I’ve got my fingers crossed that getting my car’s battery replaced doesn’t turn into anything bigger and more expensive. There’s always that potential, but hey, maybe this could be one of those fabled cheap visits to the mechanic. 🤞
@dandycat Sadly this is true, the old “while we were doing this simple repair we found...” line. Even the last time I got a battery they up-sold me on one with higher cold cranking amps for winter. Granted, it was -45°C when he old one gave out, but still not what I asked for.
@peterimoore I’m sure we’d all feel differently if auto mechanics across the board were generally in it for the good of the consumer. I wouldn’t look at every suggestion they make with a serious side-eye then. Unfortunately, this upselling culture makes even their sensible advice seem suspicious.
It makes me wonder, why aren’t there more mechanics out there who are okay with doing just what’s needed? What about this field attracts the upselling behavior?
@peterimoore Also, -45 Celsius? Jeez! Having lived in Southern California my whole life, I can’t even comprehend this temperature. Makes my +45 Celsius summers seem enjoyable in comparison.
@dandycat Unfortunately I think in a lot of cases they feel they can take advantage of customers without much knowledge of cars, which I’d wager is most of them. Up-selling mentality is a problem across the board though, not just mechanics. It really needs to stop.
@dandycat I hate summer with a passion, especially here in the “sauna of Canada” where I live, but that was too cold even for me. I literally felt it in my bones when I walked out to start the car and it didn’t even try to turn over.
@peterimoore I think you're spot-on about mechanics feeling like they can take advantage of customers. It's a damn shame, though. I get that everyone wants to make money to be comfortable in their lives, but that shouldn't be done off the backs of others. Fingers crossed for a better future.
@peterimoore I've always thought that I'd love to live up in Canada because of its generally cooler climate, but feeling the marrow of my bones chill sounds really unpleasant. How does one even fight against that sort of cold?
@dandycat Layers. Lots and lots of layers. 😂
In all seriousness though, that’s a rarity where I live, and climate change unfortunately is now making my winters milder which I’m not happy about. The prairie provinces are the ones that still get bitter cold in winter.
@peterimoore I hear you on the climate change frustration. These extremes we're talking about are terrible. During the summer, there's the daily threat of unmanageable wildfires here. Those used to be a rarity. Now, it's a guarantee that I'll have to spend at least half of every year wondering if this is finally the year my house will burn down. Should I start looking into emigrating to Canada? I'd love to contribute to the economy and have better healthcare.
@dandycat Sure, we won’t turn you away! Don’t live in Southern Ontario if you don’t like the putrid humidity and summer heat though.
@peterimoore No Southern Ontario. Check. I think I may have to really start looking into this.