Why do car garages treat women so badly

[Boldernow]

Ok massive generalisation, but I’m currently waiting for my car to be checked and it’s yet again been such a frustrating and belittling experience. When my husband booked it they were super friendly to him, said it would take no time at all etc, I’ve arrived and dropped the car 2 hours ago, they wouldn’t give me a timeframe of when it would be done, spoke to me like I was an idiot, I just called them and they still haven’t looked at the car. It’s Halfords, this has happened to me at multiple locations so it’s not just one bad one. One time at another location I had an MOT booked, turned up and they said our MOT machine is broken so we can’t do it. By this time everywhere was booked up for MOTs for the next two weeks so I couldn’t get my car done before it ran out. I said to them, your machine has been broken for a week and you didn’t call your customers to let them know so they could book elsewhere? They didn’t even say the word sorry once. I just couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t have let me know earlier or even just that morning before I drove all the way there? Another time at a Farmers Autocare they massively overcharged me for work after an MOT - I was young and it was my first MOT so I think they took their chances, I realised in hindsight how I’d been taken for a massive fool, I had no money at the time so it was a massive blow, and to top it off they all hid in the office and sent out their apprentice to charge me the bill. I felt so humiliated and silly for not knowing better but didn’t feel like I could question it.

I would say I have only ever had 1 good experience at a car garage - Shout out to KJL Motors near Sawston, they were so kind, literally walked me under the car to show me exactly what was wrong with it before I agreed to the work, it was like a whole new world of being treated like a proper person as a customer, so I’ve never forgotten that standard of service that is possible.

Anyway, is it just me? Anyone else get this kind of treatment?

And if you’ve been somewhere in South Buckinghamshire that treated you well please let me know your recommendations!!

Sexism is the answer.

Luckily I have a great local garage.

I lived next door to the most lovely garage for a decade, when they finally shut up shop I got a list of who they trusted from them and go to the 'young lad who is just starting out but seems a nice lad' ---- 15 years on he's not such a young lad any more but is still lovely.

My first proper job after Uni was a service receptionist. It was tough. I had a lovely old school boss, but held my own with the mechanics. Learnt a lot, mostly that I will never do that job again, people are nasty when it comes to cars! But it did give me the confidence to understand the language and not be fobbed off or spoken to like I'm dumb. Fortunately I've been pretty lucky with local garages. One even oiled the wheels on my buggy when I'd dropped the car off for its service and he heard it squeaking when I handed in the keys!!

Could be the emissions tester or brake rollers or even a problem with the MOT ramp itself. “MOT machine” is probably all a customer needs to know though.

It might be a way away from you, but ATS in Dunstable are absolutely lovely. I always go to them if I have a choice (company car), even though it's a fair distance for me. They're respectful, patient and have done work for free if it's been something fixable in 5 minutes.

Halfords tried it on with my dil- told her a load of rubbish about how all her breaks needed replacing, disks and pads, and it would cost ££££ and how she was not to drive it did she want to kill her kids?
DS went to fetch her, took the car to the small local garage, small problem fixed there and then.

I think it's part of their training- to scare people into having as much work as possible done. That and old fashioned sexism.

A bit of knowledge helps- have an idea of what is wrong, and how much it should take to fix, then stand up for yourself. They try it on because they can.

Better still, ask round for recommendations and use a garage you trust. We use one run by a lad (well he's over 40 now😂) who went to the same school as our DC. He's very busy, a good reputation goes a long way!

I don’t think it’s only at garages… it’s men in general.

When I moved into my new house and had alot of tradesmen in they ALL treated me as if I was a stupid and clueless young blonde girl. It still happens when I have the odd one come to the house now.
There was one that even said ‘Do I get payment from your dad?’ NO ITS MY HOUSE AND MY MONEY!!
I’m probably more annoyed than recently as I had one in yesterday acting like a prick telling me to never ever go into the boiler cupboard. I’ve had my own houses for 15 years. Piss off baldy.

Halfords are notoriously shit in my area. I definitely wouldn’t use them.

My local ATS tyres and Kwik Fit are absolutely lovely though.

I've never had that problem, but then I've never taken my husband with me when I've bought a car!

As others have been criticising Halfords I feel I should put in a good word for them. My daughter went there a while ago for a minor problem (can't remember what) and they fixed it for her on the spot and didn't charge her anything.

