In my time on this Earth, I am frequently blown away by the patterns repeating all around us. For example: the striking similarity between shopping for auto repair quotes and dating.
I’m a guy, and by social default that means I have to go out into the world and locate a mate. Where do I go? What do I say when I find someone? How do I make it to the next level… all these questions and more are what fill men’s heads every time they stroll out with their faces shaved and their hair nicely tweaked. It’s also a very similar variation to what business owners go through when they open a car repair shop. Where do I go to get customers? What do I say when they come in? How do I convince them to buy? See the pattern?
There is also another rule in the dating game: nice guys finish last. Or another variation: chicks dig jerks.
Why is it you’ll always see the most attractive women hanging on the arms of men you know are treating them horribly? It’s because the jerks don’t care and will say anything to get her in bed.
So how is this like trying to get auto repair quotes?
Auto Repair Quotes Dating Tip #1: Notice The Geek Next Door
When someone calls a auto repair shop looking for estimates, the person on the other end of the phone will undoubtedly tell him just about anything he needs to hear in order to get him through the front door. It’s their job. They’re in business to make money.
Just like being hit on at a bar, you’ll hear every variation on every sort of pick up line possible. Do they work? Yes! Why do you think auto repair scams are so prevalent and jerks get lots of dates?
What do you do about it? Stop falling for jerks. You already know they’re going to tell you what you need or want to hear, but does that mean you have to go to bed with them? Not at all. The trick here is to come up with some qualifying questions so that when they start the pitch, you can start the qualification process. This is also known as ‘look but don’t touch.’
Frequently, just like the computer geek you should be with who just doesn’t seem to have all the sex appeal of the tattoo artist, so are the auto repair shops who tell you exactly what you need to hear. The geek may not know how to present himself, but when you look at the big picture, wouldn’t you rather be with someone who will treat you like a queen?
There are ways of finding shops that won’t treat you like a piece of meat.
Auto Repair Quotes Dating Tip #2: Will You Still Respect Me In The Morning?
Of course I will Sharon… or was it Susan… Stephanie? Whatever. You mind if I leave my jeans on your couch so I know where they are when I bolt out of here in 10 minutes?
If you’re not qualifying these shop guys before you walk through the front door, you’ll be in a world of hurt. Just like the “hit em and quit em” boys in the bar scene, unscrupulous mechanics will be your best friend right up to the moment they pop you with a $2,500 repair bill on what should have been a $25 oil change.
Why do they do this? Because they think they can. It’s a known fact auto repairs have become highly technical and complex. You may not know exactly how to fix your car, but why should that stop you from asking the right questions? Not asking the right questions in the shop has the same result as breakfast the next day with your girlfriends when you get to tell them, “He seemed so nice; he was really interested in everything I had to say. I don’t know what went wrong.”
What went wrong was that you fell for a jerk. Not entirely your fault, hope can sometimes be a killer. Always have hope, but temper it with wisdom. You can tame the jerks, fight them off, and cut your way to the good guys. But when you’re shopping for car repair estimates, you better ask the right questions. If not you may wake up in a sleazy motel room somewhere in Mexico, missing a kidney and handcuffed to a bed.
