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| Big Box | 26% | 11 votes | Total: 43 votes | |
| Local | 74% | 32 votes |
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Add to FavoritesAs an ASE Master Certified technician who has worked at both small independent facilities and large chain stores, I must confess that both have pros and cons. However if forced to choose sides I would have to pick a national chain. There are several reasons for this but the first and foremost is accountability. An auto repair warranty is only as good as the organization that is backing it. Many of you would say that the warranty is not that important if the work is done properly the first time and there is truth to this statement, but things do happen and a warranty is the best protection against future problems.
Most local facilities do offer warranties and in some cases they offer national coverage. It is in the execution of the warranty where the greatest difference lies. Your local mechanic may install a name brand part that carries a nationwide warranty. Let's take a look at how that might work in the event of a failure. The garage in your neighborhood installs a water pump on your car before your vacation. While traveling out of state the pump subsequently fails. Depending on your relationship with your mechanic, you are now faced with potentially paying for the repair again and then trying to recover the money when you return from vacation. Or if you are lucky, your neighborhood garage subscribes to an insurance company that provides coverage in these types of situations. If that is the case then you are forced to call a toll free number and be directed to a repair facility of there choice. Usually there are no out of pocket expenses but sometimes there is a deductible.
If you had your vehicle repaired at a national chain then in the situation described above you simply would have to find a local outlet for that chain. A receipt should be sufficient to correct the problem but may not be necessary. Some of the larger chains use databases that will identify a vehicle's repair history by simply typing in the VIN or license plate number. This is also handy if you are checking for gaps in your car's maintenance records. I equate this to using a national chain drug store rather than a local one. The national chain can access your history no matter which of their branches you are visiting.
Advocates of local facilities argue that you can't get more personal service that which is available in your neighborhood. In some cases this is true but not always. The technicians working at a chain store probably live near you as well. Additionally these larger facilities excel in other areas such as training and discounts. Economies of scale provide advantages that the local guy doesn't have access to.
Learn more about this author, Tim Howard.
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Local
As we continue to feel the pinch at the gas pump and as fewer and fewer of us are lining up to buy new cars and trucks, most of us are choosing to hang onto our older vehicles to avoid a monthly payment. The large auto manufacturers are scaling back production of large trucks and SUVs because of the gas mileage and a soft market. Many people are even avoiding large ticket repairs and going without. Some of the basics that people are still continuing to do are oil changes, tire rotations, tire alignments, brake jobs, and other small repairs. The question is, where are they going for those repairs?
I was taught by my father years ago to find someone you know who does auto repair work, someone you can trust, and give that person your business. I later found out why he gave me that advice. Without naming any majors chains, the big box auto repair stores that many people frequent are in the habit of telling you about unnecessary repairs they tell you need to be made. You take your automobile in for servicing and the techs come back with a laundry list of recommended repairs for your vehicle. In some instances, it is the manufacturer's recommended repairs based on mileage. But, what I also know is that the more money they make for the store, the more money they make for the corporate company. This is why these stores exist.
It doesn't really matter your gender or your age, although most older people tend to be targeted because they tend to be trusting. The staff of these stores take advantage of this trust and force these older folks to have, and pay for, repairs made on their vehicles that are not necessary. This is where the ability to say no comes into play. Someone in the family should accompany these older folks and let these stores know that only the repair that was authorized is to be made and that's it.
Of course, men and women fall prey to this tactic nearly everyday. You take your vehicle in for a tire rotation, alignment, or oil change, and they tell you that thousands of dollars in repairs are needed. This is nonsense and you have the power and the ability to tell these people that they are to finish the work they are doing, get the vehicle out of the repair bay, give you the bill, pay it, and you drive off.
But, there is another step that can be taken that is much less painful and can also give you, especially senior citizens, peace of mind. In nearly every town, there is a local mechanic who has been in business for many years. Almost everyone knows the mechanic, as he gets his business through word of mouth. His reputation is at stake everyday because everyone knows who he is. Of course, he knows this, so he always knows to keep a good, honest reputation.
It is always a good idea to visit your local mechanic, even if he doesn't have his business in your town, and get to know him. Find out how long he's been in business and how long he has worked on automobiles. Find out what he charges for different repairs and how long it takes, on average, for each repair to take place.
The best part of getting to know a local mechanic is that he is going to be straight up and honest with you and not make repairs that are not necessary. He'll tell you how long you can go before you need to make a repair. He generally knows what kind of driving habits you have, so he knows your vehicle. You won't find any of this at the big box stores.
Nothing is more upsetting than hearing that a senior citizen was taken advantage of because he or she was too trusting to someone they did not know. All it takes is one bad word from a customer to ruin a local mechanic's reputation, so he is going to make sure his work is top quality and he is going to charge a reasonable price for his work, which generates repeat business, especially at inspection time.
Of course, where you choose to spend your money is always your choice, and your business. But in order to save time, money, and a lot of headaches, I always advise anyone I know to go to someone they know and trust, rather than going to a place with a lot of strangers who have no vested interest in the vehicle you drive. Much like the Cheers theme song, "Sometimes you want to go where everyone knows your name." Keep that in mind the next time you need to have your automobile serviced.
Learn more about this author, Rich Briggs.
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