When you bring your car into the auto shop, you’re sure to take some time to chat with your mechanic. Although it’s nice to have a friendly conversation at the front desk, not all talking points are made equal. In fact, there’s quite a few things you should avoid.
So, what are the top things to avoid saying to your mechanic?
Long-time mechanic #savagescotty points out that it’s best to avoid saying:
- I’m going to hang out and watch
- Use the cheapest parts available
- Go ahead and take all the time you need
Of course, that’s not all you need to avoid. Thankfully, Scotty Kilmer is here to let us all know what to keep from saying to your mechanic. We will cover all of those topics in detail in this article to help you get that convo right from the start.
I’m Just Going to Stick Around and Watch
Even if you don’t have anywhere to go, it’s unwise to plop down and stare at your mechanic while they work. It’s even worse if you want to interject how to do the job or what you might do differently.
According to Kilmer, that’s a great way to get a big eyeroll and distract your mechanic from the job at hand.
Instead, look around for a place to get a cup of coffee nearby or have someone pick you up until your car is done. If that’s not possible, then get comfy in the lobby and let your auto tech get the job done without disruptions.
I Brought My Own Parts for You to Use
You don’t bring in the ingredients when you go to the restaurant for a meal, so why cart in your own parts for auto repairs? It just doesn’t make sense.
Beyond that, using customer-supplied parts comes with way too many liability issues. You might not have a quality product in hand or the right part at all. So, leave it to your mechanic to source the parts and everyone will be a lot happier.
I Totally Don’t Know What Happened (and Other Lies)
Your mechanic needs the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to truly get to the heart of what’s wrong with your car. If you walk in saying you don’t know what happened because it’s too embarrassing to share, they may go off in the wrong direction trying to figure it out.
Scotty says to just give it to them straight and they will use that info to fix your car right the first time around — and with no judgments. Of course, if you don’t actually know, that’s okay. They will use their diagnostic skills to sort it out.
Use the Cheapest Parts You Can Find
Although it’s always nice to save money, really cheap parts are bound to make everyone sad. Kilmer says to skip the cheap knockoffs in favor of quality parts to ensure everything fits and works right.
Otherwise, you could end up paying for the same service twice over when the low-quality parts fail.
This is especially true for electronics that are nearly always better OEM than aftermarket.
Your mechanic will use their experience to source the highest quality parts for the best price. They know what parts suppliers have the fewest problems and understand the fair cost for each item. You can trust them to get it right.
Take Your Time, I’m in no Hurry
Scotty helpfully points out that good mechanics are always up to their ears in cars to fix. Anyone willing to get to the back of the line may end up staying there for quite some time. So, even if you can wait several days for simple repairs, refrain from saying so.
Just let your auto tech balance their workload like normal and be flexible on when your car returns to you. Otherwise, you could end up waiting practically forever for your repairs.
Keep it Simple and Follow Scotty’s Tips
As long as you avoid these topics of conversation, you’re sure to have a nice chat with your mechanic. While you chat, don’t forget to bring up your Vehicle History before you head out the door. That way, your auto tech has all the info they need to complete the service at hand.
