Drive Your Way Through!!!!!!
When you experience certain troubles with your vehicle, there are two possible ways for you to go:
- Go to the repair location or
- To do all the work by yourself if you have at least slightest idea what a car is all about from the inside.
If you go the second way, it is definitely going to be cheaper and more properly done. The only thing is left before you embark on the process is shopping. You have to buy all the necessary parts and items to repair your vehicle.
We will not consider any complicated or hard-to-do this. We will start with the tire replacement or maintenance.
Where will an average American go for tires? As simple as it is – to a Discount Tire location. For the freshmen – it is the world’s largest independent tire and wheel retailer. It is not a problem to find a store since the company currently maintains 750 stores in 22 states. In December 2009, the company decently marked the end of the year by opening two more locations – in West Sacramento, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Obviously this industry sector evolves despite any crisis and economic troubles.
For a few years so far the company offers its clients customer-friendly tire replacement program. This warranty, called the Certificate for Repair, Refund or Replacement, would cover the tire problems that really frustrate people-road hazards and defects-from the moment they bought the tires to the final mile of legal tread depth (3/32″).
If a tire covered by the Certificate for Refund, Repair or Replacement fails due to a defect or an unrepairable road hazard, and still has legal tread (3/32″) remaining across the tire, and it has been in use less than 3 years from date of purchase, Discount Tire/America’s Tire will give a refund of the full purchase price, together with the applicable sales tax and give you the option to purchase the same new or comparable tire at the refund price, with the payment of any applicable sales tax.
Quite tempting. One may say it is simply a marketing technique to drive in customers, however, let’s face it, you won’t find lots of companies offering such terms and conditions. Besides, 28 years of positive experience on the market have made a considerable contribution to the company’s image and market position. Now it pays its customers back.
Keeping up with the topic of effective auto repair experience, I would like to pay some attention to general tips in this sphere of services.
If you take a basic course in auto mechanics you certainly will be more wheels-savvy. However, if there is no chance you have that “education” here are some tips one should look for when in need of auto repair service:
Your car’s bible. Please never throw away your auto manual. It is the exact place where to find information quickly can help in identifying causes when trouble arises. You may even be able to avoid a trip to the auto mechanic in the first place if you discover that your “problem” stemmed from not understanding your car’s controls. Beyond knowing the make and model of your vehicle, it also helps to have the specific trim level on hand for the service technician, as that often identifies the engine size and configuration, transmission and other included features that vary across the model line.
Make the right choice. It is important to decide between the independent corner garage and the dealership service department. At the dealer technicians are real specialists; they are manufacturer-trained and typically work exclusively on your make of vehicle. However, the dealer service department is as a rule the most expensive option. You should also know that many independent auto repair service facilities are started by previous dealer employees who want to operate their own repair store but maintain lower prices, though.
Your specific vehicle make. Before entrusting your car to a stranger who call s himself a technician make sure he has proper training for your specific vehicle. That is a guarantee to quality repair service.
A.S.E. Certificate. This certificate is issued by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence twice a year. A.S.E. credentials is important while it is another guarantee that your vehicle will not only remain safe but as well will be fixed properly.
Pricing. Before you give your keys to the serviceman, make sure you agree on the cost of the work. It is not a secret that it may change within the repair process, however that is a completely different issue (discussed in the previous post).
Inquire. Before you leave you car at the repair location make sure you definitely know what is wrong with it, how it could be prevented and say detailed specification of the process. You pay the money, you have the right to know.
Original Equipment Manufacturer parts. It is always better to choose genuine components rather than generic pieces. This extra dollar will make a big in terms of vehicle longevity.
When you buy a vehicle you automatically become responsible for every good or bad that happens with it. You are the one who has to properly care about it and maintain its stability, proper performance, good “health” and well-being.
