Consumer Interest Website Zarome.com Offers Car Repair Advice

Glendale, CA (PRWEB) August 30, 2010

A trip to the auto mechanic is never fun, often frustrating, and usually puts a deeper dent in the wallet than anticipated. But the experience doesn’t always have to be a negative one; if consumers focus on some key things they can increase their chances of a pleasant encounter. Here are some helpful tips for dealing with auto repairs:

Where to start – If a consumer doesn’t have a good mechanic they’ve used in the past, they’ll want to begin with asking their family and friends for referrals. Yes, word of mouth is extremely powerful and usually works quite well. They can also read online reviews, use resources such as the Better Business Bureau, and look for AAA-approved facilities.

Before calling mechanics – Consumers should ask any car-savvy friends they have and do a bit of research online to get ideas as to what the problems could be. This will help when talking with mechanics, as they’ll perceive the consumer as someone who may know a thing or two about the issues at hand and will result in them taking less advantage of the situation.

How many mechanics to visit and what to say – Visiting at least three of the most promising mechanics is advised. Consumers will preferably want to visit ones that won’t charge for a diagnosis. When speaking with the mechanics, saying a few words about the possible causes of the problems is a good idea. Issues that each mechanic brings up should be jotted down along with prices that are quoted. At this point, it’s a good idea not to share the issues list and pricing information when going from one mechanic to another. It’s also a good idea to ask the mechanics to show the areas and parts causing the problems.

Is there a need to spend money? – By now a consumer should have a good idea of what the potential problems are. If they’ve experienced any of these problems in the past and had gotten them fixed, they should check to see if the services are still under the warranty period which is sometimes up to 12 months or 12,000 miles. They should also check to see if the problems are covered by other warranties they may have as well as possibly being on the list of known issues and recalls by the car maker. They can get this information by placing a few phone calls and doing some research online.

Valuable papers – Once a consumer decides which mechanic to move forward with they’ll need to keep some key things in mind. They should remember to negotiate and get a written estimate of the work that will be done along with getting documents for any warranty policy that applies. They’ll also want to look at the estimate paperwork carefully, ensure they get a breakdown of the work to be done, make sure there is a cap on the fees they can get charged, and ensure it’s noted that the mechanic will contact them for authorization for additional repairs above and beyond what is written on the estimate.

The dreaded “there’s another problem” speech – More often than not, the mechanic will tell the consumer he found more problems while fixing the initial set of problems. Consumers shouldn’t just agree to have the work done, rather, they are advised to ask if the work can wait, demand for the mechanic to show them the problems, and write down what they are told the problems are. At this point, spending a few minutes calling other mechanics to get quotes for the additional work is a good idea. If the work needs to be done immediately consumers should not be afraid to negotiate the price down.

The test drive – When the repairs are done and the car is ready to be picked up, consumers should take a test drive and pay close attention to see if the problems are fixed. If they still notice that the issues exist, they should notify the mechanic immediately. If they don’t see a problem during the test drive yet notice issues when they go home, consumers should contact the mechanic immediately and inform them of the issue. The longer consumers wait to bring up the issues the harder it will be for them to argue their case.

About Zarome.com – Zarome.com was founded to save consumers time, money, and headaches when it comes to all their service needs. The website provides consumers instant quotes for a wide range of services. Consumers can also read reviews and connect with top rated individuals and businesses that provide services. (To learn more please visit http://www.zarome.com.)

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