22/30 auto shops fail mystery "shopper" test

[DaleK]

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110408/w5-the-mechanic-110409/

Oops!

Saddest part... out of 22 shops that did unnecessary repairs, only 1 offered to refund the customer's money when contacted.

 

[sams]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

can I add it's pretty much the same in Australia

 

[nissan_crawler]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

I can't say I'm surprised. I bet those 8 shops are doing well, though.

 

[tdkkart]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

People wonder why entire industries get the reputations they do and why shows like Holmes on Holmes have to exist. This is exactly why. In most cases people and businesses get the exact reputation they deserve.

 

[Professur]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

The problem (imho) is ... uninformed clients. After all .. mechanics are only human. If some vapour headed dupe came your way in any job, offering you money to make their problems go away ... It's be really tough to go home to your 13" black and white TV, and to hear your kids complain that they're the only ones without a BlackBerry, or Nintendo DS on the school bus. Now if those clients didn't go out of their way to try a mechanic's moral strength, there'd be a lot less fraud.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

The problem (imho) is ... uninformed clients. After all .. mechanics are only human. If some vapour headed dupe came your way in any job, offering you money to make their problems go away ... It's be really tough to go home to your 13" black and white TV, and to hear your kids complain that they're the only ones without a BlackBerry, or Nintendo DS on the school bus. Now if those clients didn't go out of their way to try a mechanic's moral strength, there'd be a lot less fraud.

WTF! So, if you go to the doctor (I'm assuming you are not one) it's totally OK for him/her to recommend some un-needed surgery or drugs because you don't know any better? Right is right all the time, as is wrong is wrong.

 

[djjsr]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

The problem (imho) is ... uninformed clients.

Added to my top 10 list of the dumbest things I've read on this forum.

 

[weegaz22]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

WTF! So, if you go to the doctor (I'm assuming you are not one) it's totally OK for him/her to recommend some un-needed surgery or drugs because you don't know any better? Right is right all the time, as is wrong is wrong.

Bit of a bad analogy, Have you seen all the Drug/Pharma ads on Tv?, do you think your doc doesn't get a cut of the action when he prescribes one brand over another?

But i do get the point you are trying to make.

 

[Professur]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

It's called a joke people. humour .. maybe you've heard of it. *sigh* I thought the last line made it pretty obvious.

 

[djjsr]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

It's called a joke people. humour .. maybe you've heard of it.

Oops, sorry Prof.

 

[Professur]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

Oops, sorry Prof.

No blood, no foul.

 

[gtivr4]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

WTF! So, if you go to the doctor (I'm assuming you are not one) it's totally OK for him/her to recommend some un-needed surgery or drugs because you don't know any better? Right is right all the time, as is wrong is wrong.

Good analogy!

It is partially the client's fault in that they just say "whatever" to $500 bills, and don't double check with another mechanic.

Also, if people find an honest mechanic, they are usually smart enough to stick with them, which is worth more in the long run most of the time.

 

[gtivr4]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

Bit of a bad analogy, Have you seen all the Drug/Pharma ads on Tv?, do you think your doc doesn't get a cut of the action when he prescribes one brand over another?

But i do get the point you are trying to make.

So you think the doctor gets a little money in his pocket from the pharmaceutical companies if they prescribe ****** over another brand?

 

[marksd1]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

Bit of a bad analogy, Have you seen all the Drug/Pharma ads on Tv?, do you think your doc doesn't get a cut of the action when he prescribes one brand over another?

But i do get the point you are trying to make.

No, we do not. This kind of prejudice and ignorance is really not helpful. Big pharma should be ashamed of their obscene profits, just like big oil. But it is an extremely rare doctor who profits fom using one drug versus another. We don't get any 'bonus' for writing any prescription, much less one for a specific drug. To imply that an entire group of professionals that has dedicated their lives to easing human suffering is handing out drugs just to make a profit is something that you better come prepared to defend.
Dr.D

 

[Defender Chassis]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

Never went golfing with a pharm rep? Has one ever bought your staff lunch?

 

[Falcon67]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

Never went golfing with a pharm rep? Has one ever bought your staff lunch?

I've seen those pharm reps at the dr's office. I'd be big trouble with the missus if I had lunch with one.

 

[digdug18]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

does anyone know of a U.S. organization that does the same as the automotive protection association does in canada?

 

[tdkkart]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

It is unfortunate that the consumer has to educate themselves almost to the point of being able to do the work themselves, just so they can protect themselves from the lieing cheats we have out there.

