Mechanic Advisor

10 Reasons Why Mechanics Aren't Out To Get You

Posted April 29, 2014 by Ken Kupchik



Mechanics aren't the most trusted profession. In fact, they very often have to deal with an inherent distrust of their abilities when they're conducting business, always having to approach the customer from a position of proving themselves. This is true in few other professions, especially in the service industry, where a plumber or an electrician isn't considered an untrustworthy profession despite having their fair share of unscrupulous people. Contrary to what many people believe, most mechanics aren't out to get you. Here are the reasons why that's true:

1) Auto Repair Is a Business - It's important to note that auto repair is a business, just like any other, which has to make a profit (or break even) to survive. You are exchanging your money for services, and the shop will set their prices which you have every right to refuse to pay, as long as it's before the work has been started. While there are unscrupulous business owners out there, there are also customers who can have unrealistic expectations such as getting repairs performed for free, or almost free. Of course, it's up to the business to convince you to be their customer, but it is a business with the expectation of turning some sort of a profit. 

2) More can go wrong - A modern day automobile is an incredibly complicated machine, with thousands of parts and multiple systems working in conjunction with each other to function properly. Certainly, when you have issues with one part of the car, it doesn't mean that this is the only issue with the car, which leads to other needed repairs. For example; if your house needs to be painted, the only issue is usually peeling paint. However, if your car is steering poorly, it could be quite a few issues contributing, and one broken part can lead to damage of another part, requiring more extensive repairs. Overall, this means a mechanic has to navigate a much bigger and denser minefield than any other professions. He is more surgeon than landscaper. 

3) Labor and parts are relatively expensive across the industry - There is no denying that people don't have as much money to spend on things as they did in previous generations, and the financial collapse in 2008 didn't help. Add to that, the cost of many goods and services have increased. The automotive repair industry is no exception, and repair work can certainly be expensive. While ordering parts from overseas or aftermarket manufacturers has the potential to drive costs down, the fact that vehicles themselves are more complex, with more highly-engineered and custom parts changes costs. Also, there are many middlemen profiting before the mechanic even gets the part to the shop, and you end up paying everyone involved in the process when you pay for the part.

4) Laws - Consumer protection laws have added more safeguards for consumers to ensure that they haven't been taken advantage of. States have laws regulating the right to a written estimate as well as potential recourse after doing business. Your state's automotive repair regulator can help to resolve a problem and lodge complaints. Each state's regulatory body will be different, to contact them, reach out to your state's Attorney General Office and they can direct you to the office handling automotive repair. 

5) Car repair is more memorable - A major reason why people are more vocal about issues with mechanics is that car repair issues are much more memorable and affect people's lives in a larger way than an issue with electricity, or landscaping. Someone who doesn't have their car for transportation and then has additional issues with a dishonest mechanic, or further issues with the vehicle is more apt to remember and share the experience with others due to how much it impacted their lives. This can make it seem like dealing with every mechanic is a nightmare, when it's really the car issues themselves that are the biggest nightmare of all. 

6) Preventative Maintenance - There are many instances where vehicle owners neglect their preventative and routine maintenance until damage has been done to the vehicle requiring extensive repairs. This can be anything from ignoring strange noises or the car's behavior to putting off oil changes. The better care of your car that you take, the cheaper your repair bills will be in the short and long term. 

7) More information is available - There is more information than ever now available to consumers needing automotive repair. Between forums, repair websites and sites like ours, consumers are better informed than ever if they choose to be. This can range from looking up your car's symptoms to get an idea of what could possibly be wrong, to looking up all information about a shop before doing business with them. This creates a more empowered consumer, and professional mechanics understand this. 

8) Reputation is more important than ever - Sites that allow for customer reviews like Mechanic Advisor, Yelp and Angie's List have made it easier than every for a customer to publicize their bad experiences. Social media does the same thing, where one Facebook post or tweet can hurt a business, or serve as a free advertisement. This makes shops take their customer service more seriously than ever before, making sure they provide fair and competent services. 

9) Pride - Far from scoundrels, most mechanics take great pride in the blood, sweat and tears they put into their profession. Long hours, low pay, and difficult physical labor make the mechanic one of the most thankless jobs out there. They deal with a lot of difficulty in their job, and taking advantage of a customer isn't another burden that most want to bear. The average mechanic works hard and is proud of himself when finishing an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. 

10) Mechanics can't stand dishonest ones themselves -  This is by far the most compelling argument to be made that most mechanics are honest professionals. Mechanic Advisor deals with thousands of mechanics on a regular basis and they share one common thread: a huge distaste for any mechanic who takes advantage of people, is dishonest, or not competent. You will never hear anyone criticize dishonest and sleazy techs as badly as a professional, reputable mechanic. And they have all said the same thing time and again: it's the few bad apples that taint the whole bunch. 


If you think you've been taken advantage of by a mechanic, here are the steps you can take