Auto repair services seem to have always cost people more than required and definitely more than expected. If you happened to deal with these companies or simply have friends who had their cars repaired then you are definitely aware of what are the most common misunderstandings and problems: the charge is much higher than the estimate, or the work done was without your authorization, etc.
In these cases the repair location has to write out the reasons for the difference in cost, and keep this written explanation together with the work estimate, final bill, and other paperwork.
It is also important to get all of your all parts back, so that you could make sure there was a decent reason for replacement. Besides, you may return some parts to the supplier and get your refund, if the items are left at the repair site, then the mechanic will be reimbursed.
In case the final charge is higher than the estimated and the mechanic cannot give serous reasons for that, you’d still better pay the bill BUT insist clearly on your disagreement and notify about your further actions in this regard (complaint to the Attorney General, for instance, or Better Business Bureau). This will make the service provides less categorical and you may get a considerable “discount”.
However, if you refuse to pay a repair bill no matter how overcharged you get, the mechanic has the legal right to keep your car until you pay. This is known as a mechanics lean.
If there is no chance to get the money back, you will have to accept that but you will definitely not go to that auto repair shop anymore and tell your friends not to. Who’s the real loser now?
However, if the auto repairs company has monopoly in the region that’s going to be tougher. If you decided to try another dealership of this brand you may have to drive a few hours to get there. This cornering of the local market is very often used by the dealerships against their customers.
Situations are different as well as dealerships. You may be lucky to get the dispute resolved in the moment, however, if there is a need to go further to protect your rights – do it!!!!!!!!!! ‘cause nobody will do that for you. As a rule the law protects the consumers’ rights especially if the issue is approached wisely.
What are the reasons people sell used cars?
I have to say that those are very much different and numerous. At the present time, the list is topped with the following argument: Crisis. It is too expensive to maintain a vehicle (repairs, insurance, gas, etc.). There are other variants as well:
- A person wants and can afford a better one;
- He is not satisfied with a present vehicle in terms of its technical characteristics or
- A car is not in good shape and selling it is a way to get rid of it.
Pre-owned cars are sold directly to other consumers or… There are specialized dealerships which buy your car and then resell it. The later variant is getting more and more approved and thus popular. For some motorists, donating the automobile to a charity can drive a nice tax write-off. Others may choose to sell their automobile themselves. But for those who do not have the time nor desire to be a sales person, trading in an existing vehicle to a dealer is the simple, easy way to go.
Before a used vehicle gets sold, it is inspected thoroughly in order to estimate its condition and price. This is done either at independent locations or by the specialists of the dealership.
Independent locations mean average repair stores which also offer inspection services.
Preparing your used car for sale or trade-in can really make your car stand out from other cars for sale today. Having the car properly cleaned, doing a few maintenance repairs, and organizing your used car paperwork will make a strong impression on prospective used car buyers.
Enterprise Car Sales is one of those dealerships which help to prepare a vehicle for sale. Except for onsite help they provide detailed description on their web site of what should be done in this respect. If you agree to use their services, you may benefit as well: inspection and preparation discounts, good price for your car, etc. When buying a used vehicle the company provides all the necessary documentation on the marketing condition and written documentation of the vehicle’s fair market value.
Of course selling a car to a dealership has its own disadvantages as the inspection results may be a little prejudiced in terms of car condition and money equivalent relevant for your vehicle.
It’s your right to review of all the options possible and then make a decision.
One of the leading auto repair stores in the country is PepBoys Auto Parts.
The company operates stores in 36 states and they sell brand name and private label automotive parts. Here one can shop for parts, auto supplies, tires, radiator fluids, belts, brakes, shocks, and more. And the company keeps on growing. Despite the crisis, PepBoys managed to open a dealership in LA. Later on in October, Pep Boys announced about its plans to acquire the assets of Florida Tire, a 10-store, Orlando, Fla.-based dealership, for $4.35 million. The deal wass expected to close on Oct. 30. Pep Boys plans to open 25 more tire and service centers during its 2009 fiscal year, ahead of its original 15-store target.
