Reliable Auto Repair Services

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. When looking for auto repair service, keep in mind that it's not all about the price of a specific job. It's about building a relationship of trust with your repair shop. This is the best way for you to save money. You want to find a shop that will go to bat for you, finding you the best deal on parts and hiring well-trained techs. to make sure the job is done right. Then make sure that shop gives you a great warranty to stand behind everything they do, which makes you feel confident to stick with them.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. In Utah, there are no requirements to have any kind of training, certification, experience, license, background checks, etc. or even a pulse to be a mechanic. So there are some shops that will quote the cheapest price and use the cheapest labor and parts they can get, too. This means you may find one of the shady characters-- maybe a zombie, or just plain incompetent people in the business if you aren't careful. There are, however many very honest and talented individuals as well as ethical businesses you can go to. We have a saying that we believe in: "Once you find a mechanic you can trust, you won't dare go anywhere else!"

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. Maybe you would like to know what is the name of the specific tech. is who will be working on your car? Ask about his experience, training, certifications, etc. Ask what warranty they will give you on the work, how long/ how many miles/ is it nationwide? Does it include roadside assistance? Ask about what quality of parts they will use, is there a cheaper option, or a better option? Look at their work area in the shop-- is it a greasy junkyard and if so, do you want your car there? Look also at how many years they have been in business because the fly-by-nights don't usually last more than 3 to 5 years. Trust your car to a shop that has been around for the longest time, that is also big enough that the owner isn't trying to fill too many roles by himself, such as the mechanic, the manager, the accountant, marketing, human relations, janitor, etc. because you won't get the attention or care you deserve from someone so distracted like that. On the other hand, I would recommend avoiding the national chain shops, due to overselling and quotas-- plus they have to pay a large percentage of their sales to the franchisor right off the top and therefore must pass that expense on to their customers. A shop with national affiliations is ok if it is owned and operated locally. An ideal shop is one that's well established on local relationships and reputation, not built on big corporate bankrolls.