Everybody all over the world from here to Timbuktu wants to have a good auto repair shop in their community. It doesn’t matter if one lives in an advanced country like Sweden or in a dirt-poor nation in the heart of Africa somewhere. It makes no difference. The use of automobiles has become more commonplace as countries develop worldwide. Even in the most primitive locales in the world, people use horses or donkeys as transportation less and have become more reliant on cars.
The reputation of the car will depend on the country. If you want to know the popularity of each, you can do so by checking this site. The automobile not only is a symbol of freedom for most individuals but also a social status for many. Most folks in every region of the world regard someone with a vehicle more highly than someone who rides a bicycle or uses public transportation. There are exceptional places like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, but those are exceedingly rare in comparison to the rest.
Cautionary Tales
As a rule of thumb, locally owned and less mainstreamed businesses are more honest and reputable than the more mainstreamed ones. I speak from experience. In my hometown of Austin, Texas, to whom I will refer as Richard. He was about as forthright as it gets for a mechanic. He was one of the best at his job; he helped me single out crooked auto repair places.
He told me about some of the warning signs. The bad ones like to take advantage of women, minorities, and young people. They have a penchant for charging them more or trying to upsell those things they don’t need. Richard explained to me that’s how they get rich and find the means to expand their businesses. They pray on people’s fears and ignorance and make them think there’s no other alternative. Jiffy Lube is one of the worst.
This was back in the 90 long before Yelp and Google Reviews ever came along. The only way anyone had the means of sorting out the good ones from the bad was through word of mouth. To find a valuable list of review sites, you can check this link: https://www.brightlocal.com/resources/best-car-and-auto-review-websites/
Somewhere along the way, we’ve heard horror stories about shady auto repair shops that either did a mediocre job or overcharged the customers taking advantage of their naivete. I’ve been told that one of the main reasons they do that is because they have a lot of overhead costs they need to cover. Whether that’s true or a myth is yet to be determined. This link will show you some of the most common scams they like to pull.
For all we know, they could be doing it because they know in places like Texas where laws are toothless, they aren’t required by law to have any kind of business license, nor are they regulated by the state government. Either that or there could be nepotism involved in that they hire people either because they know somebody, or they may be related to the owner. That doesn’t mean that they’re qualified, nevertheless. I speak from first-hand experience living in Thailand and Vietnam where that’s not uncommon.
It doesn’t rocket scientists to figure out that petty criminals will find every way they can to swindle people if they think they can get away with it. Whether someone is a first-time car owner or a seasoned driver, it’s imperative that one does some research and finds the most reputable places around the greater vicinity. It doesn’t hurt to ask folks in one’s community on social media sites who is the most trustworthy mechanic.
Nine times out of ten, it’ll be a local business that has been around for a while and built up a large client base. An example would be Hub Motor Service in Abbotsford, British Columbia. This company has been around quite a while and received rave reviews. To put it bluntly, they would have gone out of business by now if they were dishonest. The company has existed since 1954.What to Look For
No matter how smart they think they are, no criminal is that savvy to go that long without leaving a trail of breadcrumbs somewhere along the way. Law enforcement and other government agencies are a lot smarter and more competent than many people give them credit for.
It’s always best to make sure the place does full-body service. Another warning sign is when a place tries to charge the buyer up front rather than provide the works beforehand. Any venue that fits either bill should set off red flags automatically. Always remember to check the types of reviews a place has. If it has received high accolades like Hub Motor for several decades, then you’re good to go.