This article is how to choose an automotive technician. We used to call them mechanics and some were named Grubber with arms so long that their hands dragged on the ground. These guys could fix things and many times without the right part being available. These old time mechanics were the guys you took into the outback.

Today the automotive technician wears a sharp shop uniform and does his work with a $100,000.00 worth of shop equipment. This guy’s service charges range where from $70 to $120 dollars per hour in the Tri-City area. If you are going to pay some one as much to fix your car as you did your doctor a few years ago then you should spend some time in selecting an automotive technician.

Some of the things that should be considered important in selecting a technician;

honestyIntegrityTrainingAbility to readCuriosityDesire to do a good job.Has an honest boss.Works for an honest business.Constantly up dates his training.Works on many makes and models. In choosing a technician it is recommended to choose an independent shop for a number of reasons. The most important is that the technician in an independent shop has to work on everything. This gives him greater insight and a much large pool of experience to draw upon.

You should check with people that have taken their cars to this shop. Most shops will recommend a few of their good customers that you can call. Ask these folks tough questions.

Interview the shop owner.

Ask the owner if he still works on cars. Ask him how he writes his estimates.Ask him how he figures the markup on parts.Ask him what his warrantee policy is?Ask if he has a written pricing policy and warrantee policy.Ask what his credit policy is.Ask if you can pick the technician to work on your car. Interview the technicians in the shop if possible:

Ask how they are paid?Ask if they are expected to bill more than 120 hours per month. (If they are find another shop).Ask if the shop pays for education and seminars. This all comes down to basic honesty. Flat rate is a method to write estimates but in should not be the end bill. If the flat rate program is good then the bill should be close to the estimate. The rub comes from the technician that works 40 hours per week and bills 80 hours per week. This means that the customer is overcharged by 50%. We are am not a great proponents of flat rate billing. Rattlesnake Mountain Enterprises spent a lot of time choosing a good flat rate program for doing estimates and bills. This program is the fairest that we could find both for the shop and the customer. I have yet to bill more than 25 hours of my own work in a week. Yes, I would be told that I was not efficient enough for a dealership or large independent shop. I have read some shop business plans that were based upon all technicians billing 120% of their time.

If you get positive answers to most of these questions, then give the shop a try. As you can see it pays to choose your auto repair facility before you have a serious problem.

By: Charles Evans

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Mechanics in Kissimmee

A lot of people like owning and driving cars, but no one likes to repair them or pay to have them repaired. But cars are like anything else; if you use them, they eventually need attention. Today’s vehicles are far more complicated than the cars of a generation ago, so fewer and fewer consumers are able to do their own repairs. That means taking it to a professional mechanic when something goes wrong, and choosing a bad one can cost you a fortune.

While the majority of auto mechanics are honest people, there are more than a few that have been known to take advantage of consumers by engaging in a number of unethical practices:

Padding the price with unnecessary repairs.
Padding the price with work not actually done.
Charging for new parts when using used ones or charging for factory parts when using third-party parts.
Providing higher estimates to female customers than they do to men.

Using the wrong mechanic can not only cost you money, but it can actually endanger your life if the work was not done properly or even done at all. What can you do to make sure that the mechanic you hire will do a good job and treat you fairly?

You might consider the following:

Ask your family or friends for recommendations. People often take their cars to the same shop for years, so a recommendation from a longtime customer would be helpful.
Check with the local Better Business Bureau to see if the shop in question has a history of consumer complaints.
Check to see if the mechanics are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. These certifications indicate technicians who have passed comprehensive exams and are probably sufficiently competent to handle the job.
Check out the shop in person. Look around. Is it clean? Organized? Does it have a professional look? If the shop is run by professionals, it should look as though it is run by professionals.
Do they provide a written estimate? Most reputable shops will do so; if they don’t, you could find yourself with a rapidly escalating repair bill.
Check with the American Automobile Association. They provide members with a list of reputable shops that can take care of your needs.

If you drive a lot, and most people do, it is vitally important that your car be kept in the best possible condition. That means finding a reputable place to have it repaired when something goes wrong. The last thing you want when your car breaks is to take it to someone who will do a poor job or charge you too much money. Taking your time in finding a reputable mechanic is a good start.

By: Charles Essmeier

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Best Mechanic Kissimmee