Quality Service or Cheap Repair?

Let’s get straight to the point. The costs associated with life in Ontario have been increasing noticeably in the past year. This issue has certainly not escaped the automotive sector. The question remains, should I pay for quality service, or should I find the cheapest repair location?

The choice is ultimately yours, but a little reading may help with the decision. Unfortunately advertisements and misleading information have skewed the views of auto repairs and service. “Who can I trust?” Everyone seems to have a story about “their guy”, or the “I’d never take my vehicle there” guy. The true proof of trustworthy character seems to be time.

My recommendation for finding someone you can rely on in the automotive industry is simply to meet the people involved in the business. Those who want to build a relationship with their clients are the ones who will ultimately understand what is best for the individual. Does your current service location know you by name and greet you with a smile? If your answer is no, you should ask yourself, why not? Do they value your business? Does it matter to them that your vehicle is operating safely when the service is completed? Do they know you take your children to soccer practice at 3:00? There are still businesses in this province that do want to have a relationship with their clients. We pride ourselves in being one of them!

In this article I would like to make a case in favor of quality before cost. The word quality simply refers to how good or bad something is. How have you found the quality of your recent vehicle services? Were you properly informed about the time the service would take? Did you have a good idea of what the approved services would cost you? Were you kept up to date on any unforeseen changes? Was your vehicle properly inspected so you have an idea of the future services required? If a service didn’t meet your expectations for any reason, did you feel comfortable discussing it with them to reach a solution? These are all examples of what I feel makes up the quality of your service.

Quality comes with a price tag, and for good reason. You wouldn’t go to a nice steakhouse and complain to the chef that the price of his beef is substantially higher than the fast food restaurant down the street! Obviously you wouldn’t be comparing apples to apples. This is very similar to the auto industry. Quick and cheap service comes with a quick and cheap price tag. You might also find that it’s not so good for you in the long run, much like that burger from the fast food place.

I see bad reviews and hear complaints from people who feel like they were cheated by their auto service provider. The complaints sometimes look like this: “I took my vehicle in and only asked for an oil change, I was then called, and quoted $1000.00 in other repairs, these guys are crooks!” Let’s break this down a little bit; assuming that the quoted work wasn’t done yet. Why is the person so upset?

Is it not better to know these things before they cause break-downs? Is it a question of trusting whether the work needs to be done? At Buehler Automotive we pride ourselves in our digital inspections. We take pictures that clearly display the faults and show the corrections needed to rectify the issue. This helps to bridge that gap between trusting and understanding. Your service provider should always be able to have a conversation with you about important repairs today, and what can be delayed until a more convenient time.

Like I noted at the beginning of the article, we understand that life has been expensive recently. We at Buehler Automotive want to work with you to help you understand what is best for your vehicle. If you have questions or want to discuss your vehicle with us we will always be more than willing to help. All you need to do is reach out to us and start the conversation!

Article by Tony Martin