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Your Automotive Service Department

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by The Electric Me, Feb 18, 2011.

  1. don_chuwish

    don_chuwish Well Seasoned Member

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    Most tire shops I've seen have a window into the bay and I always stand there staring at the guys doing the work. I've actually been impressed by what I see in most cases - cause and effect? They work competently and quickly, but carefully. You can't shoot bull, crack inappropriate jokes or treat the customer's car with disrespect when you're being watched.

    Granted, that doesn't sound like a great work environment for them, but welcome to modern life. Cubicle cattle don't have it any better.

    In the larger shop environment I can understand that not every area of the shop could be viewable and building layouts will vary. But I agree that it's not pleasant to never actually interact with the tech who's touching your car. For the shop that's just a matter of workplace efficiency tho - a mechanic talking to customers is a mechanic not working on cars.

    Carolyn at Luscious Garage seems to have made it work tho, so it's not impossible!

    - D
     
  2. DataWrangler

    DataWrangler Prius Owner (finally!)

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    Don McGill Toyota of Katy:
    older, knowledgable service reps
    Glass window/door view of the service bays
    Waiting area with WiFi
    Coffee, no cookies (used to be Starbucks ... no more)

    I view service reps as the "firewall" between customer and mechanic. Not always a bad thing. A good mechanic may not always be the best customer relations person. A good service rep get the answers and makes it right.

    I have always been well treated by DMTK.
     
  3. Troyroy

    Troyroy Member

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    It's obvious that most of you have never been a serviceman or women of any type. The worst thing a serviceman....carpenter or plumber or your Toyota technician needs or wants is someone hanging over their shoulder asking questions about everything.
    Whenever you have a specific problem with your car...don't pass it on to the service writer...ask to talk directly to the tech that will be working on the car. I remember being in a shop once that had a labor prices posted...Reg Labor $65.00 per hour, If you watch $85.00 per hour, if you help $185.00 per hour.
     
    1 person likes this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you supply the parts, $250. per hour.
     
  5. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    If you do it yourself, $0 per hour.
     
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I respect that reality. I don't want to interfere. But I'd like a window and at least the option to see the repair area....I do think if mechanics/techs know the customer is watching or might watch that is motivation to be a little more careful.

    Not with this vehicle..but with my old Honda, I use to have the oil change done at the local Lube Express type shop, which Ironically, I could at least stand off to the side and watch....

    I use to pay for and request synthetic oil...and on more than one occasion I watched them pop my hood and proceed to pump the regular Dino Oil in...and if I wasn't watching? Perhaps I would of never known...

    So anyway, I suppose the days of actually talking to your technician are over...and I see that from a communication skills POV that might not be all bad. Like in medicine, some of the best surgeons are horrible to communicate with...

    But I'd still like window......
     
  7. Ninjawife

    Ninjawife Junior Member

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    I just wish there was a window too. I just want to see it actually happen.

    Last oil service visit my Toyota dealer recommended an alignment.
    When it came time to pay the kid with the paperwork I asked to see the wheel alignment sheet and he could not find it. I was just curious how far it was off if at all.
    Long story short it went back on the alignment machine again and they were sure to supply the proof prior to payment.