut—it will tell you if safety is just a card being played to make a sale. If there is a safety concern, your shop should provide a description of the problem, an explanation of how it’s a safety issue, and different repair options. On the flip side, because safety IS important, most every visit to your shop should include an inspection.
- Up-front pricing. Your shop should give you pricing up-front for all work, and get your approval before beginning the work. Sometimes this means agreeing to a diagnostic approach and then additional repair approval before continuing.
- Certified technicians. Most shops have certified technicians, and you’ll want to make sure yours does, too. However, don’t assume that this alone means your shop is trustworthy. It takes integrity at every level of an organization to deserve your trust.
Using a trustworthy shop is the best way to minimize the stress and costs involved in auto repairs. Try these tips with your current shop, or stop in to Willard Garage to see these principles in action.