Garage

Aimee

I bought a new car last year and I was so excited as it was my first brand-new car. I did my research and chose the make and model that suited my needs, but I was a bit nervous so I asked my dad to come to the garage with me to make sure everything was okay. In the end Dad stayed quiet through most of my dealings with the salesman and said afterwards that I didn’t really need him there and I did fine on my own. (He’s a great dad!) I picked up the car a few weeks later and the same salesman was there to give me the keys. He asked where my dad was and I told him Dad was at work – I was a bit confused as to why he was asking as I don’t remember them particularly hitting it off when they met before. The salesman suddenly looked worried and said he wasn’t sure if it was a good idea for me to drive the car away by myself. I felt so patronised – I’ve have had my license for almost ten years and drive on my own all the time for work. I pointed out to him that I had done fine when I test-drove the car before, and he reluctantly agreed, but it really annoyed me that I had to persuade him to hand over the keys to the car I had already paid for just because I didn’t have a man there to ‘look after me’. I drove my new car out of their car park as perfectly as I could just to prove a point.

Caroline

I took pulled into a garage as my car was about to conk out. As I was trying to get the car key off the ring of keys, the 3 mechanics were laughing and one said to me, “don’t worry about getting the car key off, leave it on with the house key, as he (referring to one of the other mechanics) will then be able to come into your flat, up the stairs and stand over your bed doing heavy breathing”. The 3 of them thought it was really funny. I was so shocked, I froze. Then thought I can’t confront them as I can’t get away – my car wasn’t working – and I have to safely get out of here to get my kids in time from school. After getting the kids from school I returned and managed to get my car to another garage. A week later and I was still angry and upset, so I contacted the HQ for the garage. Amazing quick reply and then a male district manager called for 30 mins taking my complaint very seriously, and outlined the disciplinary actions he was going to take. After he investigated he discovered that this ‘line about leaving the house keys on’ is something the mechanics often say. Manager was very shocked. I said don’t sack them – get a copy of ‘Everyday Sexism’….

Kath Rogers

The local VW garage did some work on my car. When I collected it they warned me that a warning light might come on and, if it did, I should “ask my husband to top up the coolant with water”. I pointed out that, as I’m an engineer, I’m probably better qualified than him to do it.

Catherine Millar

I went to the garage today to drop my car off after it had broken down. I was a bit flustered as I’d been worried that the car wouldn’t make it to the garage & I had my 3 year old with me. The mechanic said, “You’re not pregnant, are you? Women get a pregnant head on them when they come in here.” This was after we’d had a conversation where I’d suggested the alternator had gone & he’d agreed with me.