Is Your Shop Honest?
Being able to trust your shop is step 1 – here’s how to make sure you know you’ve found a good one.
Our vehicles are more than tools. They protect us from the elements, shuttle us around, and have their own character. For most of us, our vehicles are indispensable parts of our lives. However, in a moment our beloved automobiles can be transformed into a dented, scraped, and twisted piece of metal.
Finding a trustworthy auto body shop is not easy. Horror stories abound of shops taking advantage of folks who just need simple repairs after an accident, and no one wants to become a victim. If you’ve recently had the misfortune of experiencing an auto accident, here are a few ways to know whether or not you’ve found an honest auto body shop.
1. They Honour Their Estimates
It is important to shop around before selecting someone to work with. Get multiple estimates, and make sure you ask about the composition of the estimate. An honest shop should be able and willing to break down the numbers so you can understand exactly what you are paying for, while a dishonest shop will be vague and evasive.
2. They Will Put It in Writing
No honest business will ever hesitate to give you their promise in writing. A trustworthy shop will be happy to put their estimate in writing for you. If the shop won’t do this, it’s probably time to move on.
3. They Have Great Reviews
Besides the occasional angry Yelper who couldn’t have their totalled car restored to showroom condition, reviews will give you a good indication of what you can expect. Never rely on a single review, but you should be able to get a solid impression from reading many reviews. To get the most informed impression, check out a variety of sites including Yelp!, Angie’s List, AAA, and the BBB.
4. They Aren’t Afraid to Refer You Elsewhere
Here at Island Detail & Colour, we are experienced in semi-major body damage and collision repair, but we recognize that there are some jobs that we just can’t do. There are times when you will need to go to an ICBC auto body repair shop. We are committed to helping you find the smartest way forward with your repair to ensure that you get a spectacular result, even if that means referring you to one of our colleagues.
Read more about our small collision repair services right here.
5. They’ll Answer Your Questions
A trustworthy shop will immediately understand how much your car means to you, so no respectable shop will balk at any question – no matter how simple it may seem. You shouldn’t feel discouraged from asking anything of the representatives or technicians, and they should be happy to answer your questions. If you feel like you are being ignored, it may be time to look elsewhere.
Don’t despair if your vehicle has been destroyed in an accident. An honest shop will examine the damage and advise you how best to proceed. Don’t hesitate to give us a shout, we look forward to your questions.