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OrientedDis.. Disoriented. |
Friday, March 07, 2003 Growing up As I was telling Michelle.. Lin (4:12:52 AM): I REALLY am learning a lot at college... why? Lin (4:12:56 AM): because my car broke down Lin (4:13:03 AM): and I'm learning how frickin difficult things can be Lin (4:13:09 AM): like finding a mechanic.. and I'm paranoid.. Michelle (4:13:11 AM): LOL yeah Michelle (4:13:16 AM): yeah...god Lin (4:13:21 AM): so I have to figure out EXACTLY how to talk to the mechanic Lin (4:13:24 AM): so I have to research everything Michelle (4:13:25 AM): I got ripped off a couple times before I found a perfect one Lin (4:13:27 AM): and.. it's just crazy Michelle (4:13:31 AM): yeah Michelle (4:13:34 AM): talk to friends Michelle (4:13:36 AM): see who they go to Lin (4:13:37 AM): yeah.. that's not going to happen to me Lin (4:13:50 AM): yeah.. but people around here apparently don't have car problems or something Michelle (4:13:53 AM): kinda hard to avoid unless you know about cars Michelle (4:14:01 AM): cause they can easily say something is wrong and it's not really Lin (4:14:09 AM): well.. see.. I'm going to trick the mechanic into making him think I'm a genius Lin (4:14:11 AM): lol Michelle (4:14:15 AM): LOL Michelle (4:14:16 AM): how? Lin (4:14:22 AM): I'll post it in my blog Lin (4:14:25 AM): hold on ---- (random notes I currently have in a document) Repair: Get it in writing. Make sure the technician writes down all aspects of the recommended service including costs. The list should include parts, cost of parts, cost of labor and an expected delivery time. Courtesy call. Ask your technician to call you before proceeding on repairs beyond the scope of the written agreement. Once under the hood or under the car, other maintenance needs can become apparent. A courtesy call will give you the opportunity to consider your options. Keep the parts for a second opinion. Ask to keep your original parts. The shop should provide them in a clean plastic bag. Don't take your car in on a Friday morning and ask that it be ready that afternoon. Simply put, give your technician time to do a good job for you. ____ http://www.womanmotorist.com/MAINTENANCE/10-commandments.shtml Ten Commandments for Choosing a Trustworthy Repair Facility Thou shall shop around for a repair facility before you need repairs. Thou shall ask a facility for work references and follow up with calls to them. Thou shall ask family, friends and co-workers to recommend a reputable shop. Thou shall call the Better Business Bureau in your area to check a business' reliability before you have repairs made. Thou shall not shop for price alone; always compare price and quality. Thou shall insist upon a shop that is backed by a national warranty program. Thou shall look for a shop with the equipment and skilled technicians needed to properly diagnose your car's problems, especially if yours is a late-model car. Nearly all cars built since the early '80s have computer-control systems designed to increase the engine's efficiency, reduce emissions and aid in engine troubleshooting. If a shop doesn't have the proper equipment or the expertise to diagnose your car, you may be taking a risk to have it repaired there. Tracking down engine problems by guesswork alone can be expensive. Thou shall seek out a shop that employs ASE-certified or other reputable technicians. Thou shall ask which company supplies the auto parts that will be used in repairing your vehicle and insist on a name you can trust. Thou shall ask about a shop's customer satisfaction policy. If you aren't satisfied with a repair, what will the shop do about it? ---- haha.. forget real-academic-knowledge while at college... this is the essential-real-life-stuff that's going to help me in the future (and currently).. I hope. Putting my research to the test tomorrow. . . . babbled Lin |
