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So you did your homework, asked all your friends, read all the online reviews and found yourself an auto repair shop that you’re happy with. Here are some things to look for in an auto repair shop, and some good reasons to keep coming back to that same shop:

• A good shop ought to be able to work on a wide range of vehicles. That means auto repair techs who can turn wrenches on the classic ’71 Chrysler sitting in a service bay, won’t be intimidated by the engine control computer in your BMW, and have a Volvo wagon next in line.
• A good shop has a lot of customers and a lot of turnover. A bunch of halfway-fixed, halfway-running early 90s beaters in the back parking lot is a bad, bad sign.
• All aftermarket replacement parts are not created equal. A good auto repair shop uses original equipment quality parts, isn’t afraid to show you those parts before they’re installed, and won’t hesitate to show you the broken or worn part that was just replaced.
• Get a look at the service bays in the shop itself. A good auto repair shop will have a clean, well-lighted service area without a bunch of worn parts and trash strewn around. How does the waiting room look? A dingy, trashy waiting area is a poor reflection on how the shop does business.
• Start off with a small job, like brakes or an oil change, and see how that goes. Any reputable auto repair shop will be direct and straightforward with you when it comes to diagnosis and billing, without trying to hang extra charges onto the bill or talking you into having more work performed.
• Get to meet the technicians and follow your gut feeling. Are they friendly? Are they good guys? Or are they indifferent and surly? What about the service advisor and store manager?
• The trade organization Automotive Service Excellence provides testing and certification for auto repair technicians and shops; is the shop you’re looking at ASE certified?

At Van’s Tires & Service in Akron, OH, you can expect the best in auto repair every time. More than just competent – it’s a matter of pride in customer service and making sure the job’s done right the first time, every time. That’s what’s been keeping Akron, OH customers coming back to Van’s for over 30 years now, and there are some real advantages to sticking with a shop that you know and trust. You get to know the staff and the technicians, and they get to know your car and whatever idiosyncrasies it might have. When you know you can expect the same level of service and the same standard in excellent auto repair every time, it just makes sense to keep coming back to the same shop.

You wouldn’t see a different doctor in Akron, OH every time you got sick, would you? Why do the same when it comes to auto repair?