ALT-1 How to Find the right Auto Body Repair Shop

From 3arf

Finding the right auto body repair shop can often be as frustrating as getting in an accident or backing into that wall or post that wasn't there just seconds before. Having worked as a body repair technician and painter for twelve years, I have seen and/or heard nearly every excuse for accidents involving automobiles.

As the cars make their way to the lot for an estimate, I often ask myself what prompted them to choose us, or how they found the shop. The shop I work at is somewhat secluded, and we don't spend a dollar on advertising. We do however, have an long list of repeat costumers and have secured nearly every new and used car dealership in town for their auto body repairs.

First, think of any shops that you are familiar with, simply from having navigated the streets of your city or town. Often times you can determine the work standards of a shop by how long they have been open, and what improvements they have continually made at their location. Success brings growth, and a growing shop will spend money to make improvements to their work space.

Second, try and remember those who spend time being involved in community programs and activities. It seems like any time there is an event involving automobiles and county fairs or demolition derby's, there are three top shops where I live that are always donating their time and service to the community. If I didn't know how to fix cars myself, these are the shops that I would feel morally and ethically obligated to support.

Third, in a small to moderately sized town such as the one I live in, word of mouth for any type of business is often what determines your success or longevity. There is a fine line here however that most people should keep in mind. When asking friends or relatives where they had their vehicles repaired, think first about the temperament and personality of those whom you are asking. Some people are not satisfied with anything, and will find reasons to badmouth a shop or business because they didn't have fresh coffee, popcorn, or a television for them to watch while they waited for an estimate. Word of mouth can be helpful, but don't let it be your only determining factor. I'm sure there is a car or two out there that developed unforeseen problems following a repair job at our shop, and rather than returning to speak with us, in which case we would gladly warranty the work, they tell anyone and everyone that they were scammed and will never trust us with any work in the future.

Lastly, trust your instincts. I like to think that our shop has all the qualities of a good shop I have listed above, but we also care about and like what we do. This you can learn from someone by spending a little time getting to know them. It's disheartening that in this country people feel like you are invading their privacy if you try and get to know them, or spend a little time asking them about their families or interests. I like to get to know new people, and despite the seemingly social taboo, I WILL ask them about themselves, their work, and their families. I have networked and developed a lot of friendships this way, and people also trust me with more than just their cars when they get to know me.

Choosing the right shop is not rocket science, but with all the cars on the road today, there are a lot of shops to choose from. Despite the vast number of repair shops around, they are not all going to give you the same quality repair work for the same fair price. Decide how important your car is to you and what it is you are willing to spend for repairs. You may have an older car that doesn't have much life left in it, and you certainly shouldn't spend a lot of money to fix the body when you could invest in a new car or that new bowling ball you've had your eye on. The point being that often times, an honest shop will tell you what type of work to expect on a payscale, this can often help you determine the quality of repairs you would like to have done.

I hope that this article is helpful to anyone who seeks advice in the realm of auto body repair. As a final bit of advice, if you crash your husbands porche-get it fixed by a professional and don't ever tell him. If you crash your husbands vw bus, don't fix it-he'll appreciate the bit of character it adds to the piece and he'll probably like having the visual image to show his friends and family when he tells the story.


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