“How much does it cost to get my car fixed? Can you PLEASE give me a price NOW over the phone!”
We get this call all the time. Everyone is in a hurry these days (including me!), and we just want to get the information, make the best decision, get it done and move on with our lives.
“I need brakes on my car, how much will it cost,” asked the caller. Hmmm…Well that depends…..
All cars are different and all drivers drive their cars differently. Need and cost can vary greatly depending our customers’ actual needs and what their expectations are. Here are the facts:
- There is no way any reputable auto repair facility can give a proper estimate over the telephone for brakes, exhaust, diagnostic repairs, A/C repairs or electrical repairs.
- It is simply impossible to know the condition of the vehicle or what it needs without looking at the vehicle. There are too many variables involved.
- The price between an Audi S4 or BMW 335i or a Honda Civic or Dodge Caravan will vary greatly.
With that said, there are some services that, as auto repair experts, we can quote over the phone with great accuracy, i.e., Oil Change Services and Tire Pricing (as long as we have the right size!) and Wheel Alignments. But for most services it is critical for the shop to have the car on site to provide an accurate diagnosis and a proper estimate.
We also know that we can do a much better as an industry doing several key things: a) Communicating openly with our customers; b) Focusing more on our customers’ desire for information; c) Answering questions honestly to the best of our ability without looking at the car; and d) Providing ballpark estimates over the phone when possible, but we can give you an exact price once we look at the car. And offering options based on need.
Coming up in Part 2 of this 3-Part Series: What information do we need to properly serve our customers?
And now, a word from our “sponsor”.
At Curry’s Auto Service you can always bring your car in for FREE estimate for most services, and we will also include our famous Curry’s Complete Vehicle Inspection at no charge. We offer our “Show and Tell” service, where we will bring you out to the shop and Show you what you need and Why you need it.
We will also offer you options based on your specific needs. There are many types and standards of parts. At Curry’s we only recommend the most trusted brands and have valued relationships with our trusted suppliers. All repairs come with an Industry Leading 2 year/24,000 Nationwide Warranty.
(not diagnostics/electronics/A/C)