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Strategies to choose car repair shop non-ATPM

The population of vehicles continues to grow from time to time. This situation in fact has also opened business opportunity in the auto repair industry non ATPM. The availability of this auto repair has met demand for auto repair that locates closer to residential area. It also can confront phobia for expensive charge if we go to an official ATPM auto repair shops. But to choose an alternative auto repair shop is not an easy task. It requires mutual honesty and open mind from both consumers and shop owners. They should take care of your car at a reasonable price. Finding the auto repair shops can be frustrating. To avoid being taken for a ride when you are choosing a car repair shop, here are some tips to get the best one:

  1. Recommendations or references. First thing to do is asking family and friends for references or searching information from media that might write about the specified car repair shop. You can also ask for recommendations other people you trust such as members of automotive clubs. Or join forum of discussions in the internet that will discuss and share experiences about alternative auto repair shops.
  2. There is nothing wrong to choose specified auto repair shops that usually do the type of repair especially if you need major work. Some reputable repair shops will charge you a diagnostic fee to tell what they think is wrong with your car. The broken engine of your vehicle could immediately be detected by reputable mechanic. Many alternatives (specialist) car repair shops have hired trained mechanic from official ATPM auto repair shop. 
  3. Reputable auto car shops always have professional and courteous staffs that will thoroughly check your car, discuss the problems with you and try to resolve it. Reputable shops will also value customer feedback and make a sincere effort to keep your business. If your car needs replacement parts, mechanic should honestly tell you whether the parts are new, rebuilt or salvage. They also must inform you if the problem can be resolved without changing the parts.
  4. When you visit the shop, be a good observant. Check to see if they have a neat and well-organized facility such as waiting room, toilet, AC, entertainment place and canteen where you can spend the time while waiting for your vehicle being repaired. This can be one of parameters on how serious they take care of consumers. 
  5. When you are in the shop, you also need to screen further by looking for their equipments whether or not they have modern up-to-date facilities in the service repairs such as pit or other tools that should match with the class and type of the shops.
  6. Do not hesitate to ask if the technicians have experience working on the same model vehicle as yours. In most cases mechanics who work for unofficial auto repair shop is relatively more experienced but often tricky. They also usually don’t have certification, although a certification of excellence doesn’t guarantee there will be no mistakes on the part of your mechanic, but it does guarantee that certain level of excellence has been achieved. Currently there are more and more unofficial auto repair shops have employed mechanics graduated from vocational technical school.
  7. Make sure the auto repair shop you choose has current licenses and certifications from the National Certification Institute such as Sucofindo. It is barely asked by consumers but in fact it could be an additional value for the shops.
  8. Reputable auto repair shops usually have neat and well-organized management.
  9. Never immediately trust of ‘sweet promises’ the shop tries to convince you especially when it relates to repair costs and guaranteed services. Do not hesitate to ask whether their explanation can be counted on as warranties on their services.
  10. When you are confident with one repair shop and it comes time to get work done on your car, tight control over the job is required. In fact, it is the obligation of auto repair shops to inform customer whether the car needs regular maintenances or simply ask you to come back when you have broken components in the future. Most repair shop will tell you what they think is wrong with your car.
  11. Do not forget to ask warranty for the services they have done to your car. Reputable shop will honor your vehicle’s warranty.