Nobody likes to confront things that they don’t know much about, and for most people, auto body repair falls into this category. This can lead to mistrust and a defensive attitude when entering into an auto body shop.

Follow these tips if you want to get the best customer service from an auto body shop:

1. Don’t assume you’re going to be taken for a ride. Unfortunately, going in with a bad attitude can lead to even worse customer service. Most auto body shops and repair technicians are honest and resent negative treatment from prospective customers. They’ll treat you the way that you are treating them.

2. Explain the problem as best as you can. In some cases, your auto body problem is obvious ? You’ve been rear-ended and your bumper has fallen off. But there are other times that the damage is less noticeable. Make sure that you let the body mechanic know all of the problems you’re having. If you don’t let them know, you can’t be disappointed when they don’t fix that part.

3. Be polite. Don’t talk down to your repair technician. He or she is a highly skilled professional. Always treat people with the same respect that you want to be treated with.

4. Ask questions when you don’t understand something. A simple miscommunication could lead you to feel as though you’ve received bad service. Make sure that you fully understand what they are going to do to your vehicle and don’t be afraid to question something that doesn’t’ feel right.

5. Understand what to expect. Your expectations play a key role in your satisfaction. For example, if you expected your car would be finished in 24 hours, and it took a week to finish, you’d be quite upset. Before you leave your car with an auto body repair shop, make sure that you understand the details. Know what they will fix and when they will fix it by.

6. Praise a job well done. Everyone likes to hear that they’ve done well. If you are please with the work that the auto body shop does on your car, let them know. Speak to a manager to let them know that the mechanic that worked on your car did well.

7. Tell your friends. If you enjoyed your experience with the auto body shop, let your friends know about it, especially when they need to find a good shop. Make sure that your friends tell the auto body shop that they heard about them from you. When you do this, the shop will remember you and treat you well when you come in the next time. You may even get a coupon or other discount.

Getting great customer service is a two way street. It’s important for both the customer and auto body shop to communicate well and treat each other with respect.