If you think mechanics are skilled in repairing cars? It’s your delulu, they are more skilled in capping you. Mechanics all over the world are trained to play with you, and Pakistan is no exception. Our mechanics are also well known to scam customers. Here’s an exclusive guide on the most common scams that a mechanic will try to do with you and how you can prevent them.
Using Copy Parts
Mechanics will give you parts and tell you that this is the company’s official and genuine part. Even more, the product seems legit when you see the packaging, but they are mostly non-genuine and just some high-quality copies of the original.
First, we never recommend using a non-genuine part in your engine; if it’s cosmetic, then it might be fine. But again, if you’re getting a counterfeit product for the price or original, it’s never fine. The easiest solution is to buy the parts on your own from your car manufacturer’s official 3s dealership.
Or, if your budget is low, we suggest going with third-party manufacturers, but at least buy original products, not copied products.
Insisting on Unnecessary Repairs
You just casually go to the oil change to the mechanic, but mechanics then start spotting multiple issues in your car and ask you to get it repaired right now before it becomes too late. Don’t worry—there’s likely nothing wrong with your car, and you’re not the only one who has heard this from them.
Basically, they need to earn money, and oil change labor is not enough, so they are likely to give a cap to you by telling you multiple repairs in your car that are not actually necessary. They play it so well that any expert can fall into their trap. Mechanics use it to create a sense of urgency and pressure customers into making immediate repairs by emphasizing potential future problems. It can also be described as “upselling” when they push for additional services based on exaggerated fears about the car’s condition.
Just ignore them and refuse them; don’t fall for this scam.
Fluid Flushing Scams
One common trick mechanics use is the unnecessary fluid flush scam. You go in for a routine service, and suddenly, the mechanic tells you your transmission fluid, brake fluid, or coolant needs an immediate flush. They make it sound urgent like your car might break down any second if you don’t act now.
The truth is, that most vehicles don’t need frequent fluid flushes unless specified by the manufacturer. In many cases, mechanics push these services to pad the bill, knowing most people won’t question it. To avoid getting ripped off, it’s best to check your owner’s manual for recommended maintenance intervals and stick to them.
Parts Swapping
You never know if this will happen or not. You might leave your car to a mechanic for a repair, and the mechanic performs the repair but swaps your other genuine parts with copies or non-genuine parts, and you might even know about it.
Unless your mechanic is very trusted, don’t leave your car in his garage, and always keep an eye on it during the repair so they can’t swap your genuine car parts with local non-genuine parts.
Bait and Switch
The bait and switch scam is a tactic commonly used by mechanics to lure customers with low service prices, only to inflate costs once the vehicle is in the shop. The promise of affordable maintenance or repairs initially attracts customers. However, once the vehicle is being worked on, the mechanic claims to have discovered additional problems that require immediate attention.
These issues are often exaggerated or completely fabricated to justify charging more than the advertised price. To avoid this, always ask for a detailed estimate before agreeing to any extra repairs and compare with multiple shops to verify the necessity and cost of the services.