Well, for anyone around the London/Kent border who has a VW, I recommend VGS in Keston. Petrol/diesel only, not electric. V nice people, v competent. In the middle of nowhere so they even collect and deliver back.

I use the same garage all the time for servicing and mots because they're not patronising, their workmanship is good and they're reasonably priced. They are based 4 miles from where I live. There is a garage 1/4 mile away from where I live but it is ran by guys who are patronising towards women. I once rang them to book the car in for new brake pads and some male on the other end of the 'phone asked in a condescending tone:
"How do you know it's the brake pads?"
I replied I'd been driving for a very long time and I know when the pads need replacing. I hung up and booked the car in elsewhere. I have zero tolerance of that type of crap!

Yes, I've often had garages assume I'm a brainless cunt. I'm a multiskilled engineer and more than know my way around a car. I quite like just letting them do it and then wiping the floor with them, tbh.

I've worked in the motor trade for most of my life. If it is any consolation, many workshops aren't brilliant to anyone man or woman. A lot of service advisors came by the way of the tools first and don't have great customer service training.

My background is in sales and actually ended up doing better than the salesmen who were pushy or only spoke to the woman. I found I got more repeat sales by encouraging people to go home and think if it was clear they were unsure. That often had them come back and buy the right car for them as well as recommending me to others.

Lols. I'm going to Halfords next week!!!

😡i know, apparently it was all in my head. The noise for weeks was in my head, the brakes failing was also in my head and I paid to get it fixed with imaginary money. The AA who knew instantly what the problem was despite it being so unusual and who capped it off and put some brake fluid so I could get it to the garage, must have just been pretending as well.

Hate it so much I usually get DH to sort out getting my car MOTd etc , which I guess perpetuates the problem but I'm just sick of it

No, it’s quite possible to change just one. Sometimes if others are low it’s worth doing them at the same time. Or sometimes they will swop front to back or give verses depending on front/rear wheel drive

Personal recommendation is what you need. My lovely mechanic (sole operator) in Melbourne was recommended by a female colleague because he is honest, does not overcharge and does not rip off women.

You do have to factor in chat time as he does like to talk about his life and the world. Which he can do in five languages. He is delightful and my DD and all her friends go to him.

Halfords tried it on with my dil- told her a load of rubbish about how all her breaks needed replacing, disks and pads, and it would cost ££££ and how she was not to drive it did she want to kill her kids?
DS went to fetch her, took the car to the small local garage, small problem fixed there and then.
I think it's part of their training- to scare people into having as much work as possible done. That and old fashioned sexism.

halfords did exactly the same thing to someone I know - word for word. @averylongtimeago

I have one that I take my car to for services, MOTs and repairs(he gets booked up really quickly though), got him from a personal recommendation from my sister who got him recommended by someone at work. Then one for tyres and brakes, who I have used for years. Both treat me like any other customer. I occasionally go to the Ford dealership as well as they tend to be quite good as well (and I can sometimes get a hire car).

Won't use Kwik Fit after they broke an old car, that I had to get the dealership to fix and Trading Standards involved.

Halfords near me is okay but it may just be luck.

Only ever had that happen at one garage when I was in my 20s when the garage owner tried to talk down to me and he instantly regretted it when I got technical with him about the repair job that they had messed up. He didn't expect me to know anything about cars and unfortunately for him I did thanks to my dear departed grandad. Amazing how quickly attitudes change when they realise you actually know a car does more than move.

As I say, a dual circuit brake system makes it impossible to lose all the fluid. Even if you cut one brake line you’ll only lose 50% of the system. Do you remember exactly what failed?

Good practice is to replace in axle pairs but you can only replace one if you chose although as a PP said it can damage some 4wd systems if the tread depths are significantly different. The best/new tyres should always go to the rear unless they’re staggered widths which make that impossible.

I’ve never had this to be honest. However I used to work in the industry, yes not calling customers when they can’t do mot’s is bad, but I’m assuming they didn’t just not call the female ones.

for time to complete most garages are poor at this, a lot depends on what they find when they get cars up on the ramps. I don’t think a lot of what you posted is due to you being female. I think it’s a mix of poor service in general and lack of understanding on how they work your side.

Ug I feel your pain.

I've now found a lovely mechanics, very close to my house. It's a bigger place connected to a dealer, where I bought my car 2nd hand, but they are so nice & easy to deal with.

Hope you find somewhere better.