Lord Snooty

The rather sad, macho streotyping conducted by auto mechanics whenever women bring their car in with a problem.

The assumption that a woman will have no idea of mechanical function and that it is a waste of time explaining anything to her, which in turn leads to a tendency to invent, and inflate the problems in order to bump up the bill.

These same mechanics will talk at length to a man who knows nothing about cars either, taking their time to explain things to him and presenting him with a lower repair estimate. However, the best category is to be in, is a man who appears to know something about cars as they get the best treatment and prices for repair work. Even when the woman does know a lot about cars, the mechanics become suspicious and withdrawn and are not inclined to discuss the technicalities at all..

I have witnessed this behaviour with a girlfriend of mine and was amazed to find it still alive and well. We carried out several experiments at different garages and sure enough she got the short end of the stick every time.

Is it some sort of genetic characteristic of this particular social group and how is it perpetuated? It may have something to do with the lack of female mechanics (which in turn is because of the attitude..)

I am not a feminist ( I have been told..!) but I do hate to see such clearly unfair treatment...

Elphaba

My female technicians were never given the same level of discussion, information and respect from mechanics as my male technicians. It is a difference in treatment and expectations that remains alive and well.

I got on my gals for waiting passively for information, rather than jumping into a proactive discussion. I got mixed results on that approach.

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analog

As long as lowest-common-denominator meatheads occupy a job site, you will see that result.

My mechanic, the one I've been using for about 14 years now, has a garage that does not employ just any jackass that can fix a car. Because he hires quality people, his business has done very well over the years. I've referred many friends there, both male and female, and I've never once heard of any kind of different treatment.

But that's what you're going to get at most of them. It's easy to trump things up and raise the bill so you pocket more money on this sale- what's difficult is being fair to everyone, and establishing rapport that builds repeat business.

It's bullshit business, and they assume they can get away with it... and mostly, they do. As long as people put up with it, it will continue to work.

Push-Pull

Also keep in mind, these same shops are likely BS'ing the males who piss off the techs.

I have to admit, although I can put it in my mind that a woman can become a knowledgable, competent mechanic, a tiny red light would come on somewhere within me if it came down to having a woman work on my car. This is a weird thing for me, because a woman who isn't afraid of getting her hands dirty and using tools gives me wood. Guess I'm conflicted....

With that said, I used to own a business that was mechanical in nature (not cars though) and I gave everyone, man, woman, or child, the same exact in-depth that allowed them to know I was going to do a competent job for them.

Perhaps it comes down to people skills? The ones lacking it are giving the ladies the run around maybe?

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ngdawg

It happens in electronics stores as well.
One personal experience: I went into a store to get the spouse a cd player for his car, kids in tow. There were at least 4 floor associates and no other customers. They all stood around talking as I looked for what I needed-not one approached me, even after making the 'need help' eye contact from across the floor. A man walked in and you'd think he was covered in diamonds as he was practically pounced on by these people.
Once I saw that, I took the kids and said, quite loudly, " We're leaving. Apparently they don't like women shopping in this store". Only then did someone quickly come up and ask me what I needed. When I saw a woman going in as I was heading out, I told her what happened. She said, "Oh, I know."
And, at a CompUSA, a salesman tried to sell me a display scanner. Cord? nope. Box? nope. Discounted? nope. I went elsewhere and got treated much better and got the scanner cheaper, NIB.
A girl I worked with would ask a man to go with her if it involved her car, knowing she'd be treated like she was an idiot. Long blonde hair, very pretty-she was convinced it was a curse when it came to dealing with mechanics, even though she knew more about cars than many guys did.

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Lady Sage

I have a rant in my blog about the same thing as the OP brought up. Just because I have a vagina doesnt mean I dont know cars. Some things, however, I refuse to do for myself. Like change tires.

Still, if I do not know what a noise signifies I will take in the car. Telling me something false about my car? Hell hath no fury like a pissed off Sage.

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Mister Coaster

I fall into the category of a man that knows squat about the mechanical nature of cars. I can change oil. air filter and tires, but thats about it. I ALWAYS feel like I am being jipped whenever I go in for service.

For the last few years I have been going to one of those quick-lube places. I got the frequent customer card (which discounts the oil change and discounts other services they perform) and usually go ahead and do the so-called "reccomended" services based on mileage. I suppose I have had a few services performed that didn't need to be done, but all in all, my truck has only had one "problem" that required another mechanic. So perhaps preventative maintainence has saved me from serious problems.

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snowy

I've never had a problem with the mechanics addressing me in a condescending or patronizing way. However, the one time I did have a problem with my former car, the tow truck driver was very condescending. He insisted upon checking that the car was in fact in need of a tow--he made me turn on the car for him (it wouldn't turn over because the wire leading to the fuel relay had broken, which I figured out on my own), and was puzzled when the electronics were still on. I told him it was the fuel relay, but he insisted on popping the hood and looking everything over for himself. Ten minutes later, he finally decides that yes, the car does need to be towed (duh).

Once, when I took my former car in for cheap oil service, they tried to sell me a service I clearly didn't need based on the fuel injection system in my car at the time. I laughed at the guy and asked if he thought I was an idiot.

I may be female, but I know my own cars and I know what should be where, what should be moving, and how my car should sound. I also know how to check all of my fluids and change a tire.

So far I've been lucky in my choice of mechanics--one crusty old German who made my Volvo station wagon drive like a sportscar and one excitable old Asian named Helmut who actually prefers to deal with women over men (less pressure on his language skills). Both family-owned and operated businesses, though Hardy's sons are cuter than Helmut's.

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ItWasMe

We have a great mechanic in town. We have tried several over the years, but have stayed with this one for a while now. My husband would 'play dumb' sometimes at first to see if they are trustworthy. Or let them explain it to me first. He has a degree in auto mechanics, but decided that he hates fixing cars. It does come in handy when finding a good mechanic, though. It's helped us avoid some real bozos.

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cyklone

You may be interested to know that this type of gender stereotyping is alive and well in Australia as well. I have been into a garage with a female friend who wanted her car fixed and they wouldn't even talk to her while I was there. She would ask questions and they would address their answers to me. I had to walk away so that they were forced to acknowledge her presence.