CHOOSING AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP
by John Mosko

Picking a mechanic or an auto service location shouldn’;t be a difficult job. Howevr, all too often, individuals wait until the last minute when they have an auto related crisis and find themselves at the mercy of the mechanic. Follow these simple tips to select your repair shop or mechanic and you’ll be well on the way to making an intelligent and reasoned decisions.

1. Always Search in Advance – Rind a reliable mechanic or repair shop before you need one. If you have time to evaluate and compare you are much more likely to make a good decision. Rushing invites mistakes and can lead you to the cheapest or nearest location as opposed to the one best suited to perform the repair.

2. Ask Your Friends – Word of mouth advertising can’t be bought and if you have a friend or associate who is happy with his mechanic, take a moment to check them out.A quick query to a friend regarding the work he has had done, and the interaction with staff will give you a great point from which to further review the shop.

3. Check with Consumer Groups – After consulting friends and family, review the business with local consumer groups like the Better Business Bureau or the local Chamber of Commerce. Check for any complaints lodged against the business and also consult with your state’s consumer affairs departments listed in the phonebook.

4. Visit the Locations – After doing your research, stop by the shops and look around. Yo’ll want to visually inspect the location to see if it appears professional. Is the location organized and neat. Are their placards and professional accreditations on the walls, has the shop posted labor rates and warranty details? In a nutshell, you are looking for the tell tale signs of a professionally run and managed location as opposed to the signs that shop doesn’t take repair, maintenance, and professionalism seriously.

5. Use Common Sense – After you’ve done your due diligence, think about things and make a reasoned decision. If the location is recommended by friends but the staff seems to be callous or rude when you stop by, skip the location for another. Alternatively, if you stop by a shop with a great staff and an organized shop don’t immediately discount them if you don’t see signs posting rates or various awards and certifications. Take what you have learned and use it to form an overall opinion and make that your local shop. Let the techs at that location service your car for small repaird (braked, oil change, etc…) and as you build confidence in their abilities and professionalism, allow them to gradually perform more substantive repairs.