All car owners have heard horror stories from other car owners about bad repair jobs and bad experiences. In particular, dealership repair shops seem to take a lot of heat. You'll hear people swearing that dealerships frequently overcharge. However, these complaints are really just myths. Don't let these common dealership repair cost myths keep you away from your local dealership for car maintenance and repair.
Myth #1: Dealerships Overcharge You For Parts
There is a prevailing myth that dealerships always overcharge their customers for their service. What many customers fail to realize is that the dealership is not overcharging them; rather, they are offering a competitive price based on the type of parts they choose to use.
Dealerships only use OEM parts. OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer. That means that the parts that are put into your vehicle are produced by the manufacturer that created your vehicle. All the parts that the dealership uses in your vehicle are specifically designed for your vehicle.
Myth #2: Dealerships Overcharge You For Labor
The second major myth about dealership repair costs is that they overcharge you for labor. Well it is true that you may be able to find a shop that has lower labor costs per hour in your area, there is a reason that dealerships charge the particular rate that they do.
Dealerships employ mechanics who have met national training standards. All of their mechanics are certified to work in the particular field that they are working in.
Furthermore, dealerships send their mechanics to additional training where they learn how to work specifically on the vehicles that the dealership sells.
Their mechanics are experts on the brand they work with and know the most common problems these vehicles face, as well as the best repair methods to employee for that particular brand. Dealership try their best to keep their prices competitive with the local market while also fairly compensation their mechanics.
When you take your vehicle to a dealership for repairs, you are paying for original equipment manufacturer replacement parts that were made specifically for your vehicle as well as for mechanics who specialize in the brand of vehicle that you own. Dealerships, like all auto shops, try to charge fair market prices based on the value of the products they use and the mechanic's experience that they employ.
For more information about having your car serviced, contact a shop such as Professional Automotive.
Share8 June 2015
Hello. My name’s Samuel Jacobs. I retired from my job as an auto mechanic last year. During my years as a mechanic, I had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. Some have remained friends to this day. When I was working, there is one thing that I came across at least weekly. That is how uneducated people are when it comes to their vehicle’s tires. Properly cared for tires are crucial to the safety of your vehicle. Without them, your car isn’t going anywhere. If they give out on you while you are driving, there is the potential for serious injury. I’m going to share some tire safety information here. Things like the importance of correct inflation, how to check the tread, when to replace tires, tire rotation, and what to do in case of a blow-out. I hope you find this information to be helpful.