8 known problems with service centers & how you can protect yourself
Unfortunately, the auto industry has made it extremely difficult to trust mechanics and automotive shops. Even for places that are “trusted” most don’t really know what their mechanic is telling them or what they’re charging them unless they’re friends or family with the mechanic. Here are the top 7 known problems with automotive service centers –
8 known problems with service centers
1 – OVERCHARGING
Service centers are known to overcharge for parts and labor so it's crucial to obtain multiple quotes and be aware of the fair market value for the services you’re looking to get done. Our recommendation is to call 3 shops that are specific for the work you need to have done, and get 3 estimates to go over. When your car is unique, however, this becomes increasingly more difficult.
2 – UNNECESSARY REPAIRS
There have been instances where auto shops recommend unnecessary repairs to increase the bill because they feel the owner might not even notice. This can be beautifully explained by this quick clip from Seinfeld.
3 – LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
Shops may not provide clear explanations of the work being done or breakdowns of the costs involved. Transparent communication is essential for building trust, and if you feel like you have no idea what they’re talking about, inquire to have it clearly explained. If you receive attitude and or felt like you’re being talked down to, kindly walk away.
4 – INCOMPLETE REPAIRS
In some cases, repairs may be incomplete or not done to the expected standard. This can lead to safety issues and additional expenses in the long run. Unfortunately, this has happened across the industry with various brands, dealerships, and shop to blame for cutting corners.
5 – PUSHY SALES TACTICS
Some service centers may employ aggressive sales tactics, pressuring customers into getting additional services or upgrades that may not be necessary. The example of our client with a Maybach s600 is the perfect example.
6 – POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
A lack of professionalism, rude behavior, or inadequate communication can contribute to a negative customer experience. The number one thing we see: shops knowing immediately who and who cannot speak the car language. If you can’t, they already know you have no idea what they’re about to sell you.
7 – MISDIAGNOSIS
Incorrectly diagnosing a problem can result in unnecessary repairs and expenses. A perfect example of this would be our customer’s Hummer EV, a shop missed a dangerous bent tie-rod.
8 – Breaking parts and claiming it wasn’t them
This is unfortunately something we’ve experienced all too often at this point. You bring your car to a shop to get the brakes done, but when you leave, you realize your rear view mirror knob isn’t working and is chipped.
Ferrari 488 broken parts
When taking delivery back of our client’s Ferrari 488 GTB after work that was done, we discovered a slew of issues, missing caps/covers on the brakes, a seat adjuster was broken and on top of that the rear view mirror knob stopped working. Even on Ferrari’s shops try to cut corners.
What can you do to protect yourself?
1 – Research the issue with your car
Whatever is going on with your car from maintenance to modification, research it before going to a shop. Type in whatever is going on with your car into google or youtube, and then your car’s make and model. Read and watch as much as you can about that specific part or issue. If you don’t know what the part is, search instead for the area of the car, “Driver side front, brakes diagram” for example, to then see if you can find the specific part that you think might be wrong, and keep searching from there. It’s tedious at times, but this knowledge you’re gaining is power you can use when you’re at the shop - once you know something inside and out it’ll be much more difficult for them to sell you something you don’t need.
2 – Research and call the shops ahead of time
Research the shop that you need for whatever is going on with it, and read the reviews on them. Not just the good ones - read the 2-3 star ones, and the ones that people have clearly taken the time to write. Then call the shop and talk with them about the issue you’re having. Ask them about their reviews. Then assess how you’re received: are you spoken to with kindness? Would you want to talk with this person again if you had an issue with the car 2 months down the road? Were they quick to pick up the phone? Were they rude or short with you in anyway? These are questions to ask yourself before making a decision to bring your car into their shop.
3 – Take photos of your car at their shop before you leave it
Go around your car 360 degrees, slowly, and take photos and videos of it. Don’t forget the roof/sunroof. Take photos of every wheel and tire, and make sure to note the mileage that you brought it in with. Keep these photos safe and review them when you go to pick your car up to make sure that everything is in order, and flag anything that is not right before you leave with your car.
4 - Note any imperfections about your car in a notes document
Any dents, scratches, things that don’t work before you bring it into the shop - make note of it in your notes app of your phone so you can flag it with the shop if anything else is broken. Tell them about these items, and that you went over the entire car yourself to make sure everything is functioning properly. Encourage them to do the same.
5 – You can always walk away
Remember that at any point you can walk away from the shop - even when you bring it for the appointment that you made. Listen to your gut and if something feels off, just walk away. No reason to leave your car at a place that you don’t trust.
Being aware of these tactics and learning how to protect yourself is the first step in getting the job done right the first time. We hope these tips make sense and help you out!
