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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here's a list of questions I get asked a lot, questions I've been asked once, questions people should be asking and maybe a few I just felt like answering.

  • Are you really a veteran?

  • Where did your logo idea come from?

  • Can't you just look at my car and tell me what's wrong for free?

  • Why don't you list prices for services on your website?

  • Your price quote was outrageous!  I could do it for much cheaper!  Why can't you?

  • Can you work on ____ car?

  • Why is my car making this sound?

  • You said you'd have my car fixed in 2 days and now you're saying 4 days, why?

  • Why didn't you answer my phone call?

  • I'm broke but I need my car fixed, can you help?

  • Do you work in inclement weather?

  • Do you offer discounts?

  • Are you licensed and insured?

  • I talked to you on the phone and you sounded rude, why?

  • That mechanic said this was wrong, you're saying nothing's wrong- who's right?

  • Do you offer inspections?

  • Why does your service truck look like that?

  • Can I just bring my car to you instead?​​

Are you really a veteran?

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Yes, I'm really a veteran.  Yes, I saw combat.  I served in the MD National Guard from 1999-2020.  I was deployed in Iraq from 2005-2006.  I left the military in 2020, much to my wife's delight.

What's up with your logo?

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The logo idea came from my wife.  She wanted to showcase our amazing dog Paramore, who passed in 2019.  She was my soul dog, always by my side, whether that was at home, on my travels or climbing out of the truck window and finding me in a grocery store.  

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Can't you just look at my car and tell me what's wrong for free?

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No, I can't, unfortunately.  My time is valuable, as is everyone's.  I have bills to pay as much as the next person.

Why don't you list prices for services on your website?  Why can't you give a more precise price quote on the phone?

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I don't list prices for my services because different cars require different parts, different oils, different tools, etc.  The price for brakes and an oil change on a 1998 Ford Bronco is much different than a 2026 BMW.  The time it takes to do this service on this car could be different than the same service on a different car.  I do not like to give price quotes without seeing the vehicle because there is no way to tell if there is something else wrong, if the car was previously misdiagnosed, etc.  

Your prices are outrageous, I could do it for cheaper!  Why can't you?

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Maybe you could do it for cheaper.  The mechanic down the street from you might be able to do it cheaper.  You're welcome to go to them instead.  My prices reflect my years of experience, my love of cars, my honesty and the convenience of having me come to you.  

Can you work on ___ car?

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That's hard to say without knowing the specifics about the problem.  Every mechanic has cars they prefer to work on and cars they really hate to work on and sometimes that depends on the year, the engine, the model, etc.  And sometimes, that depends on the weather, their mood, their wives mood, the money involved.   I'm up front and honest about the situation and if I feel I could successfully do the job.  

Why is my car making this sound?

 

Unfortunately, I can not accurately diagnose "this sound" over the phone.  There's no way to know if your sound replicating skills are accurate enough.  You could be making the sound of a transmission on lock down but in reality, the sound you're hearing is a pissed off oppossum under your hood.  I can give you my best guess, based on years and years of experience but that's still just a guess until I take a look myself.

You said you would have my car fixed in 2 days and now you're saying 4 days, why?

 

Unfortunately, life happens.  While I love my job, family comes first for me.  I do my best to plan around family schedules but sickness and unexpected things do happen.  I try my best to always relate this to customers in a timely manner.  The most common reason, however, is shipping/parts delays.  Because I do not own my own shop, I do not keep a stock of parts on hand.  If a shipment says "2 day delivery" and then gets delayed, I can't fix that, unfortunately.  Sometimes, we're all at the mercy of UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc.  

Why didn't you answer my phone call?

 

I apologize for not answering your call.  Like I said, family comes first for me.  I may be with my family, I may be in an area without reception or elbow deep in an engine, unable to reach my phone.  Trust me, my wife hates this, too.  I will do my best to answer your text/call/voicemail in a timely manner.  If I haven't returned your call in 24 hours, please, call/text again.  

I'm broke but I need my car fixed!  Can you help?

 

I'm sorry about your money troubles, I get it, we've all been there.  Unfortunately, I am not running a charity, I wish I could.  The best I can do is keep you informed of what work is mandatory to keep your car from being a safety hazard and what work you could put off until you're in a better financial position.  

Do you work in inclement weather?

 

Unfortunately, the best answer I can give is, "It depends".  Typically, I work in all conditions, baring any safety concerns but there are times it's too cold/rainy even for me.  This is one of those "situational" questions that can't be answered beforehand with any certainty.  

Do you offer discounts?

 

At this time, no.  However, I may run promotions on labor in the future.

Are you licensed and insured?

 

Yes, I am licensed and insured.

I talked to you on the phone and you sounded rude.  What gives?

 

My skills lie with cars, not conversations.  Perhaps I was working on something when I answered, perhaps I was dead-tired from the day, perhaps my son was in the middle of an hour long conversation involving sentences like, "What if we woke up and the cats were bigger than us and wanted to eat us?" or "Can I tell you about this thing I saw?"  Or, perhaps my wife was waiting on the other line, in the middle of "You said you'd be home at 4PM and it's 4:05PM!"  

The other mechanic said this was wrong, you're saying nothing's wrong.  Who's right?

 

Much like dentists or doctors, mechanics can disagree on both problems and solutions.  In my experience, some mechanics will tell you something "has" to be done when in reality, sure, it should be done but it can wait.  Or, some mechanics find that customers want to hear "this is the problem, I fixed it" instead of accepting, "that's just how this car is going to run, it's not perfect but it's good".  I pride myself on being honest.  I don't make up problems for money, I don't lie to get ahead.  If there's nothing wrong with your car that I can see, I will tell you that. 

Do you offer inspections?

 

I am not equipped to offer inspections, sorry.

Man, your service truck looks like shit, huh?

 

Yep.  Service trucks are expensive.  This truck serves it's purpose, gets me safely from point A to point B.  Would I love a better truck, sure.  But I'd rather my family have what they need first.  

Why can't I just drop my car off with you?

 

Right now, I do not have the space for a physical shop.  Maybe eventually.  This is something I offer for repeat customers if the car needs substantial work.  

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