 | Ken Haskett
is the Director of Fixed Operations for Rusty Eck Ford. Ken has been in the Automotive Service Industry since 1982 working in both retail and dealership operations.
Rusty Eck's Quick Lane is recognized by Ford as one of the top three Quick Lanes in the nation. The parts department is one of only 62 Major Redistribution Dealers in the nation. Ford Motor Company regularly recognizes the service department for their outstanding customer service and advanced production methods. Rusty Eck's Body Shop is a direct repair center for most insurance companies, servicing all makes and models. Rusty Eck is the top selling tire dealer in Ford's Kansas City region and ranks in the top ten nationwide. Ken can be contacted by e-mail at khaskett@rustyeckford.com. |
Cars, Trucks, Vans & Automotive
2002-08-01 10:34:00
Stop getting ripped off
Question: How can I avoid getting ‘roped off’ when I take my car in for service or repair?Answer: The most important part of avoiding rip-offs on car repairs is deciding where to take your vehicle in the first place. Consider these questions:1. "How competent are the technicians that will be working on my car?" Don't be afraid to ask about the training of the technicians. These days, cars are more complicated than ever before. Many shops require their technicians to be ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) certified, but that does not mean the techs are kept up to date on the latest repair techniques. Does your shop have access to the latest service bulletins from the factory? Are the techs required to take ongoing training? Is the mechanic working on my transmission (for instance) certified to work on transmissions? At the very least, any shop should have a shop foreman who is oversees repairs that is knowledgeable on all aspects of vehicle repairs. Dealerships are required by most manufacturers to maintain an overall shop competency. This means that a certain number of techs must be factory certified in certain areas of repair. This does not mean, however, that the tech working on your car will be certified; only that on the whole the techs have gone through factory training. Factory certification is certainly a level above ASE, but it is expensive and requires the tech to spend a great deal of time outside the shop in classrooms. Dealerships accept this expense at varying degrees. Don't be afraid to ask a shop about their training budget.2. "What kind of equipment does the shop have to diagnose and repair my vehicle properly?" Even the best techs cannot overcome the lack of proper equipment. Again, this is often a question of what a repair facility is willing to spend. Asking about equipment is a good indication of how committed any shop is to fixing your vehicle right the first time. Again, dealerships are required by the manufacturers to own certain equipment, but this is usually only a bare minimum of what is required of today's complex vehicles.3. "What kind of reputation does this facility have, and what motive do they have to ensure my satisfaction?" Ask how long a repair facility has been in business. How important is it for them to maintain a long-term relationship with you as a consumer. I personally tend to shy away from specialty shops, such as transmission-only facilities. There are many fine shops out there that specialize in one or two areas, but facilities that offer a wide range of services have much more at stake when it comes to your return business. Someone who hopes to do business with you in the future has more to lose than someone who will likely only be doing business with you this once. 4. "How well do I know these people?" The best time to choose a repair shop is before you need one. If at all possible, consider doing your regular maintenance at a place that is capable of satisfying your other automotive needs should they arise. Should any problems occur, you will already know someone to talk to first.
