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Auto service owners prefer independents.(Cars)(independent automobile service stations)
Many drivers wonder whether to take their cars to a dealership or to an independent shop for repairs and maintenance. Dealerships tout that they're specialists and trained specifically for a certain brand of car. But independents are generally less expensive. How to decide?
New information shows that independent shops generate a higher level of overall satisfaction than dealerships. According to a recent survey of car owners by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 71 percent of respondents who took their vehicle only to independent shops for repair service were very satisfied with their experience. This compares with just 53 percent who were very satisfied using new-car dealers for repairs.
While the overall gap in satisfaction between the two was 18 percentage points, it varies dramatically by auto brand. The difference for Infiniti and Lexus owners was eight percentage points. By contrast, Volkswagen owners preferred independents by a whopping 27 percentage points.
Among dealers, Acura and Lexus tended to generate the most satisfying repair experiences. Still, even those owners were happier with independent shops.At the other end of the scale, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi owners were much less satisfied with their dealers' repair service.
Respondents we followed up with cited better,more personal service from independents.
"When I first moved to the area, I went to the dealer and felt I was told I needed a lot of work that wasn't necessary," said Philip LaBella, of Stockerton, Pa., who participated in the survey. But when he drove his 2003 Jeep Liberty and 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue to a small shop, he said he was given advice such as, "This is what you need.Maybe you can wait on that."
Michael Burandt, of Cleveland, another survey respondent, says he has been unhappy taking his 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser to a dealership. "I think they charge a really high rate compared to other places." Burandt says he goes to independent shops but will make an exception and go to the dealership for recall or warranty work.
- The Great Migration: Sales traders flock to independent shops for greener...
- Magazine article from: Traders Ramage, James July 1, 2008 700+ words
...small- and mid-cap names-have gone to less expensive independent shops, and to sales traders with whom they've had long relationships...percent in 2007. The study anticipates the largest jump-6 percentage points-to occur in buyside orders sent to crossing networks...
- Those at independent shops get calls about USA Baby, too.
- Newspaper article from: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, OH) September 10, 2006 700+ words
...merchant retailers. The majority of items are products in the medium price range, he said. Providing product to both independent shops as well as mass-merchant retailers makes good business sense for manufacturers, said George Ivaldi, president of CNT...
- The Training Gap.(Independent Shops)
- Magazine article from: Fleet Maintenance June 1, 2008 700+ words
...performed at the fleets' shops; courtesy of major fleet arrangements with OEMs to serve as warranty repair facilities. The independent shops and parts distributors tend to focus on braking, suspension, and electrical work, such as wiring. Dealers were at one...
- BEZOS' SPEECH SPEAKS VOLUMES INDEPENDENT SHOPS FACE DEMISE, HE WARNS.(News)
- Newspaper article from: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Seattle, WA) June 2, 2000 700+ words
...America convention. But away from the podium, the picture changed. For reporters, Bezos predicted the demise of many independent shops as e-books become more technologically feasible and popular. In Bezos' estimation, that will be ``a gradual thing...
- Revive and beautify: They seek independent shops, restaurants.
- Newspaper article from: News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, IN) April 7, 2007 700+ words
...to have the same feel as Broad Ripple or Massachusetts Avenue in Indianapolis. Both feature an eclectic assortment of independent shops and restaurants. A series of workshops in February gave birth to some tentative designs for what the street could look...
- The Fountain Centre in Belfast is home to a number of unique, independent shops...
- Newspaper article from: Belfast Telegraph November 13, 2009 700+ words
The Fountain Centre in Belfast is home to a number of unique, independent shops and businesses. One long-standing shop is the family-owned gift shop Utopia which has been based in the city centre for over...
- Braking News.(Independent Shops)
- Magazine article from: Fleet Maintenance April 1, 2007 700+ words
Braking News By TIM KRAUS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HEAVY DUTY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION Stopping distance reduction to have major impact on brake maintenance The new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stopping distance reduction requirement goes into effect soon. It will have a
- Small, independent shops find a niche
- Magazine article from: Indianapolis Business Journal Beaven, Stephen March 18, 1996 700+ words
Jade Hubertz and Rick Wilkerson started Missing Link Records three years ago with big record collections, a mutual affinity for punk rock and psychedelia, and little experience running a small business. "We've made a lot of mistakes," Hubertz said. But "we didn't get hurt too bad on a lot of
