HARDCOREABN posted this bit of info
Choosing an Automotive Repair Facility
Gathered this from ASE.com
Choosing the Right Repair Shop
No matter what you drive - sports car, family sedan, pick-up, or mini-van - when you go in for repairs or service, you want the job done right. The following advice should take much of the guesswork out of finding a good repair establishment.
Don't just drop your vehicle off at the nearest establishment and hope for the best. That's not choosing a shop, that's merely gambling.
I. Preliminaries
• Read your owner's manual to become familiar with your vehicle and follow the manufacturer's suggested service schedule.
• Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one; you can make better decisions when you are not rushed or in a panic.
• Ask friends and associates for recommendations; even in this high-tech era, old-fashioned word of mouth reputation is valuable.
• Check with your local consumer organization(s) regarding the reputation of the business. Inquire about complaints and the rate of resolution of complaints.
• If possible, arrange for alternate transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a shop solely on location.
Once you choose a repair shop, start off with a minor job; if you are pleased; trust them with more complicated repairs later.
II. At the Shop
• Look for a neat, well organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.
• Professionally run establishments will have a courteous, helpful staff. The service writer should be willing to answer all of your questions.
• Feel free to ask for the names of a few customers. Call them.
• All policies (labor rates, guarantees, methods of payment, etc.) should be posted and/or explained to your satisfaction.
• Ask if the shop customarily handles your vehicle make and model. Some facilities specialize.
• Ask if the shop usually does your type of repair, especially if you need major work.
• Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area: civic and community service awards, membership in the Better Business Bureau, AAA-Approved Auto Repair status, customer service awards.
• Look for evidence of qualified technicians, such as trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and ASE certifications - a national standard of technician competence.
The backbone of any shop is the competence of its technicians.
III. Follow-Up
• Keep good records; keep all paperwork.
• Reward good service with repeat business. It is mutually beneficial to you and the shop owner to establish a relationship.
• If the service was not all you expected, don't rush to another shop. Discuss the problem with the service manager or owner. Give the business a chance to resolve the problem. Reputable shops value customer feedback and will make a sincere effort to keep your business
A few other things that will serve you well (not from ASE.com, but from my experience as an Automotive Repair Technician over the last decade or so)
• Ask to talk to the technician that will be working on your vehicle, he may be busy but will usually be glad to talk to you.
• Look for the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence- at least 75% of technicians performing diagnosis and repairs must be ASE certified, and each area of service offered in the shop must be covered by at least one ASE-Certified Technician
• Be nice to your technician, remember he is the one who will be working on your vehicle
• Do not insist to the technician that you know what is wrong with your vehicle- this is what he gets paid to diagnose and odds are he knows far more than you do.
• Once you find a technician you are comfortable with, keep going back to the same shop and insist on that technician- this not only builds a relationship between you and the technician, but between the technician and the vehicle as well- this will allow the technician to notice when something “isn’t right” with your vehicle.
• If you feel the technician is doing a good job, it never hurts to let him know.
Choosing an Automotive Repair Facility
Gathered this from ASE.com
Choosing the Right Repair Shop
No matter what you drive - sports car, family sedan, pick-up, or mini-van - when you go in for repairs or service, you want the job done right. The following advice should take much of the guesswork out of finding a good repair establishment.
Don't just drop your vehicle off at the nearest establishment and hope for the best. That's not choosing a shop, that's merely gambling.
I. Preliminaries
• Read your owner's manual to become familiar with your vehicle and follow the manufacturer's suggested service schedule.
• Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one; you can make better decisions when you are not rushed or in a panic.
• Ask friends and associates for recommendations; even in this high-tech era, old-fashioned word of mouth reputation is valuable.
• Check with your local consumer organization(s) regarding the reputation of the business. Inquire about complaints and the rate of resolution of complaints.
• If possible, arrange for alternate transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a shop solely on location.
Once you choose a repair shop, start off with a minor job; if you are pleased; trust them with more complicated repairs later.
II. At the Shop
• Look for a neat, well organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own and modern equipment in the service bays.
• Professionally run establishments will have a courteous, helpful staff. The service writer should be willing to answer all of your questions.
• Feel free to ask for the names of a few customers. Call them.
• All policies (labor rates, guarantees, methods of payment, etc.) should be posted and/or explained to your satisfaction.
• Ask if the shop customarily handles your vehicle make and model. Some facilities specialize.
• Ask if the shop usually does your type of repair, especially if you need major work.
• Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area: civic and community service awards, membership in the Better Business Bureau, AAA-Approved Auto Repair status, customer service awards.
• Look for evidence of qualified technicians, such as trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and ASE certifications - a national standard of technician competence.
The backbone of any shop is the competence of its technicians.
III. Follow-Up
• Keep good records; keep all paperwork.
• Reward good service with repeat business. It is mutually beneficial to you and the shop owner to establish a relationship.
• If the service was not all you expected, don't rush to another shop. Discuss the problem with the service manager or owner. Give the business a chance to resolve the problem. Reputable shops value customer feedback and will make a sincere effort to keep your business
A few other things that will serve you well (not from ASE.com, but from my experience as an Automotive Repair Technician over the last decade or so)
• Ask to talk to the technician that will be working on your vehicle, he may be busy but will usually be glad to talk to you.
• Look for the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence- at least 75% of technicians performing diagnosis and repairs must be ASE certified, and each area of service offered in the shop must be covered by at least one ASE-Certified Technician
• Be nice to your technician, remember he is the one who will be working on your vehicle
• Do not insist to the technician that you know what is wrong with your vehicle- this is what he gets paid to diagnose and odds are he knows far more than you do.
• Once you find a technician you are comfortable with, keep going back to the same shop and insist on that technician- this not only builds a relationship between you and the technician, but between the technician and the vehicle as well- this will allow the technician to notice when something “isn’t right” with your vehicle.
• If you feel the technician is doing a good job, it never hurts to let him know.