Vetting shop for service work

[Jccams]

I have been looking for a reliable shop that knows what they are doing to work on my 2019 Mustang. I want transmission service(10R80), rear differential and coolant. I called a shop that gets good reviews and asked if there was someone I could talk to about what I want done and I wanted to drive down and speak to them in person. Apparently there is one person to talk to and he is in and out all day. I said I have a 45 minute drive and I'd like to make sure this person is there. I was told they would call me and let me know when he was there. This was two days ago and I don't expect to hear back.

Am I being unreasonable? I just wanted to talk to someone so I was comfortable with their abilities and to see the shop. I just can't find anyone around me that seems like they really know what they are doing.

How do you go about choosing a shop to work on your car?

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[Skye]

The more rural location, the more limited options. I would entertain a forty-five minute drive if the initial reviews and information appeared promising, and, there were no other good options in the local area.

I avoid using the phone. A physical presence is best. Not clairvoyant in the least, it generally takes me one conversation of a few minutes to get a feel for the tech/s and the shop. Depending on the work at-hand, a small, easy job might be assigned first, with the heavy lifting occurring later, if things go well with that initial service.

Mechanical shops and Customer Service people are often being pulled in all kinds of directions, from clients calling, people driving-up, techs needing guidance, billing and sign-out. Phone conversations can be haphazard at best.

Regarding the commute and time, IDK if there are local hire taxi services available. The shop at the far-end might know of someone. I've been in some pretty remote areas. There's often someone with a vehicle taking people any number of places for a flat rate.

Edit,

There are some good dealers out there. In my most recent experience, I needed some warranty work for something I could not accomplish myself. At the first location under consideration, everything about the place told me to avoid it. At the second, things were much better. Had an overall great experience.

I'd make a short list, confirm the contact information and begin touring to see what these places are like. That initial legwork could develop into a long-term relationship with a great shop.

 

[sk47]

I said I have a 45 minute drive and I'd like to make sure this person is there. I was told they would call me and let me know when he was there. This was two days ago and I don't expect to hear back.

Hello; I understand your frustration. I have the same situation. many of us do. I have a short term neighbor who rents while going to a local college. A good neighbor so i offered the option to shelter in my basement when severe weather warnings are announced.
I wind up going to the basement four or five times a year during warnings. So far no tornadoes have hit directly. The neighbor ignored my first call and later asked that I only call about a storm if i know for sure it will be a bad one. ????!!!! I have decided to not call anymore since I do not have any way to know for sure. If i somehow knew for sure I would not bother to go hide in my basement several times a year. I still like the neighbor. Will be upset if they are hurt in storm while i am safe in my basement.

I get the idea behind your request. You do not want to waste a trip. I get the shops position. The guy comes and goes and may need to go to take care of business. A good reliable & honest shop is a find.

A physical presence is best. Not clairvoyant in the least, it generally takes me one conversation of a few minutes to get a feel for the tech/s and the shop.

Hello; several years ago I went to look at a 1957 Pontiac sedan. Not the same one i mentioned recently in another post. We met away from his shop. Th car had issues. I asked to see his shop as he had mentioned having spare parts. One look at the shop helped me decide.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Go online, search the shop name - read ANY reviews you can find online about them - NOT just “their” website reviews, but any online reviews from searches.

Then providing on your State or area, if they are a legit shop sometimes it’s required by the State to register the business name or depending on work performed they must have a business license #. You can then search to see if the business or business owner is current on their docs etc.

Online searching is best - you’ll find many reviews sometimes and can make a decent judgement call from those reviews before dropping off your ride or money leaving your hands..

 

[ORRadtech]

I have been looking for a reliable shop that knows what they are doing to work on my 2019 Mustang. I want transmission service(10R80), rear differential and coolant. I called a shop that gets good reviews and asked if there was someone I could talk to about what I want done and I wanted to drive down and speak to them in person. Apparently there is one person to talk to and he is in and out all day. I said I have a 45 minute drive and I'd like to make sure this person is there. I was told they would call me and let me know when he was there. This was two days ago and I don't expect to hear back.

Am I being unreasonable? I just wanted to talk to someone so I was comfortable with their abilities and to see the shop. I just can't find anyone around me that seems like they really know what they are doing.

How do you go about choosing a shop to work on your car?

I don't think it's unreasonable to want to visit the shop and talk with someone. I do think it’s a bit unreasonable to expect a busy shop/manager to block out time for (to them) some random caller who may, or may not, actually show up. It's unfortunate that the shop you're interested in is 45 minutes away but if you really want to check them out the inconvenience should be on you.

 

[RiotfunK]

A lot of places now is only really through email/messenger because of paper trail. Too many people are trash and constantly like to use, "Well you told me this or that, etc" and make stuff up.

Email they have a trail and can track what's what. I get it. Hell, I spent over 6K plus in parts and things and couldn't even get an, in person prior. Really ticked me off. But has been available via messenger/email. I did get to talk with him. But took some time D/T the time of year and events going on. They weren't ignoring me. Just busy. If its a good shop they will get back to you

 

[NGOT8R]

I agree with what’s been said. You’ll learn so much in person. What is the overall attitude and knowledge of the shop employees. A tour of the shop will tell the real story. If the shop is a mess, that would be all I needed to see. It would suggest to me that if they don’t take pride in keeping their shop clean and organized, that’ll more than likely carry over to customers’ cars.

 

[Jccams]

I don't think it's unreasonable to want to visit the shop and talk with someone. I do think it’s a bit unreasonable to expect a busy shop/manager to block out time for (to them) some random caller who may, or may not, actually show up. It's unfortunate that the shop you're interested in is 45 minutes away but if you really want to check them out the inconvenience should be on you.

All I asked for was a call when the one guy that can talk to me would be in the shop long enough for me to get there, not unreasonable. How many times do I need to drive a 90 minute round trip to catch "the guy" in the shop. Understand there is one person I can talk to, not much of a shop manager if he's never in the shop.LOL

 

[sk47]

All I asked for was a call when the one guy that can talk to me would be in the shop long enough for me to get there, not unreasonable. How many times do I need to drive a 90 minute round trip to catch "the guy" in the shop. Understand there is one person I can talk to, not much of a shop manager if he's never in the shop.LOL

Hello; The crux of the issue is similar to supply and demand in any business. A good honest shop will have lots of customers because they are good and honest. A thing seems to be even honest shops may not be so good at the work. Way too many special tools and especially special training needed to work on new cars.
A story. Three years ago mice chewed the engine harness of my truck. There was a list of shops my insurance suggested. Thing turned out to be no matter which I picked the truck was to wind up at the only shop in the area with a knowledgeable tech who also had the proper GM equipment to reprogram.

I do not think any of us misunderstand your point nor your dilemma. Just that a new set of wrinkles have reared their heads in the latest age of automobiles. Companies making their vehicles hard to repair. The shop I like & trust will work on my GMC pickup but not my Nissan Sentra. He has spent the money to have the electronic tools and sent technicians to be trained to do GM pickups (probably Ford & Dodge as well). He told me once he has to buy upgrades for the electronics in his computer equipment at many $ thousands each year.

All that written and I still do not have an answer for you. For some years now i feel like we are living in a Stephen King novel.

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