Appliance repair, home repair and construction, car repair, buying a car, getting a mortgage, investing money, buying car insurance and life insurance, renting a house or apartment etc, all of these business have way more than their fair share of snakes
that will reach right in your pocket and outright steal from you.

Again, everyone gets the reputation they deserve.........

 

[56nash]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

That was a pretty low blow to the Dr. Yes the pharm reps throw a lot of marketing and promo money around, but my mother used to work for a single Dr. in private practice and I know for a fact that had it not been for the sample drugs given that many of his poor and elderly patients never would have been able to reap the benefits of those drugs due to cost. There were patients that used sample drugs for years until the drug was no longer on the sample program, then other avenues had to be pursued. I get lunches and other perks from reps as an engineer, but I will say it does not influence me into using one particular part over another. It does allow me to get a bunch of free development software etc. but it has never influenced my decision in the end. Doctors are not heartless money grubbing bastards, they work like all the rest of us and are being squeezed more and more each year by Medicare, Medicaid, and malpractice insurance. I know my wife's OB quite delivering babies because it saved her over $150K per year in insurance, and now she can sleep thru the night without getting called out to deliver a baby. The Dr. and dishonest mechanic analogy is offensive on so many levels.

 

[csp]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

Never went golfing with a pharm rep? Has one ever bought your staff lunch?

Not in my wife's practice. They won't even accept the pens and notepads from the reps.

 

[Train]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

I have a friend who just left his position as automotive manager at a Canadian Tire after one year. Now he has no background at all in automotives but they hired him because they thought he could manage people. Part of his job was to persuade customers to have work done on their vehicles. After one year he increased their business 10 percent. In a recession. They told him that they expected 50 percent. In a recession. He said that the only way that could happen is if he convinced people to have unnecessary work done, so he left the company.

 

[willy3486]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

As far as doctors goes most are above board. Yes there may be one or two flakes like Michael Jacksons doctor you hear about but there are probably hundreds who are dedicated and hardworking. 56 nash summed up what I have seen as well. A lot of those samples they get are saved and given to the patients who may not be able to afford the medicine. As far as DR.D goes he is probably like many I have known. Fine caring and people who are out there trying to make life a little better for everyone. Each year it gets harder and harder on them, regardless of how much cash flows in. A lot of it flows back out to college loans,insurance,buildings, and other stuff they need. One of the biggest costs goes to all the paperwork they have to have. You would be surprised at how much it eats up profit and how much it costs us. Yeah I have worked in the medical field. I worked in a corporate headquarters of those health care industries. A big part of the money goes to people in suits and ties who will never see or have a patient. Doctors have my respect, I wouldn't want to be one.

The problem here isn't with a profession its with morals of a person. I saw this same type of "ripoffs" in electronics repair shops. So many of those shops that scammed people made a lot of quick bucks. Many of the shops were just into the whole get rich quick and not into a lifetime profession. There was no pride in doing a quality job only about the quick turnover. That attitude is why I got out of the mom and pop type repair shops. I left the business front type and went into the big company and government type work. I worked on stuff on the side. I had so much side work that I finally got tired of it and quit altogether. I have worked in a electrical and plumbing and it was the same there. But I noticed in the plumbing and electrical place the guy was suppose to be a "moral" and "religious" person. But he still would take advantage of people because it was "business". I think its more of the moral issue or a attitude that the customer is a sucker and you have to stick it to him. One thing I have noticed as well. Many of the repair shops that do this type of scam will sometimes shut down after a few years then the person opens it up somewhere else.

 

[madstat]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

I've seen those pharm reps at the dr's office. I'd be big trouble with the missus if I had lunch with one.

I just did a google image search for "pharmaceutical sales representative", I think google thought I was searching for something else.

 

[jeffk14]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

No, we do not. This kind of prejudice and ignorance is really not helpful. Big pharma should be ashamed of their obscene profits, just like big oil. But it is an extremely rare doctor who profits fom using one drug versus another. We don't get any 'bonus' for writing any prescription, much less one for a specific drug. To imply that an entire group of professionals that has dedicated their lives to easing human suffering is handing out drugs just to make a profit is something that you better come prepared to defend.
Dr.D

I always wondered if docs got drug kickbacks. I kinda figured that there were/should be laws to prevent that type of thing. One analogy that does hold water is that just like mechanics, there are good and bad doctors.

I don't see what would make someone want to enter the medical field today. Exit college with $200K or more in student loans, work for free in internship, then finally go to work as a doc only to be regulated out of business.

 

[Greatbear]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

But I noticed in the plumbing and electrical place the guy was suppose to be a "moral" and "religious" person. But he still would take advantage of people because it was "business".

