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tarajos
New User
Sep 2, 2005, 4:20 AM
Post #1 of 9
(2211 views)
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Recommend Auto mechanic?
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We're new to the Lake George, NY area and desparately need a good mechanic for our vehicles. Is there anyone in or around this area who can give us an idea of someone who's good & doesn't continually "find" additional problems? (LOL! bad experiences in the past)
Thanks for any help/advice!
Terrie
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 2, 2005, 5:49 AM
Post #2 of 9
(2206 views)
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Re: Recommend Auto mechanic?
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No Guarantees but sometimes the best help is a small shop self owned and their name is on the line so a decent bet. Network among co-workers and so forth also - a dealer may the right choice. I have to rely on some house help and I just want honesty as we all do. BTW - nice place - Lake George! Be well, Tom
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carjunky
Enthusiast
Sep 2, 2005, 10:29 AM
Post #3 of 9
(2201 views)
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Re: Recommend Auto mechanic?
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I agree with tom here. Small shops risk their rep, on their work. You may even ask at a few places, say corner stores, super market clerks. Then with this list see if one shop tends to get repeated more then the others.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 2, 2005, 6:31 PM
Post #4 of 9
(2192 views)
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Re: Recommend Auto mechanic? Follow up
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I once worked for a place in the 1970s that was BAD! Two other mechanics that used to use air tools on spark plugs! -- and go thru people's trunks - looking for stuff and one day two Pintos (remember them?) were in - the same color and all and these two mechanics drag raced these CUSTOMER cars across the parking lot - I was shocked!
I quit working there and was back on the payroll within a half hour at a small garage across the street, that had the best reputation in town which IS my style. Customers were #1 as they should be! I was way overworked there. I opened my own shop and was self employed when I left there.-- under good terms.
It's a tough biz and people spend a fortune on tools and equipment so give them their due. Still - fair is fair both ways and we are here at the sites to either fix or make you/help you to be an informed customer.
Peace to all, Tom,
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tarajos
New User
Sep 3, 2005, 3:43 AM
Post #6 of 9
(2178 views)
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Re: Recommend Auto mechanic?
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I thank you all so much for your input. We did, in fact, find a garage that I've set an appt with for next week.....'George's Mobile Repair'! (I talked with George) 
Regarding motorheadII's reply, I truly wasn't implying that EVERY SINGLE mechanic out there is...anything other than reputable. In the parenthases (sp) I did note that I, personally, have had bad experiences in the past with shops that I've used. (Sorry MotorheadII, but that's a fact.....and I did have the brain capacity to realize & double check........) Now, while I say again that I understand there are awesome people, mechanics, out there who take their jobs very seriously, there are still, and probably will always be, some who have a renaissance attitude of customers with no knowledge being fair game............and it's because I wanted to find one of the 'non-renaissance' people that I posted to this board to see if someone could help me! LOL!!!!!!
So again...thank you all very much for your help, and I'm sorry if I've tweaked any noses. Absolutely wasn't my intention.
Terrie :)
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Sep 3, 2005, 5:28 AM
Post #7 of 9
(2176 views)
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Re: Recommend Auto mechanic?
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MotorheadII
I think that has to be the best post I’ve read on this site, it explains exactly how I feel towards my situation with some of my customers.
Man you nailed it; some clients just don’t want to hear anything other then it’s fixed, forget about maintenance.
It would be easy to have tunnel vision while working under a hood but when we do and not see or tell people about that hose that is ready to blow, we are considered incompetent.
At the same time when we do tell people about it, we have to go on the defensive because of the misconception that we’re out to get them.
It takes a lot of work to get peoples trust and a second to lose it because of miscommunication or lack of.
I’ve been in business for myself for better than 25 years now and in my little shop of three bays I have an active customer file of over 4000 names.
Each one of those names is considered my boss when they walk through the door and if I want to keep my job I have to tailor to what they want.
It’s not easy working for one boss let alone multiple ones; everybody has their own idea of what it is they want or need.
Sorry for going away from the original question but it feels good to show the other side of the coin.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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motorheadII
User
Sep 3, 2005, 11:27 AM
Post #8 of 9
(2169 views)
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Re: Recommend Auto mechanic?
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No apologies necessary and my nose isn't tweaked. I've spent a lifetime dealing with people like you who are filled with fear and trepidation when they take their car in for service. If they're not completely immune to logic I can usually win 'em over. I'm a mechanic in a 5 bay independent tire/brake/general repair shop in a small Southern town where 99% of our customers wouldn't take their cars anywhere else.
Reputation is everything.
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