Cash For Cars Los Angeles: Intro
Sell My Car Fast: Interior & Body Care Issues
Sell My Used Car Fast- Engine Care
Used Car Buyer Los Angeles guide: Do's and Don'ts Of Negotiation
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
Get Map 
Los Angeles Used Car Buyer:
Avoid Maintenance Ripoffs:
How to deal effectively and more profitably with the
professional mechanics
who work on your used car
As stated in the section on how to sell your used car fast, foresight and preventative maintenance is key to getting thousands of dollars more for your used car when it comes time to sell. For mos Los Angeles used car buyers and sellers, this means several trips to the auto repair shop. But often professional auto repair is an industry rife with bad service providers or decent providers who take advantage of your ignorance to overcharge your for their auto repair services.
Rule One in dealing with mechanics, is---1) Do not diagnose your car yourself!
Here’s a brief example to put things in context:
A customer with a headlight issue assumed that his bulb was burnt out. He purchased a new bulb and brought it to his repair shop to have it installed. The repair shop installed the bulb, and billed the client the appropriate labor. After installing the bulb, the light still didn’t work. At this point the client was forewarned that his particular vehicle has a Xenon head lamp system and that it should be diagnosed first, as it may be a tad more complicated than a bulb. The client requested the installation anyway, and agreed to the labor charges. When the light still didn’t work, the shop called the client to ask if he wanted to authorize an additional hour of labor ($110.00) to diagnose the headlight issue, and pay another $55.00 to remove the bulb and install the original bulb. As you can see, this customer quickly racked up a bill (including a $358 non-returnable Xenon bulb) and his light still didn’t work.
When facing car repairs that require you take your car to the shop, be satisfied to take note of what the car is doing, not what you think it is doing. Like the old cop t.v. show used to say, "just stick the facts" as you observe them- not what you think they mean. Furthermore, there are several top mistakes listed below to help the typical Los Angeles used car buyer /seller deal more effectively with professional mechanics.
Top 4 Mistakes:
1) Diagnosing the problem rather than explaining the symptoms. As in the example above, the client assumed his headlight was burnt out – a $523 mistake
2) Supplying your own parts. The repair shop installing your part has no obligation to rectify the situation or supply any type of guarantee if the part fails.
3) Suggesting unnecessary work. This may sound strange coming from the customer, but it happens. Some car repair customers will blurt out “just tune it up” or, “change my oil” even when they know it isn’t required at the time – these can be very costly mistakes – 100’s, even 1000’s of dollars are lost this way to repair shops all too eager to take your money
5) Assuming your repair shop will figure it out. This type of thinking is dangerous. Your repair shop needs your input because, despite any lack of automotive experience on your part, you know your vehicle better than any one.
Remember, don’t suggest unnecessary work. Stick to your manufacturer’s recommendations and play an active role in helping your repair facility diagnose that pesky grinding noise, or bullet-riddled radio.
LOS ANGELES USED CAR BUYER SUBJECTS |