Finding a mechanic to work on your commercial mowers can be an important event for a lawn maintenance professional. There are good mechanics all around, however, finding the RIGHT mechanic for you is important. If your lawn maintenance business is in an area that only allows you to operate seasonally, you need to have your mowers and other equipment running as much as possible to make money.
That means that your stand-on and ZTR mowers take a beating during the busy season. Having a great mechanic that can keep them up and running is critical. But how do you know you have the right one? Here are 6 questions you should ask when you’re shopping around for a small engine mechanic for your commercial mowers.
Do you have any manufacturer certifications?
This is important if you’re partial to a brand of mower, blower, edger, trimmer and anything else that has an engine. Of course, a dealer might be an option if there is one in the area. This might be even more important if your equipment is still covered under warranty. If you can’t get your mower into a dealership, is the mechanic that you choose able to provide the right parts that are covered under warranty?
What kind of turn around can I expect?
This is incredibly important if you’re in the middle of your busy season. You never want to be forced to share equipment throughout your crews. If you’re down a ZTR, you could waste half a day or even more trailering it around town to share with another crew. Is your mechanic going to be able and willing to make your equipment a priority? Is there a charge for rush service? It is a good idea to get a timeframe for any routine repairs that might occur before they happen.
Do you work with any other local lawn maintenance professionals?
What kind of experience does the mechanic bring to the table? Are they exclusively small engines for mowers and lawn maintenance equipment? Or do they work on all different types of engines? It is a good idea to ask what kind of experience they have with the types of mowers you own.
Do you charge for diagnostics?
There might be times when you have questions that simple trouble shooting doesn’t solve. Is your mechanic going to charge you for “taking a look” at your equipment? That can get costly if it is something as simple as a your mower not running properly because of a dirty air filter or a fouled out spark plug. There are plenty of repairs that you can do on your own that shouldn’t require a mechanic, however there are times when it might be difficult to pin-point the problem without some professional help.
Do you warranty your parts and labor?
If you bring your commercial mower in to get repaired, will your mechanic provide you with a warranty on his/her work? This is important because you don’t want to be hung out to dry if the same issue occurs due to a faulty part or poor repair. A warranty gives you a piece of mind in the repair and maintenance process and also lends some credibility towards the mechanic.
What kind of payment options do you offer?
Does the mechanic require you to pay a deposit before any repair? Will they require you to pay upon return of your gear? Do they offer any financing options for larger repairs? Also, ask if they run any specials. Most mechanics will offer some sort of special pricing for their customers depending on how long you’ve been with them or what time of year it is.
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