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Wasting Your Money
Huge lists of expensive repair upsells that are not all urgent, cost effective or necessary
Inaccurate final invoices that are not reflective of what you authorized
Not taking accountability for the vehicle damage they cause or mistakes they make
Wasting Your Time
Improperly written repair orders that lead to misdiagnosis and mistakes
Vague descriptions of vehicle issues at drop-off lead to misunderstandings
Lack of communication forces you to call often to get vehicle status or updates
Causing Frustration
Service Advisors not auditing technicians recommended repair reports for accuracy
Sloppy mistakes created by short-staffing on the service drive and in the shop
They quote one price over the phone and give you a different price in person.
In our opinion it’s no coincidence. In the post-Covid era of rampant short-staffing no one has the time to audit or question technicians repair reports as much as they should
There seems to be a nation-wide perception of mistrust at the dealership level which has lead to the majority of customers taking their cars to independent shops. In 2023 almost 2/3rds of owners serviced their cars outside of the dealer network.
Consumers have seen the dealer service industry make huge record profits since 2021 yet they have resorted to short-staffing and aggressive expense cutting across the board.
Unfortunately there are no nationally posted statistics on independent shops, however please see our Dealer vs Independent menu for a more balanced comparison between the two.
The above stats are available on the NADA website.
Through 32-years of working in and running dealer service departments, I have witnessed firsthand the frustrating and negative experiences customers face when servicing their vehicles, dealing with repairs, or navigating insurance claims. The industry seemed more focused on maximizing profit than truly serving their customers. In the wake of post-Covid challenges like staff shortages, cutting expenses, and declining customer service, I knew there just had to be a better way.
I reached a defining moment in my career when a long-time customer told me, “You should stop working for an industry that makes you lower your standards!” After hearing this I had to choose: either stay in an industry that seemed disinterested in prioritizing honesty and customer care, or walk away and stand for something better. I founded Auto Service Advocates because I wanted to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. With your help we have the power to change the industry.”
We know the industry & we know the types of mistakes they make. Whether it’s over-promising, under-delivering or over-charging we empower you with actionable insider information.
You are set up for success from the start with a detailed pre-drop off strategy call. We gather all the necessary vehicle data to create a written action plan to achieve the best results possible.
We pre-write detailed notes before drop off & ensure they end up on the work order. This prevents mistakes and miscommunication. We then audit for accuracy & reasonableness of charges.
We ensure accountability by auditing all documentation including the work order & all repair recommendations. We audit the final invoice before you pick up to ensure it’s accurate and reflects only what you authorized.
Our process limits mistakes by utilizing trackable communication. This protects you should any misunderstandings arise later & cuts down on wasted time when both parties remember the same event differently.
Our expert guidance on warranty coverage issues alleviates the frustration from a process that sometimes lacks transparency. We also help hold warranty companies accountable to their contracts.
Before pick up, we have a final phone review of everything that was done to your vehicle & discuss any questions you may have. Together, we review the final invoice to make sure there are no surprises when you arrive.
We follow-up three days after you pick up your car to gather feedback on your repair shop experience. We are also available to assist with any issue resolution should you run into any problems after pick up.
At Auto Service Advocates we are confident in our service & offer 100% satisfaction or a full refund*
* All refund requests must be made within 10 days of original transaction date.
Disclaimer: Auto Service Advocates acts in an advisory role only when you bring your car to a shop for service or repair. We are unable to speak directly on your behalf to employees of repair shops, dealerships, body shops or insurance companies. We are here to help navigate you through the auto repair process. Our system of checks-and-balances was designed to protect customers and add layers of accountability in an advisory capacity only. Our process can help you achieve the best results possible. We have no way to guarantee outcomes. We have no way to predict when a part will or will not fail, or when a vehicle may or may not break down. We rely on our years of experience and expertise to advise you on how to make informed decisions, ask the right questions, protect your interests, and decide on the best course of action based on the circumstances and information available.
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