4The Tar Heel Thursday, July 17, 1986
Display respect and interest to get better car servic
By OWIGHT MARTIN
Staff Writer
Like their counterparts in the
general population, many university
students have a strong disrespect for
auto service personnel.
According to a report issued by
UNC's Student Consumer Action
Union, this bias often causes students
to deal with mechanics in a less than
effective way.
But by using a little psychology or
displaying an "understanding,
respect, and interest in the mechanic,
his work," students can often receive
excellent results, according to
SCAU's "Automotive Repair
Guide."
"Most shops try to be fair and
honest," the report said. "Many
repair problems are simply the result
of misunderstandings between the
consumer and the mechanic." '
But the report warned, "Some
shops ... do not always have the
best intentions in mind." SCAU
recommends shopping around to
avoid unscrupulous mechanics.
The report provides information
on reputations of local automotive
repair shops. It recommends that
students consider factors like conven
ience, quality of work and mechan
ical specilities when choosing a place
to take your car.
- When a you find a good mechanic,
whether he works at a small specialty
shop, gas station or new car dealer,
stick with him. .
What you do when dropping your
car off for repairs is often crucial to
the satisfaction you receive after
picking it up, the report said.
SCAU recommends taking the
following actions:
Speak to the individual who is
going to perform the repairs; describe
the problems to that person.
Describe the nature of the
problems specifically.
Get a firm price quotation and
out
It's our way of welcoming you to our student
community of 2 bedroom, 2 bath furnished
apartments and townhomes. Enjoy a private tennis
court and swimming pool and share in the clubhouse
parties at Kensington. Use our shuttle bus to and from
campus. Give yourself room to relax by renting one of
our spacious apartments and we'll give you the 1st
month's rent free!
Call 968-0900 for details or come by the information
center at Kensington Trace.
!dfllls
a? HCensington Trace
Weaver Sairy Road ,
Bring this ad in for free cablovision hookup
estimated time of completion in
writing.
Specify your expectation of an
itemized list of parts and labor.
When you pick up your car review
the charges with the mechanic or
service manager, the SCAU report
said. Keep receipts for future
reference.
If you are dissatisfied "immediately
return to the shop and explain the
problem," the report said. "Most
reputable facilites will attempt to
work out a mutually agreeable
settlement."
If you and your mechanic are not
able to come to an agreement,
contact SCAU or Student Legal
Services.
The SCAU report lists information
on 32 shops in the Chapel Hill area.
Names of owners, hours of opera
tion, types of services performed,
terms of guarantees on labor and
parts and labor charges are provided.
Two surveys, one completed by the
businesses and another by customers,
provided the information.
SCAU is located in Suite B in the
Student Union. The telephone
number is 962-8313.
The information in "Automotive
Repair Guide" was obtained in 1984.
Current information may be
obtained by contacting SCAU.
h uUjjJj
'mum i mw g
An
Uncommon
Collection
f
Stores
O
UNIVERSITY
! Mall & Plaza
Wt'u dibipUtq &e taice &ap& H221
15-501 Bypass Estes Drive Chapel HII
ju LI)o
(294(5 feu- Go)yj)
Food prices rise, rents rise. A picture is
now worth 1262 words. Inflation seems to
be everywhere.
But Kinko's is changing all that. For 11
days in July, you can make copies at
Kinko's for just 2Vzi . So get your thoughts
on paper. Then get them copied at Kinko's.
mm
n7r n
1 (i lit
2Vit COPY SALE July 21-31
(812 x 1 1 white 20 auto-fed)
967-0790
114 W. Franklin Street