The automotive repair industry has long faced challenges related to consumer trust. Many individuals rely on their vehicles daily, making them vulnerable to manipulation by repair shops that may not prioritize transparency. It is essential to recognize this reality, as it’s possible that you have encountered such experiences in the past.
However, it is crucial to understand that not all automotive service providers fit this negative stereotype. At Ottawa Easy Wheels Inc. (OEW), we strive to counteract the industry’s poor reputation by enhancing the way our mechanics communicate with customers. Modern vehicles are intricate and sophisticated machines, and the rapid evolution of technology by various manufacturers makes it challenging for consumers to keep pace. That’s where we come in.
To bridge this gap, OEW has partnered with a point-of-sale software called “Shop-Ware”, which empowers us to share our findings and recommendations with you through digital inspections via text and email. We take this a step further by providing personalized videos with each inspection, allowing our technicians to clearly explain their observations and recommendations. Our mission is to empower you to make informed decisions regarding your vehicle’s care.
While our commitment to transparency and communication is unwavering, we recognize that some customers are frustrated by the diagnostic fees we charge. You might feel that our mechanics should be able to diagnose issues based solely on the symptoms you describe or that the process of scanning for error codes is straightforward. However, the reality is that diagnosing vehicle issues involves a significant investment of time, expertise, and resources.
It comes down to the balance between running a profitable business and taking care of our customers. What we mean by this is that when a customer visits a shop, they are essentially paying for the mechanic’s time and expertise. Your mechanic should be trained and knowledgeable, and with this, he or she should be able to advise you on your vehicle. Vehicles are intricate, and multiple issues can produce similar symptoms. While skipping the diagnostic process could save money and time, often, it winds up backfiring. Skipping the diagnostic process is what we in the industry call “blasting the parts cannon” – a play on words referring to the general lack of precise aim when shooting a cannon in a particular direction. If a shop blasts your car with the parts cannon – you may have saved a diagnostic fee, but if the problem isn’t fixed, a shop will do one of two things: pay for their mistake or lie to their customer, both of which are terrible for business.
And this is why we charge a diagnostic fee. The plethora of makes, models and evolving technologies make it easy to misdiagnose something by making assumptions. Now understandably, you aren’t as attached to the health of Ottawa Easy Wheels, as a business, as we are. So how does a diagnostic fee benefit you?
Ottawa Easy Wheels is committed to standing behind our work. That means that if we diagnose an issue and make a mistake, we’ll see to it that you aren’t paying for that oversight. You chose to pay us for our time and knowledge, and we appreciate that very much. To thank you, we promise to always be honest and put our best our absolute best effort into caring for your car.