On the surface, a dealership service department seems to offer advantages that might not actually exist if you dig a little deeper. Presumably, specializing in a particular make of car would make a mechanic more of an expert for that vehicle, but many dealership customers never actually meet their mechanics. Which Melbourne FL mechanic is working on your car, and how experienced is he?
Most customers never learn the answers to these questions. A typical dealership service department has valets pick up and deliver the vehicles from the intake lane to the shop. The customer interacts with a customer service representative who is simply another salesperson, but one who sells vehicle services rather than new vehicles.
Dealership service departments boast of their training and certifications, but customers usually have no way of knowing who is working on their car and what his training is. It’s quite possible for a highly trained manager to supervise a shop with inexperienced mechanics and a high turnover rate. The dealership customer is usually unaware of conditions in the garage because you drop off your car in the intake lane, speak to a customer service representative at his or her desk and then sit in the waiting room until your car is returned to you.
Old school evaluation techniques are still very useful in choosing a mechanic, but only if you get to meet him. Always beware of a mechanic who won’t look you in the eye or answer direct questions. The pushy speed talker is easy to spot and avoid when you see him. The problem at a typical dealership service department is that your interaction is more likely to be with a customer service representative who is trained in sales rather than a mechanic who is trained in vehicle repairs.
At Cassels Garage in West Melbourne, Florida, the certifications you see on display belong to the mechanics you will also see. You will know his name, and he will learn yours. You will not be surprised by labor rates or maintenance schedules that suit their needs more than yours. Whether you need routine maintenance or major repairs, a trusted name on the Space Coast is Cassels Garage. Family owned and operated, Cassels Garage has been serving drivers in Brevard County since 1966.
