AUTO INDUSTRY & WASTE


Recently, a set of events resulted in a communication chain on auto waste, resources, parts and more. The below content is a section from that communication.

"What is the big deal with premature changing of battery and wiper blades? 

As per statistical reports, there are around 1.4 billion cars in 2024, and around 100 million batteries changed every year just in the US. If we can get anywhere between 3-5 extra years from managing and maintaining the batteries and other parts in the car better, see the impact it can have on waste, resources, and on this planet. Same applies for wiper blades too. In addition, it is also adding unnecessary expenses for the consumer."

What led to this statement?

Over the years, Service visits have resulted in improper misdiagnosis, which could have been due to incompetence, negligence, targeting, and the norms of the industry, where fraud, scams, corruption appear to be prevalent. 

This is what literature states about this,

The auto service industry is often associated with fraud and unfair pricing due to practices like overcharging for unnecessary repairs and unjustified invoicing. Many consumers lack awareness of their rights, making them vulnerable to unscrupulous mechanics who may take advantage of them.

 equiteassociation.com ojp.gov

Reasons for Fraud and Unfair Pricing in the Auto Service Industry

Complexity of Services

  • Modern vehicles are increasingly complex, requiring specialized knowledge for repairs.
  • Many mechanics may resort to guesswork, leading to unnecessary part replacements and inflated bills.

Payment Structures

  • The flat rate pay system incentivizes mechanics to flag as many hours as possible, regardless of actual time spent.
  • This can lead to overcharging for services, as mechanics may prioritize quantity over quality.

Lack of Regulation

  • The auto repair industry is not uniformly regulated, allowing unscrupulous practices to flourish.
  • Some repair shops may take advantage of customers' lack of knowledge about vehicle maintenance.

Consumer Vulnerability

  • Many consumers are unaware of their rights and may not question inflated quotes or unnecessary repairs.
  • Complaints about poor service and overcharging are common, indicating a widespread issue.

Prevalence of Scams

  • Certain areas have higher rates of auto-related fraud, with dishonest practices like unjustified invoicing becoming more common.
  • Some mechanics may perform unnecessary work or charge for parts that were never replaced.

Trust Issues

  • The reputation of the industry suffers due to the actions of a few dishonest mechanics, making it difficult for consumers to find trustworthy service providers.

Understanding these factors can help consumers navigate the auto service industry more effectively and protect themselves from potential fraud.


How is it connected to our experiences?

For example, a battery was recommended to be changed, which, based on how long that battery worked afterwards, certainly proved to be premature. Since the change was recommended, the battery worked for another 23000 miles or so and for another 4+ years before it was switched to a new one. For that matter, a battery test at another place showed more than 80% capacity after more than a year since this change was recommended. For that matter, the same center did not recommend a battery change one year later, when it was taken for annual service.

In the same way, there were instances when tires were recommended to be replaced, and ended up getting replaced prematurely. While checking the tread depth of the tires at the time of change, the tread depth was well above the government's recommended time to change tires. It was also the first time a realization came about checking the tires, and not relying solely on the diagnosis and the standard norms to make a decision irrespective of how busy we are. Small actions such as those could serve us more in the long run.

What is perplexing is that the tire industry has been in place for almost 150 years, and we should not even worry about quality anymore based on the history of tires. Whereas, the know-how in this space should have resulted in more durable, reliable, fuel-friendly tires by now, which appears to be not the case. Instead, tires, lately, are getting worn out faster, and we also see repeated news of recalls and more in this space.

In the same way, quality appears to be a concern nowadays across board. As per various reports, a dealership or OEM quality part such as that of Hub Assembly is supposed to last around 80000 miles or so, whereas a unit which was replaced within the warranty time needed a change within 20000 miles or so. Similar kind of quality issue that we faced with tires and more appears to be a norm nowadays. Moreover, with varying diagnoses, which tend not to match much between service centers, it appears that the marketplace is pushing to buy cars regularly rather than managing the same vehicle to extract maximum utility from it without compromising safety and health. Such kind of environment also increases the demand for resources and energy while expanding waste on various fronts.