What am I paying for when I have my vehicle serviced?
As a consumer you look at the end result of a visit to the auto repair shop and the cost of that service. The idea of spending money to fix a car is probably the last thing you want to do. When you hear the service provider tell you that it's going to cost several hundred dollars to correct the problem, it may not sit well with you. You may be concerned as to why is it so expensive to fix your car. Let me talk a little bit about what the expense entails.
Vehicles today are highly technical and loaded with computer controlled systems that require competent maintenance and diagnostic technicians. To meet the increased competitive salaries, due to a shortage of technicians, we must provide a competitive compensation package. This requires a competitive pay scale including state and federal taxes, that are over and above the basic hourly wage of the technician.
The technician and the shop have thousands of dollars in tools and equipment to meet the increased high technology requirements to service your vehicle. Comprehensive diagnostic equipment, on-going computer equipment with continuous software upgrades and vehicle technical information and internet subscriptions. It's an on-going process of modernizing the shop facilities in order to hold all the high-tech equipment required today to service a modern vehicle. An on going training program is necessary to serve you efficiently and professionally.
The upkeep of the facility to provide a safe work environment for our staff, including proper air ex-changers to eliminate poisonous fumes, effective shop lighting and proper climate control. Ensure all environmental policies for disposal of shop material are adhered to. The utilities necessary to keep the facility operational. General maintenance of the grounds and the buildings.
The auto repair industry is very complex and the consumer must rely on the information given to them by the service provider to make an informed decision. A highly skilled technician using the latest testing equipment and data programs can make a conclusive resolve to the customer concerns, in a timely fashion. To answer the question above “What am I paying for when I have my vehicle serviced”: Skilled labor, state of the art diagnostic tools, internet data programs, continuous training, and professional staff.
The choice is yours as to who you select to perform the service on your vehicle. Trust plays a huge part in this decision and that trust has to be earned by the provider. A recommendation by a friend will ease the process, but the final conclusion is yours. Unfortunately, cost may be the deciding factor on who you have do your service. If this is the case take into consideration some of the things listed in this article.
Jim Carpenter, Owner
Auto Inspection Service