In any relationship, there are always warning sings before things get bad. The same goes for your relationship with your mechanic. One day everything is great and you're leaving your car to get serviced and the next you're sobbing uncontrollably into your car's non-functioning steering wheel, wondering when it all went so wrong. Here are some warning signs that there might be trouble down the road with your mechanic. Ignore these at your own risk:
1) Lots of bad online reviews - If the mechanic shop's online reviews are overwhelmingly bad, think twice before trusting them with your car. A single bad customer review isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, but when 7 people all say that Harry forgets to screw the oil cap back on after his oil changes, there's a good chance that Harry will forget to screw the oil cap back on when he's done with your Honda. Always check the shop profile on MechanicAdvisor.com and see what people are saying.
2) Poor cleanliness and decor in the shop - If you walk into the shop and it looks like a fraternity basement after Freshman weekend, go somewhere else. The way an owner maintains his shop and equipment can be a good indicator of how he'll maintain your car. If an owner and his employees don't care about cleanliness and attention to detail when it comes to where they work, what makes you think they will care about those same things when it comes to your vehicle? Think about it, your car doesn't even belong to them and the shop does.
3) Offensive and political materials laying around - Shop owners who care about customer experience won't leave anything that would offend a reasonable person in their shop. Shop owners who don't care about the customer will put up whatever they want in their shop, and couldn't care less what anyone else thinks. Sensitive topics like politics, sex, race and the like have no place in a customer-oriented environment. Yes, it's the shop owner's decision what they do and don't display in their shop, but it's also your decision whether or not you'll give them your business. Remember, if they don't care that they may offend you, they don't care about you.
4) Attitude and refusal to give a firm price - A bad attitude is a pretty obvious warning sign, but many people think that it's the norm. You should never do business with someone you don't feel comfortable with, and spending a few extra bucks up front could save you a lot more down the line. Also, make sure to get a firm price after the mechanic has diagnosed whatever issue you brought the car in for. If the mechanic says that it will cost "about $xxx," politely ask him or her to explain the reason why they can't give you an exact price at this time. Sometimes there is a logical reason why you can't get a firm quote, but make sure you are at least provided with a logical explanation as to why not. If the mechanic is unable to provide an explanation that eases your concerns and makes you feel comfortable, then that is another warning sign!
