For decades, franchise auto dealerships and independent repair shops have competed for the repair work of local automobile owners. It is evident that each have their own advantages and disadvantages, which often leads to uncertainty for car owners trying to decide where to get their vehicles serviced. Our goal with this article is to recognize this, and give our readers a tool for making the best choice for themselves.
As vehicles continue to advance and computer technology becomes more and more prevalent when it comes to auto repair in Lehigh Valley, franchise dealerships can often be your best choice for service and repair on more recent makes and models. But training and certification are of equal or even greater importance.
Training and Certification Matter Too
To meet manufacture requirements, franchise dealerships must provide certain training to all mechanics and must purchase specific equipment to be used on the brand of cars their dealership sells. Also, mechanics at franchise dealerships tend to work on a smaller variety of car makes, allowing them to potentially become more specialized on your particular vehicle’s model. According to Tom Torbjornsen of AOL Autos, “Dealers also have access to proprietary information, usually one (1) year’s worth of information on new vehicles they sell and service. This means that no one else can access this information, which is often necessary for diagnosis and repair.”
“Customers should check if the repair shop has a blue seal of excellence (offered by Automotive Service Excellence Organization).”
There are a number of industry certifications an independent repair shop can obtain to show they are up to date with training and certain other requirements. As recommended by an article written by Alina Tugend of The New York Times, “Customers should check if the repair shop has a blue seal of excellence (offered by Automotive Service Excellence Organization) — about 400,000 mechanics nationwide do.” Other notable certifying bodies include NAPA Autocare, Triple-A and PPG Certification.
A Practical Tool for Choosing Between Dealership and Independent Repair Shops
You can spend hours or days researching dealerships and garages online, getting quotes and estimates before you make an appointment. One hassle you will find is that you must repeatedly give each service provider the same information about your budget and repair needs. Of course we would like to see everyone bring us his or her vehicle for repair but we recognize that this must be in the best interest or value for you.
Vinart has recently become a member of the site AutoConverse.com which offers vehicle owners a free and easy way to help you make the best choice for your next vehicle repair, while also giving us a chance to earn your business.
“The best part is, by using the site, you do not have to provide your personal contact information such as name, phone, and email…”
AutoConverse.com features a marketplace system similar to Craigslist.org that gives users the ability to connect with dealers and mechanics throughout your local area. By visiting the Allentown/Lehigh Valley market on the site you can register to make a repair request that will send out an email alert to participating dealers and repair shops in the Allentown-Lehigh Valley area giving each of us a chance to consider your request and earn your business. The best part is, by using the site, you do not have to provide your personal contact information such as name, phone, and email, because all correspondence is handled on the site. Only once you choose which dealership or repair shop to take your business will you need to provide this information.
So if you want to shop around while giving us a chance, then make your repair request today. Of course, if we have already earned your business then take a moment to schedule a service appointment today from our website. And thanks for giving us a chance.