Willow Glen Auto Repair

The words almost seem to contradict themselves… meaning can an auto repair shop have a GOOD reputation? Well I certainly believe so! There are so many ways to check a shop’s reputation and the easiest is online. You can view reviews and comments on the web at your convenience. Just make sure that you also view who is reviewing or commenting and take into account their other reviews or comments on other businesses. This will allow you to see if they have a pattern in their reviews or a bias. In addition, one of the best reviews or opinions can come from a friend who has used the repair shop before and can attest to the shops performance and credibility. Remember, in all you hear and read take into account that everyone and every business has off days and people make mistakes! It’s how a shop handles those mistakes that is important and are they most concerned with the customer’s satisfaction. In addition to opinions, reviews and comments you can tell a lot about an auto ... read more

Choosing an auto repair shop in San Jose or anywhere can be daunting and we’ve been talking about how to choose the right one for you. We’ve handled price, location, reputation, recommendation and now we talk fit. Not does it fit your schedule or your foot, but does the shop’s personality fit yours. I work with a lot of clients and vendors in my line of work and sometimes our personalities crash, so one or both of us move on. Its not a bad thing it just is something that needs to happen. Everyone works more efficiently when there is a fit. The same can fall true when choosing an automotive repair shop. The personality of the shop is apparent from the service managers to the automotive technicians and the overall “look” and appearance of the shop. If someone or something doesn’t agree with you or turns you off, you might have a difficult time. It might work into a situation where it ruins or hinders trust or competence and that is not good for the shop or you. Overall, fit ... read more

Ok, so I know this may seem like an oxymoron. Like the two do not go, but that is further from the truth. Woman are in a need to know category. They know a ton about all the things they need to know, enough to make them dangerous! Woman HAVE to know something or a lot about almost everything in this world. They function in so many levels of society, moving quickly and discreetly from one responsibility to the next, often assuming the role of the ever present and ever focused. It’s a gift really an ability to function rationally an emotionally. OK, these are generalizations but you get the point. However, when it comes to auto repair we have to be aware of the stealth and knowledge. Woman make up an estimated 60% – 80% of the automotive customer base. That is huge. So in response we need to be considerate of them and their perceptions. Woman are concerned with the organization and cleanliness of a place and their customer service. While men are most concerned with the ... read more

In all of marketing right now you hear the term “Back to Basics” or “Back to School Basics” or something about narrowing down things to what you really “need” (need being relative). Automotive Repair can be one of those purchases that is difficult to determine what is really basic or necessary. There are so many confusing messages out there when it comes to Auto Repair and what is basic or common or needed and what is “fluff” or “up-sale” or “dishonest”. If you are like me, not a mechanic and dependent on what your mechanic or shop tells you, then this question is even more difficult to answer. I think a lot of it depends on trust and mutual respect. There is a balance between the shop owner/manager and customer that has to be present. This balance comes from the realization that you both need each other. You as the customer, more often than not, are not going to fix your own vehicle. The shop owner/manager needs you and your business to keep him IN business. I realize th ... read more

If you are at all like a lot of the men I know, you don’t see the need. If you are like the women I know you think no big deal I have AAA or some other roadside assistance program. I am here to tell you that a roadside emergency kit is imperative! I have AAA and many times I have needed to call them, however there have been multiple times when I have used my roadside kit and its contents instead. The question shouldn’t be, “Should I?” it should be “When I do what is best to have in it?” That being said, auto repair and maintenance is not something you WANT to do on the side of the road…… but you want to be safe when you are stuck on the side of the road. Thus the name “Emergency….. roadside kit”. So as the contents go, there are many opinions/suggestions on its contents. I am going to try and give you the basics plus some….. The basics in your kit should look something like this… Gloves, flares, rags, jumper cables, a lighter, a flash light and water. Now we a ... read more