Comment of the Month
We can’t give you exact wording for most of our Comment this month, because this Comment came in the form of a phone call.
Neil H. was a client for many years, going back far enough that he remembered being a party magician for one of Tom’s daughters’ birthday parties. (A daughter who’s finishing college right now!) We hadn’t seen Neil for a long time because he’d moved to Salem several years ago. Now, though, since he’s closing in on 80, Neil decided to sell his car before he became a real threat on the roads. The sale brought back memories of the old days, and he just called to say thanks for the experience. “In my entire life, through all my driving days, you were the best mechanic I’ve ever had. Best mechanical work, best service, friendliest, efficient and fair.” (And you can bet we DID copy down the exact wording for that!) Neil said when he comes back to Portland and crosses the Sellwood bridge, he always waves to the shop because he has such good memories of us.
We just wanted to let you know that clients at Tom Dwyer aren’t customers. When you become a client you’re putting yourself into the hands of people who will care for you and your vehicle, with YOUR needs first, for as long as you choose to come to us. And maybe, as in Neil’s case, far longer.
What’s the deal with remanufactured parts?
(by Ian Middlestadt)
You might have looked at your repair invoice and seen the words “remanufactured” or “rebuilt” on an expensive part like an alternator, starter, engine or transmission. It isn’t a complex topic, but if you’ve ever wondered “What’s the deal with remanufactured parts?” then this should explain it all for you.
Remanufactured parts, also called “remans” is a way of recycling old parts that still might have plenty of life in them. Oftentimes, when a part like a starter or alternator needs replacement, it might only be one or two internal components that are actually bad while the rest of the part is still fine. Companies buy these old parts, called ‘cores’, from shops, dealers, or other sources. They take them apart, replace all the bad bits, then put them through the same testing they would for a brand-new part. Then they’re boxed up and sold as REMANUFACTURED, not new, parts. This reduces waste by keeping perfectly serviceable parts out of the landfill and gives them a new lease on life.
Reman parts are just as good as brand-new parts, have comparable warranties, are usually cheaper than new, and minimize the auto industry’s impact on the planet. When we recommend a reman part over a new one, you can be confident they’re a win-win for everyone!
We also have a couple ongoing offers you might find valuable…
Carbon Neutral Program–
Our company’s commitment to the environment led us to partner with Bonneville Environmental Foundation to create our Carbon Neutral Program in 2007. Client members offset the carbon production of their vehicles for one year AND save 10% on Labor Charges here at the shop! It’s a win for you AND our environment and it’s been very successful… since we instituted the program our members have prevented over 1.9 MILLION POUNDS of carbon from being dumped into our air!
Referral Reward Program–
Year after year, referrals from our existing clients are our greatest source of new clients, so we’ve tried hard to think of some way to appropriately reward people for their referrals. Our solution is our Referral Reward Program, where we make donations to the non-profit group of your choice to say ‘thanks’ for your generous referrals. Here’s how it works…
Your reviews and referrals matter
We are constantly grateful for the supportive and loyal clients we have developed over the years. Your comments and appreciation keep us on the right road to providing the superior automotive service you deserve. Your reviews and referrals are not only the highest compliments we can receive, but they’re the lifeblood of our new business. If you like what you’ve found at Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, please tell a friend or take a minute to write a review on Yelp, Angieslist, Google, or the review site of your choice. Thank you!
Latest Automotive Recalls
Automobiles are just like any other product; occasional flaws in manufacture or design can cause problems once they leave the factory. When an issue is identified the manufacturers and government work hard to bring the vehicles back in for refit or repair, but not all recalls make the front pages. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a constantly updated list of recalls from every manufacturer. The last month’s recalls are below, but clicking the button at right will take you to the full list at the NHTSA website.