“Through individual location and small chain acquisitions, Pep Boys is now targeting the high end of its previously announced targets: 40 new locations for fiscal 2010 and 80 for fiscal 2011.”
On Monday, December 7, 2009, Auto parts retailer Pep Boys posted a third-quarter profit on Monday and sales higher than a year earlier thanks to an increase in service work. The chain said it earned $2.1 million, or 4 cents per share, compared with a loss of $7.3 million, or 14 cents per share, a year ago. The results included a $3.3 million drop in the value of its assets but also $3 million in one-time gains, including sale-leaseback proceeds and an insurance settlement.
The results met analysts’ forecast for 4 cents per share profit. The company’s sales rose 1.8 percent to $472.6 million in the quarter that ended Oct. 31, slightly more than the $468.5 million predicted by analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters.
Service revenue at stores open more than a year increased 8.9 percent but merchandise sales, which includes items sold by the service centers, dipped 0.1 percent. It was the company’s first gain in this key retail indicator since the fourth quarter of 2006.
Pep Boys said it was pleased with the increase in sales to do-it-yourself vehicle owners but said consumer spending is likely to remain conservative through the holidays. The company has about 580 stores and 6,000 service bays.
Its shares rose 47 cents, or 5.3 percent, to $9.27 in regular trading, then fell 51 cents, or 5.5 percent, to $8.71 in about an hour of extended trading after the results were announced.
As we can see with our not very professional eye, the more and more people today apply for auto repair services. What’s the reason for that? I have two variants: (1) it is cheaper and thus more affordable to repair a car than to buy a new one. (2) Vehicle quality is going down. The first option is more likely to be true.
Do you have a car? Is it expensive? How long have you been driving your vehicle? Do you find it easy and cheap or overwhelming and expensive to maintain your iron horse?
Your answers may be different depending on the car type, model, mark, and a servicing center. Finding a good servicing center, which would combine cheap but quality maintenance of your vehicle has never been an easy task.
The auto body repair industry is competitive and fragmented. According to a survey conducted by Automotive Body Repair News (ABRN), nine out of ten shops compete with an average of seven independent shops – with almost two-thirds competing with car dealer shops and
The remaining third competing with independently – owned franchises. The number of independent mechanical repair facilities has increased since 1995, and according to the Automotive Service Association the number is expected to continue growing.
Before the recession, certain surveys were conducted which showed that one-half of the industry witnessed an increase in their revenue at the beginning of the 2000s sales volume, with the average sales increase of 13 percent. For those shops reporting a decrease in sales, the average decrease was 17 percent. Survey results indicate that the average shop reported a net profit of 19% as a percentage of gross sales.
According to Integra Information, average annual revenue growth for auto repair shops have increased by 6.7 percent in the 2004-2006. Revenue growth slowed the next few years considerably with the crisis to hit the economy.
At the present time, nearly 175,000 businesses in the United States and more than 5,200 businesses in Georgia are classified as mechanical automotive repair shops. Mechanical auto repair industry segments include service stations and independent garages, car and light truck dealers, specialty repair shops (i.e., muffler, brakes, quick-lube shops), auto parts stores with bays, and discount stores/mass merchandisers. More than two-thirds (67.2%) of the mechanical auto repair businesses in Georgia are general automotive repair shops.
In the United States, nearly 670,000 persons are employed in the mechanical automotive repair industry. The average mechanical automobile repair facility has 4.6 bays, 4.3 full-time employees, employs 2.9 technicians, has a total parts and labor sales volume of $322,114, and charges $48.24 as the labor rate.
The automobile has been one of the most significant and enduring innovations in modern history. However, vehicle use and maintenance generate considerable environmental impacts. The automotive repair and maintenance sector discusses cost-effective strategies to improve environmental performance and worker safety in the automobile repair industry. Environmentally friendly parts cleaning, surface preparation and coating techniques are also discussed.
