The best thing to do when you’re looking for a shop is pay them a visit so you can see the facility. Make sure it’s clean and that the people working there are friendly and knowledgeable. Once you’re at the shop, there are 6 simple questions to ask. You can do this over the phone, but I think you miss the personal impression, and that in itself will sometimes tell you everything you need to know.
Keep in mind that one of the most misused methods of selecting an auto shop is to choose one based on price alone. It’s a common practice for shops to have strategies in place to give you just enough information to get you in the door, which means their estimates will be inaccurate. How can they give you an accurate estimate if they haven’t even seen or assessed your car?
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That’s why these six questions are so important to ask.
1. What is your Warranty?
At Central Avenue Automotive, our Warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles on parts and labor, whichever comes first. Respectable auto shops will be happy to provide a warranty on their work.
2. Do you have a Guarantee?
At Central Avenue Automotive, we guarantee that we will fix your car and treat you like family and friends. Our people will always treat you and your car with respect. We guarantee that the technicians who are working on your car have at least 5 years’ experience, and 90% of the staff has over 20 years of experience.
3. Are your technicians ASE certified?
Every technician at Central Avenue Automotive is ASE certified. ASE technicians are incredibly well-trained. Even after they get out of school or their apprentice program, they still attend 8 hours of training every quarter.
4. Do you provide a free customer shuttle?
At Central Avenue Automotive, we provide customer shuttles to and from work or home. We know you need help when you car is out of commission, so we make it our mission to help you. A good repair shop should be able to provide you some help and options — your car repair shouldn’t put your life on hold.
5. Does this shop benefit the community?
Everyone who works in our shop also lives in the community. We support Kent Little League, Kent Lake High School, Kent Youth Soccer Association, Auburn Youth Soccer Association, and Kent Communities’ in schools. We mentor graduating seniors who want to go into the automotive field. We also support many other local programs, because this community is where our families live, too.
6. What happens if you are closed?
At Central Avenue Automotive, we are available 24/7 with towing and roadside assistance, as well as 24-hour online appointment scheduling. We also offer a night drop form if you have to drop off your car outside of normal business hours.
These are the 6 simple questions to ask to help you find a quality repair shop.
