Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Currently Watching Wall Street see related Here's a rant for you: I think the most obsolete and lagging industry that no one ever seems to talk about is the auto mechanic industry. Has anyone ever had good service by going to these guys, unless you're paying an arm-and-a-leg to go through the auto dealer's servicepeople. I once had to wait an entire day just to get my oil changed. This is why I started changing my own oil and spark plugs etc. myself. I believe that certification by the National Inst. for Automotive Service Excellence is entirely voluntary. So, you don't even have to be certified to work. Now, imagine a medical doctor that practices without being licensed. Would that be cool with the government? In addition, one can choose different specializations within that ASE certification i.e. brake systems, engine repair etc. I highly doubt that when I bring my car into the shop and there's a problem with something, they're saying "Joe, we're having a problem with the suspension on this car, we better bring in the suspension specialist." Right now, I believe that mechanics get a commission related to the labor charged to the customers. So, these guys have an incentive to give you a higher quote and also to delay their work. Mechanics need to be technicians. They need to learn how to use computers more in their work. It's already tough enough with cars because they use on-board computers, but imagine how it's going to be when hybrid, or fuel-celled cars become really popular. There definitely needs to be some government oversight in this industry or conditions on the road are gonna get worse.