For those who fix cars daily and are responsible for keeping
America rolling, it’s disheartening to learn that not everyone has such an
allegiance. A recent Consumer Reports poll may have you shaking your head, or,
better yet, nodding in agreement on the amount of unperformed maintenance
that’s there for the taking.
According to the aforementioned poll, 40% of respondents who
are involved in repair decisions stated they are postponing car maintenance or
repairs on their primary vehicle.
Forty-four percent of those who deferred work in the past
year also admitted they felt the value, safety or reliability of the vehicle
would suffer, with some saying the car was becoming an embarrassment.
Those in lower-income households were more likely to delay
necessary work, and the youngest drivers, age 18 to 34 years, were more likely
to delay work on wear items, such as brake pads or tires.
Compounding the issue is the fact that drivers are
holding onto their “already aging” vehicles longer (the average age of vehicles
on the road today is nine years old). Many of the respondents bought their cars
used, and have owned them for five years, with the intent to hold on to that
vehicle for another five.
“The family car is the second largest purchase a consumer
can make. It’s also often one of the most abused,” said Jeff Bartlett, deputy
online automotive editor, Consumer Reports. “We expect our car to work even in
the harshest conditions. So protecting that investment should be a priority,
especially when it becomes a safety issue.”
According to the Consumer Reports’ poll, the types of
non-warranty work most commonly postponed were led by minor
manufacturer-recommended scheduled service (22%); wear items (17%); and body or
other exterior damage (15%).
Amidst all this vehicle neglect, there is a silver lining.
The report found that 83% of those involved in repair decisions said they were
confident they would get the right maintenance and repair work done for the
right price. And, even more good news — more than 50% said they completely
trust their technician. According to the survey, independent repair shops were
used more often (37%) than dealers (30%) or repair chains (11%).
So, what can you do to capitalize on this consumer mindset?
If they have the confidence and trust in independent repair
shops to get the work done, you just need to get them into your shop. Convince
them that making repairs now will head off larger repair tickets down the road.
Edu-cate them on the link between properly running systems and vehicle performance,
safety and longevity. And, lastly, let them know that it’s your job to have
their best interests in mind — a job you know how to do very well.
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