When a car needs to be repaired, usually the first feeling the owner of the vehicle experiences is anxiety. This anxiety has multiple compounding factors. For one, a car in need of repairs is likely not one that is especially safe to drive at that moment. Secondly, car repairs can get very expensive very quickly. The financial implications of car repairs make it the kind of service that some people actively avoid for fear of not being able to afford it, thus endangering them further.
If you’ve been thinking about a career as a service advisor, there are some things that are important to know about how car repairs are priced, which in turn can help keep customers happy and not overburdened financially. Read on to learn more.
1. An Automotive Service Advisor Knows That Parts and Labour Are Involved
The first thing a service advisor needs to know about how car repairs are priced is that the full quote is usually dependent on multiple factors. First, the parts that need to be ordered and installed into the car will be included into the cost of the repair. Second, the physical labour that is required from auto mechanics to actually repair the car is considered as well. There may also be overhead costs (the cost to use some equipment in the service garage) that need to be factored in too. As a direct result, quotes may seem expensive at first, but once broken down into each different component, they begin to make much more sense.
2. Pros With Service Advisor Training Know You Can Find a Way to Fit Budgets
Students looking at a career as an automotive service advisor know that every client will come in with a different budget and different abilities to pay for repairs up front. There are ways to alter a quote to make it easier for these clients to afford it. This can take the shape of a payment plan, using less-expensive or re-purposed parts from older vehicles, or breaking up the work into multiple different appointments. Most importantly, service advisors can find ways to strip the quote of any unnecessary components so that the total is as affordable as possible. Doing so proves that you’re willing to work with the client and are interested in their wellbeing and safety.
3. Consistency is Crucial When Quoting the Cost of Repairs
In order to keep customers satisfied and coming back, quotes for the same type of work need to be consistent over time. While changes in the cost of parts are understandable, drastically cutting or increasing prices will make customers uneasy because it isn’t what they are used to. For students in the middle of service advisor training, it is important to know that car repairs are always priced in such a way that ensures the customer is safe and gets the repairs they need, but that they can also afford it. Consistency with quotes is a sure-fire way to ensure this. As long as the price and service are always similar in terms of quality, they’ll keep coming back.
Are you thinking about receiving service advisor training in Canada?
Visit Careers for the Automotive and Transportation Industries for more information or to speak with an advisor!
