GARAGES AND„ SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 123, 27 May 1930, Page 18

GARAGES AND„ SERVICE.

(All Rights Reserved.)

WHAT WE PAY OUT. THE FLAT-RATE SYSTEM. (By AUTOSCRIBE.) , The Americans, who don't mind paying, but always like to know exactly what everything will cost them, have perfected a flat-rate system of motor repairing, that appears to give pretty general satisfaction there. Probably, though, 'it works only in the larger centres, where the tremendous number of cars gives motor repairers the opportunity of keeping big staffs fully employed. Payment is made "by results, and where the repairs are not executed to the satisfaction of a client the mechanic making them is responsible for the further work needed without charge. Modifications of this system are working here and there in New Zealand, but conditions are so very different, our businesses so much smaller, and the number of cars relatively so many fewer, that it would

be impossible to introduce it in its entirety, no matter how desirable it might seem. Certainly the ideal is to know exactly what any given job will cost, but it is not always practicable. Flat-rate Work. Some of the larger city garages here have flat rates for work such as grinding in the valves,, replacing cylinder rings; etc., and clients are assured that these will be the maximum charges for the work. Agents for one particular car usually aim at servicing this car on lines of,this nature, and where they do so their relations with their clients are usually harmonious. Without a doubt it" is a payable proposition to have flat rates, and provided these are properly assessed they can be fair alike to the car owner- and the garage that does his work. There is room for an extension of the principle in New Zealand, even though it cannot be made universal,, for certain obvious reasons. Once again making the comparison with America, it may be pointed out that there one firm will employ a very large staff doing nothing but "service" one particular make of car. It would be almost impossible to run a similar business here, and in practice all garages service more than one make of car, and usually are only too glad to effect repairs to any make at all. Country garages with less plant are at a disadvantage, but even here it should be fairly easy to work out scale charges for some of the routine work. An Advance Quote. Personally I think garages should encourage owners to obtain a quote for their work in advance, it being understood that there is. to be reasonable elasticity in the price charged, due allowance being made for trouble discovered after the engine has been taken down. One of the most frequent causes of complaint as between motorist and garage is that the charge for an overhaul has been too great. In most cases both owner and garage are at fault; the owner, for not : ascertaining what needed doing, and the approximate charge, and the garage for not. explaining the nature of the repairs to him. ,The sensible and cheapest method of : having this work done is to go to your 'garage, explain what needs doing, and ,ask for a quote. They will know your car, and will have a fair idea as to whether the job is likely to be bigger ,'or smaller than you imagine, and they ican estimate fairly closely the actual 'cost. If they quote you £7 and ultiImately charge you £7 10/, having done ] extra work, you will ba quite satisfied. If yon haven't any idea as to what ; your repairs are going to cost, imagine fit will only be a pound or two, and !are then confronted with a bill for £7 10/, you will be dissatisfied. j Town and Country Charges. j Not very long ago I was travelling in the country, and met a motorist friend who had bad a breakdown, and had had to have fitted a new driving pinion and.crown, wheel. He, was complaining of the charges, .and saying that he could-have had it, done for £2 less in Wellington, A point city motorists often forget is that country, garages are not as well equipped as those in the town,' and that more actual labour is needed on the job. In the towns labour-saving devices save cost, and reduce, repair charges, Actually the eoun* try garage that • charged. £2 more than the city garage would have done might not actually be making as good a mar' gin of profit. There are certain minor items lor which no garage make* a heavy charge, but which, if neglected, will inevitably lead to trouble and expensive repairs. Many motorists can attend to ■ these things for themselves. For instance, wheel alignment should.be tested occasionally, brakes tightened, and the battery and lights given the needed attention. A few' 1 shillings will cover the.

cost of having this work done for you, and it is money well spent. Prevention is better than cure, as the old copybook platitude used to say, and the best spent money in motoring is that which is paid out for attention that will save • expensive repairs. The few shillings we spend in oil, and the few minutes we take to run over the car and seo that all essential parts have plenty of. oil, save those bearing, gear and differential troubles that are co3tly and troublesome. Several of the larger tyre manufacturers now maintain service stations in the main towns, specially equipped to handle their tyres. Of course they will repair all- makes, but when they sell their own they are looking to give you service. There is a definite advantage in getting your tyres at these places. In the first place they fit them carefully, and don't damage the edges, as is sometimes done when carelessness is exhibited in putting on new tyres for the first time, and in the second place they want you to be satisfied, and will not hesitate to replace a defective tyre. As a matter of fact, tyre service is a thing deserving of praise, and it is certainly more in the motorist's favour than in that of the manufacturer. Allowances are often made on tyres that have failed to stand up to service, partly through lack of pressure, the dealer being keener to have a satisfied client than his absolute pound of flesh. Careful choice of a garage is about the best insurance policy a motorist can give himself, for a good mechanic is worth his weight in gold. ,