ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 38

Dollars and trust
Elvis Hoffpauir

R

eporting the results of a new survey, AAA issued a release noting that "64 million American
drivers would not be able to pay for an unexpected vehicle repair without going into debt."
The organization says: "Because some repairs are unavoidable, and the average repair bill
is between $500 and $600, AAA urges drivers to save at least $50 a month for unforeseen expenses,
and identify a trusted repair facility before trouble strikes."
AAA suggests "that some drivers may underestimate the full cost of owning and operating a
vehicle," citing the average cost at more than $8,500 a year (with nearly $800 allotted to vehicle
maintenance and repair).
According to the release, "Although an
average repair bill can set a driver back up
...One-in-three U.S. drivers
to $600, the cost can soar higher when a
vehicle has been poorly maintained. A precannot pay for an unexpected
vious AAA survey found that one-third of
car repair bill
U.S. drivers skip or delay recommended
service or repairs, which increases the likelihood of unexpected mechanical failures
and leaves a vehicle more vulnerable to roadside breakdown. In 2016 alone, AAA responded to
nearly 32 million stranded motorists."
John Nielsen, AAA's managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair has this message for motorists: "Anticipating your vehicle's needs before problems strike is important. While it
may seem that skipping maintenance and repairs can save money in the short term, staying on top
of car care can save drivers hundreds of dollars in the long run."

"

In its release, suggestions AAA offered include:
* Follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule to avoid roadside trouble.
* Identify a repair shop you trust. A recent AAA survey found that one-third of U.S.
drivers have yet to find a trusted repair facility.

Advertiser Index
1-800-Radiator & A/C............................2
ACDelco ....................................... 19, 21
BVA Inc. ............................................. 32
Chemours .......................................... 15
CPS Products ...................................... 29
Dealer Automotive .............................. 10
DENSO .............................................. 25
Four Seasons ...................................... 40
Global Parts Distributors ..................... 23
Honeywell ...........................................9
Johnson ............................................. 30
Kysor ................................................. 31
Liland ................................................ 14
Mahle Service Solutions ........................7
MEI Corporation ...................................6
Omega .............................................. 27
Red Dot ............................................ 13
Ritchie Engineering ............................ 39
Robinair ............................................ 17
Santech ............................................. 36
Schrader ..............................................8
Stride Tool ......................................... 35
Tracer Products. ................................. 34
Trans/Air Mfg. .................................... 33

This release provides some insight for shop owners in dealing with their customers. For instance, a customer's reluctance to have repairs performed may be purely economic, and under
certain circumstances, perhaps options can be explored.
The article also makes a strong case for preventive maintenance, a good message to convey to
your customers.
And last but not least, the organization noted that one-third of U.S. drivers have yet to find a
trusted repair facility.
This latter suggests that it would behoove shop owners to make every effort to cultivate trust
with their current customers, and also get the message out through advertising, social media, wordof-mouth and every other conceivable channel that their shops are worthy of the motoring public's
trust. ❆

Elvis Hoffpauir,
Editor-in-Chief
You can reach Elvis at
elvis@macsw.org

38

ACTION * May 2017

TSI Inc./SuperCool ................................3
Tubes 'n Hoses ................................... 37
TYC Genera ........................................ 11
Universal Air Conditioner ......................5

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ACtion Magazine - May 2017

Outlook
Service Port
Leonard's Law
Virtual View
Cooling Corner
Member Profile
Global Service Horizons
Industry News
Association News
New Products and Services
Last Watch
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Cover1
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Cover2
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 3
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 4
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 5
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Outlook
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 7
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Service Port
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 9
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Leonard's Law
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 11
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Virtual View
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 13
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Cooling Corner
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 15
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Member Profile
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 17
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Global Service Horizons
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 19
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 20
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 21
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ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Industry News
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ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Association News
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 35
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - New Products and Services
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - 37
ACtion Magazine - May 2017 - Last Watch
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