Just Say "No"

We're women, we should be very good at saying no. We say no to that creepy guy that asks for our number, we say no to any fashion trends that bring back the 80's and we say no to the weird telemarketers that somehow get our numbers even though we're on the do not call list. But, we still seem to have trouble saying no to our mechanic.

Since we already talked about oil yesterday, we'll stay on that topic. Mechanics are notorious for ripping off women. The moment they see or hear you they start scheming. If you go in for a basic oil change, stick to that plan! We've all been there. They ask you if you want the super oil, the additives, the awesome filters...and then all of a sudden your $30 oil change turns into a hundred-dollar tab. But they make it sound so important; these upgrades will save your car's life! But like the extra pounds that extra krispy kreme donut will surely add to your figure, the fancy oil change add-ons just aren't necessary.

Your car can make do and run just fine with a basic oil change. You don't need anything else, so don't let them make you feel stupid and bully you into saying yes. Stay firm and say no, regardless of what it is. Also, when the Jiffy Lube dude shows you the air filter he pulled out of your car, don't agree to buy a new one. It's a filter, it's supposed to look dirty. Also, Jiffy Lube's slogan is "Every 3,000 miles". However, being the savvy car owner, you check the owner's manual first. Many cars can go 5,000 miles before an oil change. It's like those directions on shampoo bottles of "lather, rinse, repeat". Who actually "repeats"?!?!?! That only makes you go through shampoo twice as fast.

But what if I have a good, trusted mechanic? Great! In that case, he shouldn't be asking you if you'd like to upgrade your oil or want you to add a super transmission cleaner, etc. Anything along those lines, is a definite indication of a scam. However, if it's something along the lines of them finding something else wrong with your car while they're rummaging around in there, you should still say no, at least for the moment.

They could very well be right, but you should definitely get a second or third opinion, if not to confirm you have an additional problem, then at least to get comparable estimates so you can go back well-informed to your original mechanic. A good resource to look into is www.repairpal.com, which lets you find what reasonable repair rates are, depending on your location. Even perusing some of the reviews at Yelp.com can give you a better idea of a place, if you're shopping around for a repair shop.

So remember, don't be a victim to sleazy mechanics and clever marketing techniques. Just say no!