Women & Car Repairs – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

There is no such thing as low maintenance or high maintenance, just a bunch of women hoping for a capable mechanic.

Liz Vassey

Every woman who owns a car has been screwed at least once by an auto repair shop and we’ve all got war stories to tell. Auto repair shops salivate at the sight of a woman bringing her car in for work. It’s an opportunity to treat her like a complete idiot and rip her off legally because once she signs the work order and authorized the repairs, she’s doomed. This week a national Canadian car repair chain (I’d love to call them out by name but my mother is terrified that I’ll be sued and I don’t need to give her palpitations) tried to screw my friend Judy. Let me tell you that they started up with the wrong woman because Judy is a force to be reckoned with and as smart as they come. Here’s Judy’s story. It’s a perfect example of the bad and ugly.

I couldn’t fix your brakes so I made your horn louder.

Steven Wright

Judy’s car had a tip-to-toe inspection before coming off warranty back in May. The car checked out just fine but the dealer recommended that she have the transmission flushed and get a new battery before winter. Judy had the transmission flushed at the dealer and decided to purchase the battery from the Canadian chain because the warranty was better. Last week Judy brought the car into the Canadian chain to put her snow tires on and for the new battery. While she was waiting for her car she was told that her front shocks were leaking and the transmission fluid was very dirty and must be changed. It would take about 3 hours to do the additional work and Judy didn’t have the time to wait so she left but made an appointment to return; but something was nagging at her. Judy kept all of her car maintenance paperwork and she was more than astonished to see a receipt for the transmission flush in August (which she had done at the dealer). Now she was pissed! She immediately drove to the dealer and asked how often transmission fluid needed to be flushed. The answer was "every 90,000-100,000 kms." Judy showed the dealer the written estimate for the work proposed including the transmission flush. The Service Manager overheard and stepped in. He informed Judy that this is not unusual with this particular chain. They try to upsell, especially to a possible unknowing female. Typical garage bullshit! Try to screw the woman because you think she’s too stupid to figure out what you’re trying to do. Well, they didn’t put one over on Judy! Needless to say Judy cancelled her appointment with this unscrupulous garage and won’t be returning. Way to go Jude!

On the good side of auto repair shops, my dealer, Scarborough Toyota is absolutely amazing! I’ve been going there for 20 years and wouldn’t think of buying or servicing my car anywhere else. If at the end of the day I pay a little more at the dealership, it’s worth it because I’m never going to get screwed.

If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 MPG.

Bill Gates

Make someone smile today.

Geri