How Online Reviews Can Help You Choose an Auto Body Shop
Stats show that 92% of today’s consumers read online reviews before making a purchase. So, it’s likely that before you buy a new microwaive or a washer and dryer set, you’ll be scouring the internet searching for what others have to say about the product. But do you do the same thing when choosing an auto body service provider? If not, you should.
Taking Stress and Emotion Out of the Equation
No one really prepares for a collision. It’s not like you left the house thinking “Hey, I might get into an accident today, so I should Google some local body shops before I head to work.” Auto Body Repair is an afterthought service. It’s something people only consider when they’re in a bind. This can make choosing a collision repair specialist a stressful and emotional process, especially when so many factors come in to play. With things like financial expense and time without a vehicle weighing on your mind, it can be hard to think clearly.
Because having a vehicle damaged can leave you in a stressed and vulnerable place, it’s easy to make hasty decisions. After all, you just want your car back on the road! In the place where focus shifts away from quality and becomes ruled by emotions, costly mistakes are made.
So how can you be sure that you’re making the right choice? Follow our advice: Don’t go at it alone!
Who Can You Trust?
In one of our first blog posts, we talked about how family and friend referrals or visiting a local shop can help you tell if you can trust your auto body shop. This is true. But often people find themselves in a situation where they don’t have anyone to turn to. Or maybe you’re in a situation where you have been given a referral but still aren’t sure if the referred shop is the right one for you. This is where reading online reviews can be extremely helpful.
There are a few of reasons why online reviews can be more valuable than family and referrals or even a visit to the shop, but most of them can be summed up in one reason: there’s truth in numbers.
There’s Truth in Numbers
Word of mouth is still the most common way auto body shops get new business, but many customers are now turning to the internet for advice instead of friends and family. One reason for this is the sheer amount of online reviews that can be found. Review sites like Google and Yelp can connect you with hundreds of customers who have been in your shoes. Now you not only have Uncle Joe’s opinion, but the opinion of an entire community.
Still, one of the number one reasons people shy away from online reviews is they don’t know if they can really be trusted. Is the guy “singing praises” about the dent work doing so from the shop office? Or could the negative Nancy complaining about the labor costs just be a cheapskate running down a great service? Both could be true. So, how do you tell the real from the fake?
Reading Reviews
The catch is to look for commonalities in these online reviews. What things are repeated over and over again? Do most of the reviews have a similar tone?
If there are twenty reviews saying the collision repair service is adequate but slow and you know you need your car back by the weekend, you might need to look elsewhere. If lots of reviewers have mentioned how speedy the tow service was, then that’s probably a strong point. Don’t take one review, good or bad, at face value. Instead, look for overall themes.
You might also consider the service’s overall score. Most review sites have a “star review system” that can help you get a good idea of the quality of service a shop provides. The “two star” shop might have a cheaper price on fender replacement, but will they use quality parts? Is it worth it to pay a little more at a five-star provider and know that you will walk away satisfied? These are all things reviews can help you consider.
At Orlando Auto Body, we strive to provide high quality service to every single customer that walks through our door. You can rest assured that we will treat your car as our own, using only factory OEM parts wherever possible, and giving you only the best customer care. Call us if you’re in a collision at (480) 844-4858.
