Tag Archives: save money on repairs

If you’ve ever been to a non-franchise auto repair shop, you’ll probably know exactly what we mean by the below auto shop description:

When you first walk into a moms-and-pops auto shop, you first feel a bit confused (by the hectic environment of the place), then intimidated (by all other customers looking at you) and then simply worried (by the “what do you need” stare of the chief mechanic). Sound familar?

We found a very well-written piece on Edmunds.com about some of the inside operations of auto repair shops and used it as an inspiration for a list of most surpising auto mechanic confessions.

Top 10 Auto Mechanic Confessions

1. 70% of auto mechanics will either be fly-by-night shops or simply unreliable
2. Mechanics with physical repair shops may be more reliable than “on-the-fly” operations simply due to the fact that they are there to stay
3. Be wary of “low ball” estimates; you may be asked to pay more once the car is in
4. Any and all “save the deductible” offers are scams; the mechanic effectively offers you to cheat the insurance company by high-balling the price
5. Be sure to *explicitly* confirm that you want new parts installed; if you don’t say something – the shop may either reuse your old parts or use non-OEM parts
6. Be wary of a cozy relationship of a repair shop and your insurance estimater; you may be stuck in the middle if they are in cahoots.
7. Don’t settle for “preferred” auto repair shops if you’re dealing with an insurance company; you’ll be better off going through your own trusted mechanic
8. Always ask for receipts; if you don’t - what’s to say that the shop will correct a problem if one arises after the job is completed
9. Check, check and check the final work on the spot; even if you don’t know what you’re looking for – ask questions and check the work. The shop may be in a hurry to get to the next customer; don’t be a victim of a “quick job”.
10. Contrary to popular belief, mechanics do not make a lot of money. Margins are often as slim as 5%.

Finally, on our own accord, be sure to check for estimated quotes in one of the cool repair cost estimators on the web.