I have found more often than not if an individual openly claims to be "moral" and "religious" and wears it all on his sleeve they are pretty much guaranteed to be lowlifes. Look at any televangelist. They can get away with anything because they are "chosen" and "forgiven."

 

[dlenkewich]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

WTF! So, if you go to the doctor (I'm assuming you are not one) it's totally OK for him/her to recommend some un-needed surgery or drugs because you don't know any better? Right is right all the time, as is wrong is wrong.

Where have you been? There's been doctor scandals for years. And Dentists are starting to get known for selling unecissary dental work as well.

I always wondered if docs got drug kickbacks. I kinda figured that there were/should be laws to prevent that type of thing. One analogy that does hold water is that just like mechanics, there are good and bad doctors.

I don't see what would make someone want to enter the medical field today. Exit college with $200K or more in student loans, work for free in internship, then finally go to work as a doc only to be regulated out of business.

We were family friends with a Doctor, the stories of the BS he went through are amazing. I'm sure he did alright financially at the end of the day, but there were a lot of stories of being called in for surgery, only to get there to find another doctor already doing the surgery and they'd say "Sorry... You can go home now." No pay.

With the soaring costs of education, I don't even understand how most doctors manage to pay off their education. There's good reason to accept a kick-back from big Pharm companies.

 

[onewaydave]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

Bit of a bad analogy, Have you seen all the Drug/Pharma ads on Tv?, do you think your doc doesn't get a cut of the action when he prescribes one brand over another?

But i do get the point you are trying to make.

If I am reading what you are saying correctly. "Doctors" do not get anything from drug companies. Ads or no ads off TV. Some docs may scam off drug company give-aways but very few. It is monitored and reported as income. Some docs may over prescribe or over treat. They, docs that is, are human and succumb to temptation. Kinda like some tradesman do.

Dave, the doc disliking blanket statements as much as anybody else.

 

[rwhite692]

Some of these "consumer watchdog" things get a little ridiculous.

A small independent shop in Sacramento, one with a good local reputation, was the victim of these shenanigans.

They (the show producers) rigged a car by going up under the chassis and unplugging a portion of the wiring harness.

Then they take it in to the shop, and it took the shop a good 45 minutes of poking around to find out what was actually wrong, which is certainly not outrageous. Keep in mind this is just a small independent shop, not one with an infinite level of experience with every single vehicle that comes along.

Then the repair shop charged them for the minimum one-hour of shop labor, and for a new connector retainer clip (which the producers broke off/lost, when they pulled apart the harness).

Then the producers proceeded to make the shop out to be bad people because they A) charged money for their time, and B) charged them for the part, which they thought was not "necessary". Never mind that it holds the connector together, LOL.

They then grilled the shop owner as to how the connector could have come loose.

The shop owner said, "Well, sometimes you will run over a branch in the road, that could do it I suppose...other times I've seen kids get under vehicles and yank on things, I really can't say for sure..." And then they try to make it look like the shop owner is somehow being dishonest in his statement...

Crazy stuff...

 

[mad57]

There was a show on awhile back that was made to catch the shops who had been know to scam people not random shops, it was a station right off the turn pike and they were targeting motor homes and the elderly retired folks. they busted them doing a bad rear scam with metal shavings in the oil rag and every thing...but once again the show was called after numerous calls.

 

[Ohio Auto]

I was in the Dr. office not long ago and the pharm. rep was on the phone ordering pizza for the entire office for lunch.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I'd have to say that sadly I wish that over 25% of my profession was honest, competent and trustworthy. I know the professur made a joke but that is becoming a sad reality in my trade. With new regulations come smaller paychecks. With smaller paychecks comes more incentives to "generate" income. I'd say the number of honest, competent and trustworthy appraisers now working is probably somewhere in the 10-15% range in my area.

 

[Kev442]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

I have found more often than not if an individual openly claims to be "moral" and "religious" and wears it all on his sleeve they are pretty much guaranteed to be lowlifes. Look at any televangelist. They can get away with anything because they are "chosen" and "forgiven."

I think some people equate church every Sunday with having superior morals (a free pass). Sadly, I've found it isn't so. Biggest jerk I've ever known was a pious church goer. I'm kinda hoping being a two faced hypocrite hurts his chances upstairs, but then that hurts my chances upstairs.

 

[Tom2]

Some of these "consumer watchdog" things get a little ridiculous.

A small independent shop in Sacramento, one with a good local reputation, was the victim of these shenanigans.

They (the show producers) rigged a car by going up under the chassis and unplugging a portion of the wiring harness.

