Ratemyrepairshop Blog

I have seen the full spectrum of auto technicians. The techs that didn’t last were the ones that didn’t put any care into their work. You could tell right away that they had already decided being a car tech was not the right choice for them.  But, I had the priviledge of working with a technician that made it to the world finals for the manufacturer he worked for.  He ended up placing 2nd in Japan.  What set him apart?

The personality trait that I believe helped him achieve this was his methodical approach and attention to detail.  No matter how difficult or easy the issue was, he approached everything with the same care.  In auto repair you can’t miss a single detail.  If you think the tire vibration is just a balance problem and don’t take the time to drive the car once you are finished then, you are going to have a comeback.   You can’t assume anything.  Once a repair has been completed make sure you are 100% correct. 

In the end it is the auto tech who pays attention to detail that ends up with less comebacks and more hours at the end of the month.

The most important part of any auto shop is ATTITUDE.  I have come to accept that my car will not always be fixed on the first visit to the shop.  But, that is not the part that affects how I view the shop.  For the most part, we all understand that problems arise whenever something is being repaired.  However, it is the ATTITUDE the shop portrays that affects our view. 

How do they treat you on the phone?  Do they listen and put themselves in your position when you explain your problem?  After a repair, when you call back, do they dismiss your concerns as being ridiculous?  Do they act impartial in terms of the quality of work they have completed?

You can gain a lot of information just from your first phone conversation with a repair shop.  If they treat you as if they are doing you a favor to look at your car, then find someone else.  This is the type of ATTITUDE that shows how they are going to treat you from there on out.  Remember, you are doing them a favor by bringing your car in, not the other way around. 

Listen to how they react to your car concerns. The ATTITUDE you should hear from them is empathy.  Words and sentences such as, “that is unfortunate” or, “I am sorry to hear that you’re in that situation” tell you a great deal on how they treat their customers.  You need to be treated as a person and one with a real issue.  You don’t want to be treated like just another customer with a problem.

When a repair has not been done properly a professional shop will take responsibility and have an open mind to your concerns.  You can tell right away the integrity and professionalism of a shop, based on their own opinion of their work.  A professional shop knows that it is impossible to repair every car perfectly.  However, all they need to do is take another look and remedy the situation.

I think everyone is aware that it is impossible to repair a car perfectly every time, but, it is possible to show the proper ATTITUDE.