Serious stuff . . . Watch this Video Trust Your Mechanic?

[Guest guest]

We have all our service done by the dealer . . .

http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2006/0503/9152183.200k.asx

[Guest guest]

Rogene,

This is a huge problem everywhere. Here in Las Vegas, a competitor was

caught on video doing the same thing, and it is now in the hands of the

attorney general for the state of Nevada and they want to shut down 11

of this other franchise's shops. Auto repair just has a very difficult

reputation--the sheisters making it difficult for the honest folks,

like us!

We are in this industry (my husband and I with our businesses). Our

slogan is " An Honest Brake " . Dealers charge waaaaay more than

necessary and while I understand that some people feel more secure

having a dealer do the work, the truth is that they hire from the same

pool of mechanics that we do. Mechanics switch employers all the time.

So, you are not guaranteed quality service even with a dealer.

I am only saying this because we have struggled to continue making a

profit because we DON'T cheat anyone. That's why I took a second job,

working almost 80 hours a week total. You know what they say, " Nice

guys always finish last. " We do honest work, and we never overcharge.

We've watched our competitors cheat others with misleading ads ( " $99

BRAKE JOB! " which always, somehow, turns into a $1000 brake job once

you get your car up on the lift.) If the customer would have come to us

instead, they would have gotten an honest brake job for one fifth of

that.

<sigh> My only point is this: Establish a relationship with your

service center. Talk to the owner. Get to know the people who are

behind the business. You may discover that there are honest people out

there who won't rip you off, and you WON'T have to pay dealer prices

for good quality work, while supporting those who are trying to make a

living earning honest pay for honest work.

Enough said. I know there are schemers and sheisters. Just don't

stereotype all repair shops as that way. Some are out there trying to

make a difference in the industry and do the right thing. Stereotyping

is how we get hurt.

Patty

>

> We have all our service done by the dealer . . .

>

>

>

http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2006/0503/9152183.200k.a

sx

>

[Guest guest]

Oh, yes, politics is everywhere! One of the owners of yet another

competitor in our city is a former attorney. This person is in

cahoots with even the labor board attorneys, and corruption reigns in

their business and network contacts! It's sick...people sleeping

with each other, ripping off employees, falsifying records...we even

got ripped off from them trying to be nice. We'll never do that

again!

Law enforcement can check them out, but even then, how do you know

there is honesty in the " checking out? " Ever heard of bribery

happening in the US? OH yes. Oh yes. Excuse me while I go throw up.

I'm sorry about what happened to your son-in-law. It's a rough world

out there. But let's fight the good fight and cling to our values

that say, " We will not be like the world. We will do what is ethical

and right, even if it hurts. " That's the only way we win in the

long run.

Thankfully, we do have a good reputation in this town, and it's taken

us nearly 10 long years to build it. But you can never stop building.

Hugs to you,

Patty

>

> Patty,

>

> Because I know YOU, I would trust the service your business does

any day - over that of the dealer. I know it takes a while, but

eventually people know who is reputable and who isn't.

>

> These jerks play on peoples' fear of a breakdown . . . I don't see

how anyone can compete with these schiesters . . .

>

> Authorities need to step in and stop them. Why aren't they? Do

these jerks have friends in high places? I suspect so. . . .

>

> The authorities should be checking these operations, and when

caught, closing businesses down, plus handing out prison sentences

and fines that hurt so badly everyone gets the message. They are

criminals no less than someone who holds a gun to your head! . . .

Yet somehow, they're seldom punished. Or, if they are, nobody hears

about it.

>

> My son-in-law got taken at one of these places . . . It lead to a

change of events, resulting in the loss of a car that dominoed into

other events altering lives and relationships - probably

forever . . .

>

> The only solution I can see is insisting that law enforcement check

these people out . . .

>

> The way the newscasters checked them out looked pretty easy. . . .

If only they had the police waiting to arrest them like they do on

MSNBC's " To Catch a Predator " .

>

> Rogene

>