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There is lots of publicity for con-men and less-than-honest mechanics and shops. But, I’ve had different experiences. I want those guys to get rewarded for being honest and generous. How can you best ‘reward’ honest and generous mechanics? Repeat business, only? How else?
Have other people had GOOD experiences with mechanics?
My recent examples: Awhile ago (Feb?), I had an electrical problem with my Jeep. For various reasons, I had to take it to the dealer. Shortly after that, I was driving on the highway and the hood flew up and smashed my window at 60mph. I managed to get the hood back down to see. I was outside of New Glarus, a tiny town, and drove on the edge of the road to a tiny body shop on the edge of the tiny town. The owner of the shop managed to wire the hood shut (it latched, too)—but when he tried the hood release, it came off in his hand. This body shop owner did all of that (30 minutes work, maybe) and refused to take money from me for his help.
I later got an estimate to fix that all from another dealer and it was several thousands of dollars. So, I just drove with it wired shut until now (I don’t put many miles on my car). Now, I needed an oil change. Today I called another small-town shop (different town) and asked them if they’d be able to even open the hood. They said, ‘sure.’ So, these 5 guys at the oil place spent an hour on my car, charged me $27 (total, with the oil change) and offered to later install race-car pins to keep the hood shut (that I could buy and bring to them) for a few minutes labor charge for drilling and putting in.
(Oh, and if anyone thinks these racing pins to keep the hood closed are a bad idea, for any reason, please tell me.)
So, I really think the 'good guys' are getting a bad rap for what the few dishonest are doing... do you agree?
Have other people had GOOD experiences with mechanics?
My recent examples: Awhile ago (Feb?), I had an electrical problem with my Jeep. For various reasons, I had to take it to the dealer. Shortly after that, I was driving on the highway and the hood flew up and smashed my window at 60mph. I managed to get the hood back down to see. I was outside of New Glarus, a tiny town, and drove on the edge of the road to a tiny body shop on the edge of the tiny town. The owner of the shop managed to wire the hood shut (it latched, too)—but when he tried the hood release, it came off in his hand. This body shop owner did all of that (30 minutes work, maybe) and refused to take money from me for his help.
I later got an estimate to fix that all from another dealer and it was several thousands of dollars. So, I just drove with it wired shut until now (I don’t put many miles on my car). Now, I needed an oil change. Today I called another small-town shop (different town) and asked them if they’d be able to even open the hood. They said, ‘sure.’ So, these 5 guys at the oil place spent an hour on my car, charged me $27 (total, with the oil change) and offered to later install race-car pins to keep the hood shut (that I could buy and bring to them) for a few minutes labor charge for drilling and putting in.
(Oh, and if anyone thinks these racing pins to keep the hood closed are a bad idea, for any reason, please tell me.)
So, I really think the 'good guys' are getting a bad rap for what the few dishonest are doing... do you agree?
)
I do understand that gas mileage isn't the only measure (and a rather simplistic measure in whole) of harm done to the Earth by a particular car.
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