How to Avoid Getting Ripped off at the Mechanic

[kenman1717]

i'm a licensed tech, and i really hate stuff like this, more for the fact that they group all of us into the same category that we are all crooks. were not. some of us actually try and help. i'll show the customer everything they want to see, try and explain it to them, its their decsion, but safety related stuff i always urge to do, but again its up to them. some stuff might not seem bad to an untrained eye, but some stuff is.

[FixFalcon]

Just because you are female doesn't give you the right to be a complete DIPSHIT about your car. You paid thousands of dollars for your vehicle, don't you think you should learn how it works? If you don't take the time and effort to learn about your own vehicle, you deserve whatever your "mechanic" does to you.

[beckileigh1]

I like that there is a place for women to learn about taking care of their car. My concern is that this video perpetuates the myth that repair shops are out to take advantage of women. I work at an independent shop and make it my job to educate our customers. I take women out to the shop and show them what we are doing. I tell them they need to take responsibility for their car and know what is being done. the dishonest are the exception, not the rule

[dsaundry]

I will also point out that their a lot of tremendous technicians and shops out there. It is the shops responsibility to make everybody, male or female comfortable with their choice of shops and the technicians job to do the job correctly, the first time. Mechanics get a bad rap sometimes and yet a good one is one of your most important contacts. This industry is no different from a good doctor or lawyer or a skilled tradesperson,

You just hear about the bad techs more than the crap doctors etc.

[dsaundry]

While I agree that going to a mechanic/technician can be confusing and intimidating I disagree with some of the statements made here..A rotor must be measured with a micrometer, visually it may look fine but be undersize..did she say tread on your brake pads?..lining thickness should be measured. How many people really take care of their cars properly.. a leaky strut, brakes inspected at least once a year, a bad ball joint, the list goes on. 2 cents worth from a master technician.