Why does people think Certified Mechanics are Rip Offs?

Question

I have seen people bring a vehicle into the shop that was beyond repair, totally worn out, and shouldn't even be on the road, but yet the customer thought you were a rip off for not making it run like new! Some people even think certified mechanics are cocky, and don't have a clue about working on a car. I would just like to know what it takes to be a mechanic that would please everybody that comes into the shop? If you are unable to repair your vehicle yourself, and you don't have a geniuss in the family, then who do you turn to? Why can't people realize it takes years and a world of back breaking, nasty, hard labor, to be a certified mechanic, and to never get any respect for all the cars they do fix. Just the ones that want to be mechanics try to fix, and end up at a real mechanics shop. All mechanics are not rip off's!! A certified mechanic must pass a state exam, and do it every so often to keep his certification. Is this a rip off?

I would like to add some facts;
Fact: About 90% of all Certified Mechanics work at a dealership.
Fact: You never talk to them because you are not allowed in the shop, and you talk to a Service Manager.
Fact: One must be a mechanic to get certified, not the other way around.
Fact: A mechanic must get more schooling than any profession out there, to stay on top of his work. New vehicles come out each year, and a mechanic must get educated on them too.
Fact: NO ONE ask you to answer the question, and NO your aren't doing anyone any favors by making snide comments.
Fact: Parts Jockies at Auto Zone have to deal with nothing compared to being a shop owner, give me a break!
Fact: If one is told that much crap by a certified mechanic, one would have to be 200 years old to have encounted that many certified mechanics, or needs to do business with an independent. If one fixes their own stuff, then how is it possible to have that many bad encounters?

Answer 1

I posted a similar question recently. You should have a read of it. I think you would be very interested. But I do agree. It's not bad enough the hardship, a certified, licensed tech has to go through, along with the cost of tools, but the public perception and attitude that all techs are rip-offs. People are blind, plain and simple.

Answer 2

first off, alot of so called certified mechanics are cocky and are rip offs. You think that certified means you have the right to undermind everyone else, it gives you a professional opinion, where as other mechanics who are not certified have an experienced opinion. Not all cert. mechanics are bad people, But some are just total jerks and have some of the worst customer service out there. Also Not all non certified Mechanics are bad folks either. I guess its just a power thing. They have a paper saying they know what they are doing, well sorry but experience will always be better than a paper. Not that you don't have exp. And you can probably do alot that others can't. But , well you get the point.

Answer 3

I will give you an example of some of the stories i have been told by certified mechs. "Your truck is pulling to the right because its 4wd and a ford" are you sure "Yes it just needs to break in the new tires" When they say stupid stuff like that I always ask them to " write that down that has to be the dumbest **** i have ever heard" 'You cant put 16 wheels and tires on that v8 explorer because they will rub the motor" "Your tires are cupping because your shocks are bad" but i just replaced them are you sure its not the alignment " yes we are sure! you know we do this for a living" are you sure you checked all the front end ball joints and bushings? "Oh here's the problem you ball joints are shot. we can fix that for 500 dollars " So you charged me a professional fee for the alignment and never checked to see if a truck with 90000 miles and a cupping problem might need new ball joints ? I have so many of these stories it is not funny. This is why i fix my own stuff. Just because you went through school does not make you a mechanic!

Answer 4

i own a repair shop,and they think this because some of them are,i have seen and met a few of them that do take advantage of people because they think they wont know the difference,but in reality most people do ,but there are some good mechanics out there that have spent a lot of time learning what they know,,and there still under payed for what they do,i own my own shop,and i don't allow anyone who helps me or works for me to do this but it still happens at other shop,s,and this is why we get a bad reputation.but there are some really good mechanics out there just trying to make an honest living,you just have to prove your self these days,and this is how you over come the bad reputation,,good luck,i hope this help,s.

Answer 5

Ever worked in retail? Try selling auto parts some time and you and I could talk for hours about people who think they are being ripped off, think you don't know anything, blah blah blah. It's not just directed towards mechanics, it's just society in general anymore, and I won't fill up any more space expounding on that topic. We'd be here all year.

Answer 6

you will never make every one happy and for all ive seen no one remembers a 100 good things you have done,they only remember the one screw up,this is the same in a lot of different businesses.it is funny about people and car repairs though,they will spend thousands on a new toy ,but will say put in the cheapest brake parts,it's only my daughters car or iyts only my wifes car.
go figure

Answer 7

It is because many of them are rip-offs. This makes life difficult for even the honest ones.

Answer 8

No, not all mechancs are rip-offs...
Not all lawyers are rip-offs either..
But enough of them are to have formed
an accurate stereotype....