ALT-5 How to Deal with Auto Mechanics
Auto mechanics in general are a fairly intelligent bunch in that it takes intelligence to some degree in order for them to pass the grade for what is necessary to be an auto mechanic. Dealerships try to hire the best as they have an image to protect, but the small repair shops are a little spotty when it comes to a decent mechanic.
Decent or not, they are human beings who are out to make money, and if your not smart enough, or think you are smarter than they are, you better think twice. Just like cops who stop a driver and has to listen to something he's heard over a thousand times, so do the mechanics, and in some ways, what you tell or ask them can prove a little more costly for your repair.
People make mistakes every day when bringing a car in for a repair or diagnosis, and the mistakes they make are the ones whereas they give a mechanic every reason in the world to take them to the cleaners. A knowledgeable man walks in and says very little except for what he notices are the symptoms of the cars behavior. A woman walks in with no knowledge whatsoever, and asks a lot of dumb questions (in the mechanics mind) or offers suggestions as to what "she" thinks might be the problem.
The difference between the two is that the mechanic knows that he is talking to a person that seems to be more astute when it comes to his knowledge about his car, and the woman is ready to be scalped. How so you might ask? Well, the mechanic is going to be a little bit more careful in his presenting his diagnosis to the guy with the knowledge, because he suspects the guy is looking for anything not relative to his problem.
But the woman, well, she asks "do you think it's the starter?" Or do you think it's the transmission, brakes, battery, or whatever else she might be wildly guessing. Now the mechanic has a plateful of options he can quote a price on. She doesn't realize that if the motor is turning over, it's not the starter nor the battery. So naturally the mechanic has a free pass to agree with her, and of course charge her for unnecessary work, and possibly not even replace the parts and tell her he did. What does she know?
So one important thing when dealing with mechanics is that you never offer your opinion, never ask what they think it might be unless you know yourself what the problem is, and just want the mechanic to concentrate on what you want done. What you can do is flatter him to a point by saying he was highly recommended for his trustworthy and reliable work.
Also you might say you got a couple of estimates, but decided to try him on a recommendation and would like his price for the same job you got estimates for. But never offer who the other estimates were from, and how much they were going to charge. The reason I say this is to make him aware that he might not get away with estimating the cost at a higher level, because he doesn't want you to walk.
He may try to get the info from you, but be polite and stand firm, and he will respect you as a customer a lot more. If you give a mechanic a reason to scalp you, he will, and you have no way of knowing until someone else tells you that you've been had. I've seen women bring a car in while mine is being serviced, ask the dumbest questions, and offer the most ridiculous thoughts about what might be wrong, and sure enough I see him deliberately do something to the car so as correlate to her ramblings.
Don't try to deal on the price unless you know he is way out of line, and ask why he is higher than a competitor of his. They look for weakness in a customer, and they have no respect for an unsuspecting woman or man who knows little about their car and what is wrong with it. They can usually name their price, any consequently you have less cash in your wallet.
It's not hard to deal with a mechanic, you just have to know their mentality and how to get them to respect you as a knowledgeable customer who they won't be able to flim flam. That said, if you don't know what you are talking about, just zip up. The least you say, the more money you get to keep.
