What do you want to know about service shops?

"Stephen Rivers" (stephenrivers)
12/17/2019 at 11:00 • Filed to: None

I’ve done a few articles called Confessions of a Service Writer and wanted to change it up. What do you guys want to know? I’ve been around a few different shops in my time and I’ve seen a lot. Do you have a question or quandary ? Bring it on.

DISCUSSION (14)

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Stephen Rivers
12/17/2019 at 11:10

Are there any tell tale signs of a good shop besides past experience or word of mouth?

promoted by the color red > Stephen Rivers
12/17/2019 at 11:23

I know they’re writing the checks and all, but d o you ever shake your head when you see a customer throwing money at an obviously bad car?

Thoughts on the Dave Ramsey types?

Cars that come back the most ?

Least favorite customers?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Stephen Rivers
12/17/2019 at 11:29

What’s the most ridiculous customer request you have ever seen?

HoustonRunner > Stephen Rivers
12/17/2019 at 11:45

Sorry, my brain stopped working while looking at that picture.

Censored > Stephen Rivers
12/17/2019 at 11:56

The scrub radius on those front tires makes me want to cry. There are like 12+” wheel spacers on that thing. I’d like to have a few words with the mouth breather that though it was ok to drive this on the road with other humans.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Stephen Rivers
12/17/2019 at 12:01

That Explorer is offensive to human decency.

Urambo Tauro > Stephen Rivers
12/17/2019 at 12:11

Top reasons, ranked, as to why so many shops never seem to have anywhere left to park except right in front of the bays ?

S ales department filling every available square inch with inventory? Parts cars that were never disposed of after stripping the needed items? Lazy c ustomers who think you offer free storage? C ustomers whom you can’t release the car to, until they pay up ?

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Stephen Rivers
12/17/2019 at 12:38

Do dealerships actually care about their reputations or the horrible things they do? Pick your poison , but I mean whatever that dealership is known for. High pressure sales for unnecessary/ premature work, the fake air filter trick, trying to explain why somehow the problem you’re having with your car is just in your mind to get around warranty claims, taking appointments but then being surprised when you show up, presumably intentionally misdiagnosing problems to make more money ... normal dealership crap. And yes, every one of those things is something I’ve dealt with from a local dealer.

RallyWrench > Urambo Tauro
12/17/2019 at 12:42

The last two, a lot.

just-a-scratch > Censored
12/17/2019 at 13:26

It’s fine. They’ve got power steering.

j/k

functionoverfashion > Stephen Rivers
12/17/2019 at 14:30

How do you navigate the fine line of: suggesting repairs to prevent issues down the road without coming across like you’re upselling, while making sure you’re not ignoring a problem that will have the customer back too quickly, thinking you didn’t do your job?

The classic example is a quick-lube place bringing you a dirty air filter, saying you need to replace it. But it could be an independent shop suggesting changing a thermostat at the same time as the water pump, because of the labor savings. It’s hard for a( n uneducated) customer to know the difference.

This seems like the ultimate quandary for any repair shop. We dealt with it at the marina, and I’ve talked about it with the independent shop I frequent. It’s a delicate balance.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > RallyWrench
12/17/2019 at 15:56

And sales dept at dealers.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
12/17/2019 at 15:59

Don’t go around calling out dealers specifically. Independents do it too. And not all shops, dealers or otherwise, do any of it. It's a case by case basis on management and personnel. Some people/places suck, some don't.

Shift24 > Stephen Rivers
12/17/2019 at 16:45

Whats the most j erry rigged thing you have seen that actually worked. And don’t lie we have all seen atleast one.