I often find myself browsing through the internet looking for interesting automotive stuff. Recently, I came across an article that both intrigued me and infuriated me at the same time.
I wish they would have allowed for a counterpoint as an accompanying piece to the original. Since they didn't, then here it is!
First, here is the link so you can read the original article. That way you will know what I'm rebutting about.
Here is the link https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-things-your-mechanic-do_b_5516820
Number 5:
Huff post : Mechanics don't want you to know the amount of hours allowed for the job.
Mechanics DO! want you to know what the labor guide allows for the repair. If they show the labor guide, clients will find out more often that they are being charged less than allowed. Why you ask?
Most shops are aware that if they push the price to the limit, that there is always another shop out there hungrier and willing to undersell the job just to take it out of your bay.
Number 4:
HP: Mechanics guess more than what you think they do.
That is correct! And why is that?
Shops are afraid to ask the client for diagnostic time. AutoZone advertises on the radio they will "test" your car for free (mind you, they are a parts store and not a repair shop). It's grossly misleading as they do not test. They only retrieve the computer code and 100% guess the rest with hopes to sell you the part (which you are not able to return once used)
Consumers resist paying diagnostic fees and often will ask you to waive them if they do the repair with you. Diagnostic time is the most expensive, most time consuming and most riddled with the propensity to be wrong. You can never ever be 100% certain without comprehensive testing that the one obvious thing you found, is the only problem your car has.
I tell people, the more you allow me to test, the less I will guess, It's your call!
Number 3:
HP: Certifications don't mean what the industry would want you to believe. Maybe! But I certainly wouldn't want my foot surgery to be done by a doctor certified in Proctology.
Certifications mean the person who has them, has spent the time and hours necessary to show they are committed to the trade. They are also required to pass a competency exam at the end of the training.
My guess is the person who wrote the article for the Huffington Post, did not have as many certifications as he should have at the end of 20 years in the trade.
Number 2:
HP: Not all causes of the check engine light need to be repaired.
I agree with that, however,,,
Any codes in the evaporative emissions system can go indefinitely without being repaired. We tell this often to our clients. But you'll definitely be required to repair them when the vehicle is due for smog test. In California, a check engine light on is an automatic failure.
If you allow the check engine light to go unrepaired, the next time the check engine light comes on for another reason, you are not going to know it because the check engine light is already on! And that additional check engine light could be potentially something that could damage other components or the whole system if left unheeded.
That's why I feel any check engine light should be taken care of ASAP regardless of how severe it may be.
Number 1:
HP: Mechanics want you to believe you need to bring your vehicle to them for every repair.
Couldn't be further from the truth!
For the do-it-yourselfer, it's more likely your neighbors are the ones opposed to you working on your vehicle in the driveway - bringing down home prices for the neighborhood, leaving large oil or coolant stains on driveways, and endangering pets as they could come in contact with coolant or more nefarious fluids.
Someone who wants to do their own repairs at home is not our competition. Actually, most shops like mine are very willing to help some clients with advice and even loaning some tools. We know if we are helpful to the client when they are trying to do things at home, then we often will get the vehicle in our bays if things don't go right for them.
Regarding "flushes"
We don't want clients to "flush" the fluids every time they come in as the article states. If we did so, we wouldn't have any clients. We want them to do it every 2 years or 30,000 miles. We have the data to prove if you do them at these intervals, it will save money, time and inconvenience over not doing them at all. My business has a fleet of 8 loaner cars and guess what? We exchange all the fluids as I stated in the previous paragraph, because we believe in them.
Last but not least
Give people credit for knowing what they represent to every business as a consumer. I know what I represent to my dentist when I go there happily three times a year for dental cleaning (the more I go for dental maintenance, the less I go for dental repairs). I know what I represent to the coffee shop every morning when I get a Latte. Consumers do know what they represent to a repair shop as they do to every business they frequent. And we want them to know!
I wish they would have allowed for a counterpoint as an accompanying piece to the original. Since they didn't, then here it is!
First, here is the link so you can read the original article. That way you will know what I'm rebutting about.
Here is the link https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-things-your-mechanic-do_b_5516820
Number 5:
Huff post : Mechanics don't want you to know the amount of hours allowed for the job.
Mechanics DO! want you to know what the labor guide allows for the repair. If they show the labor guide, clients will find out more often that they are being charged less than allowed. Why you ask?Most shops are aware that if they push the price to the limit, that there is always another shop out there hungrier and willing to undersell the job just to take it out of your bay.
Number 4:
HP: Mechanics guess more than what you think they do.
That is correct! And why is that?
Shops are afraid to ask the client for diagnostic time. AutoZone advertises on the radio they will "test" your car for free (mind you, they are a parts store and not a repair shop). It's grossly misleading as they do not test. They only retrieve the computer code and 100% guess the rest with hopes to sell you the part (which you are not able to return once used)
Consumers resist paying diagnostic fees and often will ask you to waive them if they do the repair with you. Diagnostic time is the most expensive, most time consuming and most riddled with the propensity to be wrong. You can never ever be 100% certain without comprehensive testing that the one obvious thing you found, is the only problem your car has.
I tell people, the more you allow me to test, the less I will guess, It's your call!
Number 3:
HP: Certifications don't mean what the industry would want you to believe. Maybe! But I certainly wouldn't want my foot surgery to be done by a doctor certified in Proctology.
Certifications mean the person who has them, has spent the time and hours necessary to show they are committed to the trade. They are also required to pass a competency exam at the end of the training.
My guess is the person who wrote the article for the Huffington Post, did not have as many certifications as he should have at the end of 20 years in the trade.
Number 2:
HP: Not all causes of the check engine light need to be repaired.
I agree with that, however,,,
Any codes in the evaporative emissions system can go indefinitely without being repaired. We tell this often to our clients. But you'll definitely be required to repair them when the vehicle is due for smog test. In California, a check engine light on is an automatic failure.
If you allow the check engine light to go unrepaired, the next time the check engine light comes on for another reason, you are not going to know it because the check engine light is already on! And that additional check engine light could be potentially something that could damage other components or the whole system if left unheeded.
That's why I feel any check engine light should be taken care of ASAP regardless of how severe it may be.
Number 1:
HP: Mechanics want you to believe you need to bring your vehicle to them for every repair.
Couldn't be further from the truth!
For the do-it-yourselfer, it's more likely your neighbors are the ones opposed to you working on your vehicle in the driveway - bringing down home prices for the neighborhood, leaving large oil or coolant stains on driveways, and endangering pets as they could come in contact with coolant or more nefarious fluids.
Someone who wants to do their own repairs at home is not our competition. Actually, most shops like mine are very willing to help some clients with advice and even loaning some tools. We know if we are helpful to the client when they are trying to do things at home, then we often will get the vehicle in our bays if things don't go right for them.
Regarding "flushes"
We don't want clients to "flush" the fluids every time they come in as the article states. If we did so, we wouldn't have any clients. We want them to do it every 2 years or 30,000 miles. We have the data to prove if you do them at these intervals, it will save money, time and inconvenience over not doing them at all. My business has a fleet of 8 loaner cars and guess what? We exchange all the fluids as I stated in the previous paragraph, because we believe in them.
Last but not least
Give people credit for knowing what they represent to every business as a consumer. I know what I represent to my dentist when I go there happily three times a year for dental cleaning (the more I go for dental maintenance, the less I go for dental repairs). I know what I represent to the coffee shop every morning when I get a Latte. Consumers do know what they represent to a repair shop as they do to every business they frequent. And we want them to know!
