In the case of auto repair, individuals need to be careful about the auto repair quotes they are being quoted. Particularly, you need to be careful about which company you decide to hire to fix your car. Without carefully analyzing the options, you may end up getting scammed by these auto repair shops and losing money in the end.
If you are looking for an auto repair shop, it is always important that you choose one that many people recommend. It really pays to read customer reviews and get a good look at the quality of work these companies can offer. Otherwise, you just might end up getting bad quality service or debt from paying for auto repair work that was never actually done on your vehicle. With the rising number of Americans who don’t know a lot about their cars, it is important to be vigilant at all times. Otherwise, it is easy to get scammed by an auto repair shop you might have thought to be trustworthy.
To help you identify when an auto repair shop is scamming you, here are some useful tips to remember:
Identifying a Scam
The best way you can protect yourself against an auto repair scam is to be cautious at all times. You will need to know how to identify when someone is already scamming you. One way you can determine this is to learn when people are already giving you a “sales” pitch.
One good example for this would be when you are bringing in your car for an oil change. When the personnel from the auto repair shop starts to talk to you about other items and starts saying how well this will be good for your car, you have to start being cautious. Usually, these sales people are well trained to distinguish when they have hit the right buttons on their customers. The best way you can defend yourself from falling prey into their schemes is to keep a straight face and a steadfast mind. They cannot talk you into a service you know you don’t need. At the same time, always keep in mind that you have a budget to stick to. By keeping these things in your mind, you’ll be able to stop them from talking you into getting a service you aren’t really looking for.
Know to Say No
When you call an auto repair shop to ask for a quote on a particular service, they should readily be available with the price or range on how much it should cost you. They should not leave you hanging by inviting you to bring in your car to their shop so they can take a closer look at it. While the price of the repair or service depends on the extent of damage, they should already have a rough idea on how much it would cost their customers and you need to make sure you ask for the average price. With this, it is your right to know how much you can expect to pay for the service you inquired. Otherwise, you can choose to look for a different auto repair shop that has a price range within your budget.
You Always Have a Choice
One common practice that scammers share is that they make their customers feel hopeless. When this is the case, they will let their customers feel like they don’t really have any other choice but to go with the service they are being offered. Most of the time, this practice is one-sided as it only benefits the company, not the customer. This is why you should always remember that as a customer, you always have a choice. Stand your ground and let the auto repair shop know that they are not the only ones you can turn to for help on your vehicle. If they continue to insist on the rates they have quoted, you can always leave and bring your car to another shop. Chances are, you’ll find someone much better than the first shop you visited.
While there are auto repair shops that will try to upsell their products, you may still choose not to go with it. Just always remember that you have a choice and that you have a budget to stick to. Don’t allow yourself to feel that you don’t have a choice other than the one presented to you by one auto repair shop.
Written by the staff of Custom Complete Automotive. Custom Complete is your go to solution for the best car repair, inspections and an oil change Columbia MO has to offer.