Everybody hates car salesmen. They talk too fast, use too many clichs, and are generally exasperating. Theres nothing worse than being verbally romanced only to find out you were ripped-offor is there?
- How about getting ripped-off repeatedly?
- How about getting ripped-off repeatedly for years?
- How about never even knowing you were ripped-off, repeatedly, and for years?
Welcome to service! When it comes to swindling, automotive service representatives are the real experts. They have more experience, and way more opportunity to rip you off.
A car salesman has only a few chances to rip you off provided you even engage in negotiations. Theres the price of the car, financing, leasing, accessories/options, extended warranties, your trade-in, and the general bull that wafts from the salesmens mouth.
You should also watch out for the finance manager. Todays finance folks arent just number crunchers, theyre salesmen in disguise. This is where youll be encouraged to buy the extended warranty and a host of other accessories that can all be packaged up nicely into your financing.
Car sales rip-off attempts are easily thwarted. Number one, you can just walk away! Also, there are numerous resources on how to buy a car without losing your shirt. If youre interested, visit the RepairTrust resource link and youll find several sites that will tell you everything you want to know about buying, trading, leasing, financing, new, usedetc.
Its a little different in the world of car repair. Your car needs service. You HAVE to deal with a service representative, like it or not.
The folks in the dim underworld of automotive service are well-trained in the art of ripping people off. Theyre not the feeding-frenzied, thrashing sharks of sales that are easy to spot.
No, service representatives are the Great Whites. They primarily hunt alone, hiding in the murky waters of service, striking without warning.
Whats really scary is that the service industry is infested with Great Whites. Traditional tips and suggestions to avoid their attacks dont work. This is evidenced by the fact that service customers are scammed tens of billions of dollars every year.
Information is the key to STOP a Great White. If one knows who, what, when, where, why, and how it hunts, one can take control.
To start, Sharks are not mindless eating machines. The Great Whites of the service industry are experienced and smart. They attacks from so many different directions, and new technologies provide fresh chum daily.
Technology creates ripples and waves, making it difficult to see below the surface of even simple auto repairs.
In auto repair, technology creates confusion. Like a struggling swimmer, the Great White can sense the anxiety of a service customer. In the midst of this confusion, the waters of service get even murkier, and SPLASHits cost you an arm and a leg.
In todays service environment, the service customer needs protection, and needs to be empowered with accurate information and powerful tools before even entering the waters. Theres no need to lose any limbs, ever!
-Theodore P. Olson (Ted)
http://www.repairtrust.com/
Empowering the Service Customer
Ted holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. A twenty-year veteran in the industry, he is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the car service industry.
Other Works by Ted Olson Include:
- ARREST the Automotive Service Industry!
- Maintenance Myths: A Step-by-Step Guide to STOP Getting Ripped Off!
- Auto Repair: The Shocking Truth About Who's Ripping You Off and Why!
- Automotive Service Pricing Strategies: a fair pricing guide for service centers
- Being the Best: a comprehensive customer service handbook for service advisors
- Service Center Personnel: an auto repair informational for general service staff
- Technical Writing Guide for Technicians: a detailed writing guide for technicians
- Service Mission Statement: an industry proposal to improve customer service
