Woman at the wheel - Parts purchase a pain

Automotives continues its series in which a woman gives her personal experience with automobiles and the often unequal treatment men mete out to women in the macho world of the motor car.

Shirley Dixon, Gleaner Writer

According to the website www.forbes.com, in the section 'Women and Economy', women buy 52 per cent of all new cars and influence more than 85 per cent of car sales globally. All told, women have full or partial say over a staggering US$80 billion worth of spending on cars annually.

So why aren't the car dealerships paying attention, especially here in Jamaica? And why are women treated so shabbily when they go to buy parts or try to get answers when they take their cars in for servicing?

It boggles the mind.

Honestly, going into an auto-parts store to get parts is like a visit to the dentist. There is fear and apprehension.

Am I purchasing the right part? Did the mechanic give me the correct information? Will I be ridiculed when asked details about my car that I don't know? All of these questions flash across your mind as you wait to be served. What makes it more distressing is that the clerks in these stores seem always to be rushing and have no time to consult with the client - especially if it is a woman who is not quite sure of the specifics of the parts she wants.

I find it difficult to memorise the year, model of car and size of the tyres, which is usually a series of numbers for width and circumference, or the various hoses of different lengths that you may need.

I had a disappointing experience at a popular auto-parts dealership on Hagley Park Road some time ago. I hope by now they have improved on customer service. On entering, the first thing that hits you is testosterone. A totally masculine domain. I entered the store and expected to be acknowledged, but that was not to be. There was no line, so I joined my male counterparts at the counter. I soon realised that I was not going to be helped unless I shouted out the item I wanted.

There were shouts for 1/2" hoses, radiator caps, "price for brake shoe for 2002 Corolla", fan belt for 2006 Honda, four quarts of engine oil, and more.

minimal help

Eventually, I caught the attention of one of the salesmen. I handed him the paper given to me by my mechanic with the parts needed and waited. Add 15 more minutes to the half an hour I had already been in the store. Eventually, I was told that the part I needed was out of stock and handed back my piece of paper.

No offer to source the part and no referral to other stores that may have it in stock.

I pocketed the paper and hung around a bit looking at the display of car parts in all sizes and shapes hanging on the walls of the store and listening to the conversation among the customers, the easy banter between the sales clerks and his male clients, and wondered why I was treated with scant regard.

That was my first and last visit to an auto-parts store.

For the past 10 years, my mechanic has done everything, from purchasing the required parts to servicing and even making sure appointments for servicing are kept. By the way, most of his clients are women, and he is doing an excellent job.