How To Get A Fair Deal With Auto Mechanics
Today I’m going to share with you a method I use to ensure I won’t get hosed by auto mechanics. This strategy can also be used in other industries but today we’ll discuss how to avoid getting burned by shady mechanics.
I’m posting this because I saw a friend on Facebook who was very irritated after getting ripped off for thousands of dollars from a mechanic. He’s pretty intent on destroying the company with various methods of social media and I assume blogging. And he probably has every right to blast them.
However, I’d like to help you avoid ever having to get into a situation where you’d want to write a scathing review or be so pissed off that you want to destroy a business. I employed this method the
Broke Down M-5
So here’s what you do the next time your car breaks down…
The first thing you need to do is go to Google Maps and type in your particular area where you are at. Then hit the “Search Nearby” using the keywords “auto mechanic” or something similar. You’ll get a variety of balloons that pop up around you. From here you want to start looking for businesses that have been reviewed by past customers. Google will have a 5 star rating system and it will tell you how many reviews have been left.
Google reviews is similar to Yelp.com except most people forget about it and pay it little attention. Sift through the reviews and find the mechanic that you feel the most comfortable with. Once you find the mechanic you are about to roll the dice with, here’s what you do…
Take your car to the shop and speak with the manager, owner, or highest level employee you can find. Make sure that you start out by complimenting them on the reviews that you saw on Google. Say something like… “Hey Jack, I saw the 8 good reviews on Google about you guys and thought you looked like the best option. I always check the review section first because I’m one of those guys who leaves reviews from all my business transactions so it’s nice to see others saying good things about you”.
It’s important that you start with a compliment about the establishment for the previous good work they have done instead of warning them that you are the type person that leaves pissed off reviews. You want to mention it, but your intention is to leave them a good review. No business wants you talking trash about them, especially on Google.
Once the manager or owner knows that you are a computer savvy person who openly voices their opinion, you have a much better chance at getting a fair deal when getting your car repaired.
I believe in offering fair feedback for companies and not abusing the review system. Unfortunately, people are quick to bitch about companies online yet are slow as molasses when it comes to complimenting them. Keep that in mind when checking the reviews of places. One or two bad reviews may not be a correct assessment of a establishment, but rather just two really pissed off people that had a ax to grind.
Fair is fair. If you got good service, let other people know. And if you got hosed, well, let them know.
Best of luck, and feel free to share this strategy with anyone who is in need of a car mechanic.
