I always say that an informed customer is a happy customer.
Car owners would be able to enjoy more their vehicles if they are equipped with some information regarding car repairs. At some point in the life of their vehicle, it would be needing a repair. An owner’s stress level would be determined by how knowledgeable he/she is with regards to car repairs and how well does he/she trust the service center or car dealer.
There are a few things to know:
1. There’s a lot more in car repairs than meet the eye.
When you’re vehicle is damaged, before the parts and service departments are able to determine the necessary repairs and parts to be replaced are, it would take more than a day or two depending on how heavy the damage is. Several people may also be needed to work on your vehicle, just for the estimates alone.
2. There are customers who come for a free estimate. We cannot give free estimates. Nagca-canvass sila. It takes a lot of our people’s time, effort and money too to make a diagnosis and estimate. This is the reason why we no longer give free estimates. We charge a small fee.
3. If your car is covered by insurance, dealers help facilitate the claim. They act as a middle man between the owner and the insurance company. The dealers want to repair the vehicle fast but sometimes, the insurance company’s adjuster (the one who approves the estimates) act slow. In many cases, it takes the adjuster a week or two or even more before giving the dealer an LOA or letter of authority. This is giving the dealer the authority to proceed with the repair. If the dealer doesn’t receive the LOA, it cannot proceed yet with the repair of your vehicle.
4. Many customers understandably want to speed up the process by verbally assuring the dealer “sige na simulan nyo na ako ang bahala”. This is a prime example of sya ang bahala kami ang kawawa. 99% of the time, the buyer would refuse to pay for the repairs of his vehicle, expecting the insurer to shoulder the repair 100%. When the dealer does not start repair on your vehicle in the absence of an LOA, they need more than a verbal instruction from you. Pay 50% down payment to cover half of the cost of the parts, and give them a signed commitment that you would shoulder 100% of the costs of repair should the insurance company fails to do so.
In the event that the dealer gets paid by the insurer even if you’ve paid for the repair, you can be sure that the dealer would refund to you the excess payments.
5. The reality is, dealer does cannot restore your vehicle to its original condition. When your vehicle is damaged, there could be some hidden defects that couldn’t be detected and predetermined. This could manifest itself in a few days, weeks or months after the dealer had fixed your car or released your vehicle to you. After your vehicle had been to the casa, always keep an open mind. Do not scream your lungs out if your car shows some kind of abnormality. A car could be fixed, if not, you could replace it with a new one. Your lungs are irreplaceable.
6. The heavy traffic in our streets are causing vehicles some damage that we don’t see or yet feel. There are brand new cars that have overheated because of the stop and go.
7. Stepping on the breaks while your car is on drive create a friction on the bearings which could may or may not manifest itself immediately, but could shorten the efficiency of your vehicle in the long run.
8. Break pads are really expensive regardless of your vehicle’s brand. When your car is brought for a maintenance service, kahit walang sira, there are standard operating procedures and guidelines from the vehicle manufacturer that service shops must follow. One is the replacement of break pads depending on the mileage, at kung pud-pod na kailangan ng palitan.
9. If you find the quotation too expensive, ask questions. Do not conclude right away that the dealer is engaged in some kind of cheating scheme. Asking questions is free. “Hello, how come you are charging me P50,000 for the repair, what’s the breakdown? How did it become 50K? Baka pwedeng yung ibang pyesa huwag munang palitan, kasi namamahalan ako”.
10. Do not connive with their service advisor or technician to procure a cheaper replacement parts. They have no way of purchasing an original part for your vehicle. Asking them to do it
is like you asking them to steal. You are asking them to steal the spare parts from the company. Please don’t do those things. You might be able to save a few thousand, but those people would surely lose their jobs because sooner or later they would be caught.
For things that you don’t know about, please feel free to inquire from your dealer. Keep an open mind and be generous with your trust.
