7 Things to make a Mechanic's day

A dear friend of mine is a Auto Repair mechanic and has told me the nightmares that he has faced with his crazy customers. Also coming from someone who worked as a front desk person for auto repair, I've seen the best and worst of people and their attitudes. This is in collaboration with a very honest sympathizing mechanic.

1. Be considerate: to any mechanics, this is worth your time, especially if you're worried about getting ripped off, if your going to stand there and talk their ear off, that is wasting time and time for them is money. Even for a mechanic that you know and love, they will not be happy to stand there and listen to a story about how you cat puked on your couch.
2. Clean your car: Many times, you would not believe how many times my friend has had to fix the AC and there is trash and all sorts of stuff on the floors of the car.
3. Holiday Spirt: When you have regular mechanic, make him some cookies, show appreciation he's fixing your car man, I know your paying for it, but if you have a really good mechanic who cuts down prices because he wants to help you out, at least give him some cookies.
4. Thanks: Always say thank you, they just endured a not so enjoyable time under the hood of your car, they might have been drenched in gasoline, or showered in oil. At the end of the day hearing thank you's are nice, even a card for a big job too, cards are nice.
5. Timing: Do not come in at lunch time, unless it's to pick up your car. Your mechanic is trying to eat and your walking in on him, interrupting his one break of the day. If you call in first, and he knows your coming then he will make sure to eat, an be ready to fix your car. Same with talking with your mechanic, if it appears to be a slow day in the shop, they won't mind talking a bit, but in actuality there is more to do around a shop then fix cars, so even if they don't have work they have work. To have a conversation with your mechanic about anything is fine but don't stand there and talk to them for an hour, especially if more customers are coming in.
6. Timing 2: picking up your car really late bites, if the shop is open late and it's a big shop, not as big of a problem, but when it's an independent shop, not a big name, usually these guys are trying to get home to eat with their family. If he's waiting for you to pick up your car, most likely his family is waiting for him to get home.
7. Tips: If you are going to get something small done on your car, whether they are really busy, or it looks to be a slow day in the shop, it's nice for your mechanic to get a tip, it doesn't have to be a lot of money, it shows appreciation to their work. If they are honest, that will really make their day to get an extra five, ten bucks.

With your new knowledge hopefully you'll use this, because I bet you, you're mechanic will be happy to see you again.