There’s no question about it – the COVID-19 pandemic was tough on a lot of small businesses. And, the auto repair industry was no exception. There have been a number of local auto repair shops that have sold out to national chains in recent weeks and months. While this may have provided a financial benefit to their owners, it’s not always best for the customers.
Here are four important reasons why choosing a local auto repair shop over a larger national chain is in your best interest …
#1: Versatile Auto Mechanics
Let’s face it, with both parents and kids owning their own vehicles these days, the average household’s driveway can look like a used car lot. Unless you’re a diehard Ford fan or a shameless Chevy fanatic, you probably have a variety of makes and models that need service.
While car dealerships often only service the types of vehicles they sell, your local auto repair shop has mechanics that are trained to repair and maintain a variety of vehicles. That means you can use one shop for all of your auto repair and maintenance needs instead of many shops.
#2: Friendly and Honest Auto Repairs
One of the biggest benefits of a local auto repair shop is the customer service you’ll receive. Instead of being treated like a customer, it’s more than likely that you’ll be treated like family. That means the mechanics, service advisors, and other staff might know you by name, remember your vehicle, and treat your vehicle as if it were their own.
Local auto repair shops also know how much your trust in them means to their business. When you trust your mechanic or service advisor to steer you in the right direction, and you’ve never been led astray by their advice, you’re more likely to recommend that repair shop to others. And, word-of-mouth advertising often means more to potential customers than fancy media ads.
#3: Affordable auto repairs
No one likes an expensive auto repair or maintenance bill, but you’re very likely to have one at some point during your vehicle ownership days. While working with a local auto repair shop doesn’t necessarily mean cheap auto repairs, you are more likely to get affordable auto repairs. That’s because local shops are typically independently owned and operated. That gives them the flexibility to set their own prices, make changes to them as they see fit, and offer auto repair coupons or discounts.
In contrast, dealerships or national auto repair shop chains are often driven more by revenue goals. Service advisors and mechanics may receive special perks or monetary incentives simply for reaching those goals. What does that mean for you? More expensive auto repairs or possibly being pressured into doing repairs that truly aren’t necessary.
#4: Convenience and Location
More often than not, you can bring your vehicle to the shop and wait for the needed repairs or maintenance items to be completed. Sometimes, however, your vehicle needs to be in the shop for several hours or days. A local auto repair shop is more likely to have pick up/ drop off options to get you to and from work or home, and may even be able to give you a loaner or rental vehicle.
There are also times when unexpected problems arise with your vehicle and you need service NOW. When you work with a local auto repair shop, it may be easier to get an appointment scheduled quickly instead of having to deal with a national chain where appointments are completely booked up weeks or months in advance.
YOUR Local Auto Repair Shop in Tempe, AZ
At Good Works Auto Repair, we LOVE the feel of a local auto repair shop. To us, it’s more about our family (known as ‘customers’ elsewhere) and the vehicles they own, not the almighty dollar.
We know that we don’t have to charge high prices or treat auto repairs like an assembly line business in order to earn an income ourselves. Rather, we treat every vehicle as if it were our own … When vehicles are repaired and maintained correctly and efficiently, and their owners are treated like people, everyone wins!
We aim to bring you the best auto repair and maintenance services in Tempe, AZ. In fact, we’re so confident in the quality of our work that we stand behind it with a 5 year/ 60,000 mile warranty, one of the best in the business. If you’re ready to say ‘goodbye’ to a national chain and ‘hello’ to being treated like family at your local auto repair shop, schedule an appointment with us today. We’ll advise and YOU can decide what’s best for you and your vehicle!
