If there’s one thing my dad pounded into my head, it was, “Get your oil changed every 3,000 miles!”
For many years, I really enjoyed getting my oil changed at the same chain lube-and-oil shop in Mesa, Arizona … let’s call it, “Acme Lube.” I first found it because it was in the neighborhood where I worked. But after I moved jobs to another part of town, I made it a point to keep coming back to Acme. It was an extremely clean lube-and-oil shop with happy personnel, a pleasant waiting room with a television and great magazines.
Yes, they would make gentle suggestions about additional things I might consider getting done that day (the infamous dirty air filter pitch) or car maintenance items that I should keep on my radar. But I never felt high pressure from the folks at Acme, and they always got me in and out of the shop quickly … and for what I thought was a good price.
One weekend, my husband decided to tag along with me for my oil change. He was driving. I couldn’t wait for him to experience the same great service from Acme that I had been raving about for several years.
We drove up and were met by one of Acme neatly dressed technicians, carrying his clipboard and giving us a pleasant greeting, as usual. My husband confirmed that we were there for an oil change.
My expectation: “No problem. Our best deal is $24.95. We’ll check all your fluid levels and give your car a good once-over. Will that work for you?”
My unexpected reality (after flipping the clipboard to the side I’d never seen): “No problem. Our best deal is $14.95. We’ll check all your fluid levels and give your car a good once-over. Will that work for you?”
WHAT????? A ten-dollar difference? A 40% reduction in cost? Because a man drove up instead of a woman?? Are you kidding me?
Needless to say, we haven’t been back to that oil-and-lube shop. Their dealings with me had been dishonest. I felt violated. Ripped off. Taken. Angry. Embarrassed.
I’ve learned my lesson. I made a plan. I decided that I needed an auto repair shop that I could really count on, not just for oil changes, but in the eventuality that something would break. After all, my car is a machine, and machines need maintenance and sometimes break down. I wanted a shop where I knew the owner and I knew each other’s names. I wanted a relationship with a honest business owner. I decided to find a reputable and reliable “mom ‘n pop” shop.
GarageFly can help you find a shop you can trust. The auto repair shops listed on the website have been reviewed by their real customers. You can search for a shop by zip code, and find shops in or near your work or home neighborhood. Then you can read what their customers say about them and choose a shop that’s right for you.
Not sure what to look for in choosing an auto repair shop? GarageFly can help there, too. Their “I Need Service” page gives you tips in how to choose the right shop for you, what to expect when your car is getting repaired, and even a list of things to do to keep your car running smoothly.
My best advice: Make a plan. Create a relationship with a shop you can trust. Know before you go.
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