ALT-5 How to Avoid Scams at an Automotive Repair Shop
For the women who constantly get taken advantage of, and those who find themselves always paying more than you think you should have, it is time you stop giving them reasons to rip you off.Many women who have a problem often "suggest" a problem by simply asking the mechanic,"do you think its my battery" (engine cranks, but won't start) she might ask? She just gave the mechanic a free ride by asking. Now the mechanic knows he is able to replace an alternator as well as a battery at this point after fixing an other wise very simple problem.
"Do you think its my transmission" a woman may ask, and of course the mechanic will reward her diagnosis by letting her know that he really appreciates a knowledgeable person, and writes up a huge bill for work never done, but does remedy the simple fix for her problem at a transmission price.
In short, just never ever offer what "you" think is the problem. Never give a mechanic a chance to use your ignorance for what is wrong against you, and I don't mean that in a bad way, because we are all ignorant of something or other, but your lack of real knowledge, can and will cost you.However, you may put it out that you recently got an estimate, but would rather not disclose where, how much, and what the problem was found to be.What this does is make the mechanic aware you are not one to be taken lightly, and will provide a fairly honest evaluation and estimate for repairs. He doesn't want to lose you to the other estimate you got, so he'll think twice before trying to scam you.Your reasons for not disclosing your last evaluation is quite simple. You want to make sure that its a matter of a second opinion on what is wrong with your car, and you will go with who provides the most honest evaluation.
The mechanic doesn't know anything except he has to provide you with a fairly honest estimate for work which he diagnosed, and hopes it fits what you are looking for.He will be too uncomfortable trying to tack on additional unnecessary repairs, as he might lose you to your first imaginary mechanic.To be sure, the least you offer a mechanic to bury you, the more you'll have to spend on something worthwhile.
