Gregory Kohler sent this note along recently. It made me think about how much things have changed, not just in auto repair but in this country as a whole.
Right up until I sold my business last year, we did oil changes the same way, since the doors were opened in 1945. We only used quality oils and filters...NO CHEAP STUFF! We checked all gear cases, greased anything with a fitting, installed fittings when the factory just used plugs, set tire air pressure, inspected the complete underside of the car, then checked all the fluids under the hood, belts, hoses, etc, and lubricated all hinges, locks and cylinders. We made recommendations to the customer and several times showed them why they didn't need what the quick lubes and discount oil change centers wanted to sell them. By the time I sold the business in July of 2008, we were using synthetic blend in every oil change. The average cost for a full service LOF was $32.00. Just remember that no discount shop can make any profit or even pay the help the time that it takes to do an oil change, so they're going to try to upsell whether you need it or not.We should stop and think about what Gregory's telling us. Maybe we should set a little higher standard for ourselves.
I’m afraid, even in the “Good Old Days” – and I’m 83 – there were scam artists. It’s been “Let the buyer beware.” since ancient Rome.
Warren has it right. The best defense is an informed consumer. That’s why I follow Matthew’s blog.
good article
Having worked in Service Stations and done my own repairs for years. I try not to use the words HONEST and AUTO REPAIR in the same sentence…..GREED has taken over…
CONSUMER BEWARE……
I helped my dad change oil in our cars when I was a kid in the late 50’s. We would change the fiters and some time just clean things that didn’t look too bad. Funny, when he left, and I got older, bought my first car Ididn’t take the time to even check the oil. You guessed it. I froze that little Fiat and learned an important lesson. Pay attention to the ole MAN.
I’m a mechanic, aviation though, but I bought some used cars, and first thing I did, was to change all fluids and filters, even if the dealer said they’ve done it, sorry to say, but you just can’t trust all service station.
I have in the passed had to change how I make a living. I was frist trained as a truck driver, know I work in a Mom and Pop’s owned lube shop. I have had customer come to me and ask why do I need this? As told by Jiffy Lube or Wal-Mart. when I tell them that they don’t I see smiles and then see a repeat customer. The thruth is always the best and it is free! Yes I can up sell and charge the customer. What good would it do? One item the I always tell my customer is that if you don’t believe me there is another shop around the corner that will be happy to give you a second opion! Now days with the way money is the car owner is driving longer on the oil change and putting off much needed repairs. I have seen the drop off of about 50% of our work. To up sell without cause is just a olain out-un-right lie!!! These shop’s need to be shut down. See YouTube re: JiffyLube
Quite a few years ago,I,being young and a single female,had taken my 1987 Grand Am to be inspected at the local Firestone.The man told me it would be a long while before he could get to my car,so,if I wanted to do some shopping,to go ahead and come back in two hours.I came back in two hours and was handed a list a mile long stating that all of these things needed to be done as well as adding new shocks all the way around. Me being a skeptic all of my young life,took the car to a friend of mine who was a motor head,and handed him the long list.I was told that nothing on my list had to be done in order for me to get the inspection,with the exception of the shocks.Well,I had a friend change the shocks and I went back to Firestone to get my sticker and informed him that I didn’t need anything else done to my car in order to get my inspection sticker. Again,I was told that it would be awhile before he could check the shocks and I should come back in one hour. Upon returning,he had placed the sticker on my car and Ileft.In the meanwhile,my air conditioning would not work.
I turned my car around and went right back to Firestone and told the man that when I brought my car to him,both times,my air conditioner had worked.He checked it out and told me that my air conditioner condensor had three small holes in it.I asked how something like that could happen. He said,” You could have run over a couple of branches on the road and they would have poked the holes in your condenser. I argued that it worked perfectly fine prior to bringing my car to him. He said the best he could do was offer to fix it. I said,” You’ve fixed enough and I walked out of there never to return all of these years and I’ve told all of my friends of my experience,so,they would not go there either. You and I both know what happened to my condensor and why.He didn’t get my business the first time around and he surely wasn’t going to get it the second time around either.I recall it ended up costing me several hundred dollars,at the time.There are some garages that will truly try and help other people but one can’t help but be a skeptic when something like this has happened early on in life. Men DO try to take advantage of women and I don’t mean just auto mechanics.Any man who is selling something they are sure a woman knows nothing about will try and soak her for everything she’s got.Car salesmen are one of the worst for doing this to women. My article should read: WOMEN BE WARE!!!
First I want to say Thanks to Matt for posting my article. I had no idea it would find its way onto here.
To everyone else I have to say I’ve read some good things from all of you & have also seen customers experience the bad things you’ve mentioned as well.
One thing I want to tell everyone, regardless of your age is….Don’t let a bad experience make you unable to trust any mechanic. There are great shops all over the country. If you walk into a shop & aren’t greeted with a friendly hello & a smile….leave & try the next one.
In this day & age we have the greatest wealth of information available to us. Research shops on your computer, even if you travel, you’ll know where to find a reputable shop. In your community, ask your neighbors, co workers, etc, & see where they go & who they like. With a little effort you’ll find some great & honest people out there that really want to help you. Good luck to all of you, & thanks again Matt!
Amen to that. In all my years dealing with other mechanics, I’ve only met one that was truly crooked.
Very well said Greg.