Then they take it in to the shop, and it took the shop a good 45 minutes of poking around to find out what was actually wrong, which is certainly not outrageous. Keep in mind this is just a small independent shop, not one with an infinite level of experience with every single vehicle that comes along.

Then the repair shop charged them for the minimum one-hour of shop labor, and for a new connector retainer clip (which the producers broke off/lost, when they pulled apart the harness).

Then the producers proceeded to make the shop out to be bad people because they A) charged money for their time, and B) charged them for the part, which they thought was not "necessary". Never mind that it holds the connector together, LOL.

They then grilled the shop owner as to how the connector could have come loose.

The shop owner said, "Well, sometimes you will run over a branch in the road, that could do it I suppose...other times I've seen kids get under vehicles and yank on things, I really can't say for sure..." And then they try to make it look like the shop owner is somehow being dishonest in his statement...

Crazy stuff...

Yea..I think that's part of what's going on as well.

Some people almost expect some level of charity from auto shops and contractors. But if you bring something in broke, they fix it, and charge you for it.. Unless it's crazy expensive - Nothing to complain about there..

Back to the original survey - You have to be able to say no to some shop offers. I mean, what's wrong with changing brakes, flushing someones fluid, and giving them new spark plugs? You're telling me that stuff is a bad idea? The customer agreed to have that done. Not sure how that makes the shop bad. Sounds like mostly regular maint, stuff to me.

But the bottom line is - before you have a car worked on you need to understand vehicles at least somewhat yourself, you need to do some research - or at least talk to someone - or bring someone with you who has at least a remedial knowledge of autos.

 

[GoFaster2]

Yea..I think that's part of what's going on as well.



Back to the original survey - You have to be able to say no to some shop offers. I mean, what's wrong with changing brakes, flushing someones fluid, and giving them new spark plugs? You're telling me that stuff is a bad idea? The customer agreed to have that done. Not sure how that makes the shop bad. Sounds like mostly regular maint, stuff to me.

NO that is a bad idea, the shop doesnt know if it needs to be done or if its been done. They recommended items that the manufactures dont even list changing. I can say that 9 out of 10 shops are scam artist, and Ford and Dodge dealers are the worst and I do this for a living everyday. Its getting worst to since most mechanics start at 20hr and go up to 30 hr.

 

[DaleK]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

I have found more often than not if an individual openly claims to be "moral" and "religious" and wears it all on his sleeve they are pretty much guaranteed to be lowlifes. Look at any televangelist. They can get away with anything because they are "chosen" and "forgiven."

Grandpa always said that when you do business with someone who makes a big deal of doing business with one hand on the bible, watch out for the other hand trying to pick your pocket.

 

[cyanidecotdpnuts]

I think everyone is deviating from the topic just a tiny bit, so I think I'll get it back on track and say that this blew my mind. Like I knew that there were some untrustworthy businesses out there but this really takes the lid off of things.

 

[radchad3]

I was in the Dr. office not long ago and the pharm. rep was on the phone ordering pizza for the entire office for lunch.

Pharm reps are allowed to provide lunch only if educational materials/seminars are being offered. Long gone are the days of golf outtings/pens/clocks/**** that are given by the drug companies. Commercials are directed at the consumer (which is ****) so that they can ask their doc about getting a med vs another med. I think the commercials should be banned. How can a company advertise for a product that isnt even available to the consumer directly!!! Might as well have a commercial for heroin! These companies spend $200 million on advertising a year when they should be spending it on lowering costs/research but that doesnt pay the suits!


Chad

 

[radchad3]

And sorry....I know I skewed off track!

 

[thomascreation]

I’m an automotive instructor with a fair amount of real world experience. I often have faculty members at my school call me to go over quotes for repairs to make sure things sound on the up and up. I couldn’t count the amount of times I’ve seen people get taken by shady repair shops. Quick lubes often take the brunt of it. One quick story: Had a friend that new enough about cars to know he didn’t like to work on them. One day he’s at a quick lube for an oil change and they ask him if he wants to do a trans flush, they proceed to show him his burnt trans fluid that is completely “brown” he gives the tech a blank look and tells him to take his hand off the end of the dip stick. Wouldn’t you know, the dip stick was for the engine oil and not the transmission. Not all of these places are shady, in fact I’ve worked at some extremely honest shops that often gave loyal customers free work when the repair was something small. It’s a shame that these people are out there……..

 

[jay50]

Re: 22/30 garages fail mystery "shopper" test

Not in my wife's practice. They won't even accept the pens and notepads from the reps.

No, but they would probably accept the free 4 day vacation trip.....