How Some Shops Find Customers to Rip Off

You know by now that there are shops that try to squeeze as much as they can from their customers. This is done in many different ways: by suggesting parts to be replaced or services to be performed, when these are not actually necessary; by charging their customers with fees for services that were not actually performed or parts that were not actually installed; and the list could go on and on.

Now, what are the tactics that some mechanics use in order to determine their victim or to know whether a customer can be ripped off?

1. They gauge whether the owner is knowledgeable or not. They know that those who don’t know anything about their car are easier targets, so they look for clues that will tell them whether the client has some knowledge about his car.

2. They look for information about the owner. Some information about the owner (whether he is a performance enthusiast, whether he is a family man, whether he is going on a long travel, or whether he is not from the area and is only passing by) are some things that certain shops look into in order to find some ways to rip off their client. For instance, if they know the customer is not from the area and might not come back after the service, then they see it as an opportunity for a rip-off—they can get away with it easily afterwards.

3. They take the time to feel their client. People who are intimidated by cars and by auto repairs give off some vibes and signals that serve as red flag for mechanics who are on the lookout for customers to rip off. It is because of this that you should feel confident about your car, and that can only happen if you familiarize yourself with it and with the problem.