Braking News with Brian: Coffee Break
This morning, while drinking my coffee and taking my routine stroll through the shop, I ran straight into a wall of tires. Literally.
The wall hadn’t been there last week, but somehow, in just a few days, it had grown into a six-foot-high tower. Sure, I’m glad that tire sales are up, but I wasn’t too thrilled about the fresh coffee dripping down the front of the new birthday shirt my wife bought me. No, honey, I wasn’t dribbling today!
As I wiped off the mess from my shirt and started fuming about why these tires were still piled in the shop instead of waiting outside for pickup, something caught my eye.
Looking closely at this mountain of rubber, I realized some of these weren’t just used tires. They were dangerously worn out, bald, with steel belts showing, the kind that could blow at any moment! Wow! I couldn’t help but wonder: who would keep driving on tires like these? Certainly not me or my family. Not my employees. And definitely not my regular customers.
As new customers come into the shop each day, I’ve noticed a troubling trend I call “saving over safety”.
The mentality of “If I’m not spending money on my car, then I’m saving money” can be dangerous and expensive in the long run. Many people put off maintenance until something breaks, usually at the worst possible time. What starts as a quick, affordable fix often turns into a costly crisis.
To make matters worse, auto manufacturers have stretched routine service intervals, sometimes recommending only one major check-up per year! Not having your car checked over several times a year can be costly and risk dangerous failures, like tire blowouts!
We rely on manufacturers to provide a quality product. However, it is up to us to maintain that quality. I’ve seen firsthand how serious ignoring maintenance can get. In one case, a driver ignored warnings about a bald rear tire. The very next morning, the tire blew out, sending the vehicle into a rollover accident. Both the driver and passenger ended up in the hospital.
The old saying “You can pay me now or pay me later” holds true many times in the auto repair business, and often, the “later” costs you a whole lot more!
For me, keeping my family safe will always come first. I know it’s the same for you. So, before that “later” moment sneaks up on you, let’s make sure your car is safe today.
Drive Safe!
Brian Bernard – Owner, Automotive Workbench
Your Car,… Trusted Care
