---------------------------------------------------

$12 Oil Change? Free Tire Rotation? Free Vehicle
Diagnosis?

With all of these "great deals" and endless claims like "why
pay more?" many auto service customers seek price first.
But, does quality and service suffer in order to meet these
rock -bottom prices?

Consider that robot sitting in your driveway, yes, the
technology that is in your car makes it a robot in every
sense of the word. What does it really take to keep it
properly serviced these days? Is it really the promise of a
possible great deal that is the most important thing or
should today's vehicle owner be looking at this issue a lot
closer? The last few decades, have seen vehicles change
drastically because of the on-board computers, and the
implementation of vehicle robotics and telematics. Likewise
so have the tools that are necessary to analyze and help
repair them. Every shop owner "should" be purchasing these
tools and "should" be investing in continuing technician
education to operate them.

DID YOU KNOW? Last year, less than 5% of auto technicians
attended sufficient continuing education and many
technicians have attended none at all in the last several
years.

DID YOU KNOW? The only way to service any of today's cars
completely is with the factory tool specific to its
manufacturer? Many shop owners try to avoid the added
expense of continued training for their techs for two
reasons: the training is costly, and a better trained tech
deserves higher pay. Many shop owners attempt to rely on
only one aftermarket scan tool. These are business practices
that will ultimately lead to the shop failing, because they
won't be trained and equipped to keep pace with today's
cars.

The one shop that has taken the road less traveled, and has
been investing in training and factory tools for all of
Beaver County drivers since they opened their doors over ten
years ago, is Gillespie's Auto Service- Gillespie's is the
only independent repair shop in the Tri-state area staying
up-to-date with factory-level diagnostic equipment for 95%
of the vehicles on the road.

Owner John Gillespie is an ASE certified Master Technician
who not only continues his own education, he is a Car Quest
Technical Institute Instructor. When he is not in his own
shop, John teaches continuing education courses for
professional auto technicians around the country "Sadly, too
many auto repair shops are too busy playing to the idea that
the commodities are worth more than the abilities and
talents of their technicians," says Gillespie. "It does not
matter how cheap someone claims to be if they are not
equipped and trained to service your car completely and
correctly. We realize price is important, so we work hard to
ensure our competitiveness in the marketplace- without
sacrificing any quality know-how."

What I like about it is they know me by name and they realise I buy my vehicals from them.I can watch them like a hawk and they relise that I do.I stand over there shoulder to make sure the new oil is exactly on the full mark.I stand back and get on my knees to watch the oil filter replacment.If I had to wait in a waiting room I would do it my self.But they realise I am keeping my eye on them and will not be afraid to Call them on something not done right.

I only trust my vehicals to a dealership.I avoid the privatly owned places.I also stick to this same dealership for my vehical buying and repairs and maintanance.There is a earned trust both ways I feel?They realise I am a good customer and they want to keep my business.Works out well for me.

I would not trust the grease monkey doing a $12.00 special.Because he could not be making enough money to care about me or my car.I wonder about people who get there oil changed at Walmart and Kmart from a kid making $8.00 per hour if he is lucky.

There is no offer in that for cheap work.. It did not work for you if I have to explain that.

It is a smaller 3 bay drive over open pit shop.They only change oil,filters,rotate tires,replace batteries in this shop.They do no diognostics except test battery and coolant condition.They are not mechanics they do not trouble shoot.They do not make much money and they our young.

But they our clean cut kids that stick around and honestly work hard and deserve every cent they make.They have some expirence and are doing the kind of work they want to do.They work full time and not after High shcool gets out for the day.They are in a uniform and no chains or pierced body parts.There not there because it pays 50 cents more then the burger joint.

Maybe thing are different in your area?But thats the difference between Walmart Kmart Jiffy Lube etc and the Quick lube at the local dealership in my area.Maybe I am a ''jerkface''?But I prefere to trust the guy removing and tightening my oil plug and tightening my lug nuts.