Shoutout to mechanics who've faced the diagnostic fee dilemma

A customer came in with a clear dead battery issue that took seconds to spot. My shop requires a fee for all checks, but charging for something so fast feels wrong. Where do you stand on billing for obvious, quick fixes?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jessica2d ago

See if your boss will let you have a 'courtesy check' list, right? Things like a dead battery, empty washer fluid, or a single burnt-out taillight get a quick look for free. It builds crazy good customer trust... they'll come back for the real jobs. Then you still charge the full fee for actual diagnostic time on tricky stuff. It keeps the shop money coming in but doesn't make people feel ripped off over a two-second find.

miles8341d ago

Our free tire pressure checks brought folks back every time.

jesse_barnes372d ago

Man, I used to be sure charging for every little look was the only way to run a shop. This idea totally changed my mind though, after I saw how it actually works in practice. Giving away those quick fixes makes people way more likely to trust you with serious repairs later. It feels fair, and they remember that when something big goes wrong. Maybe it's just me, but that good will is worth way more than a few bucks for checking a light.