I was training some new Customer Service Representatives the other day, a task I take very seriously, and came across some customer service atrocities I thought I would share. If you recognize some of the bad behavior I list below, then you should consider making some changes.

I am very pleased with the Auto Tech Clinic located on Michigan Avenue at Telegraph Road in Dearborn, Michigan. They have supplied me with great service time and time again. Prior to this visit, I had only had oil changes and brakes done at this shop and was always pleased. In fact, last year I took my car in for brakes, which I thought I needed. The Auto Tech technician, on that day, came out to tell me I didn't need brakes at that time. He could have easily sold me the brakes, my car had 60,000 miles on it and the original brakes were still on it. I would have never questioned the repair, but he chose to be honest, and I got another 12,000 miles on those brakes before I returned to have them replaced. Auto Tech gave me a great price on that Buy Chevy Truck brake job too.

This advertisement goes against the grain. Generally, women aren't associated with doing heavy duty yard work or using large tools. But this advertisement implies that women do use these tools, and their knowledge of the kitchen and of cutting butter can be applied to the chores in the backyard. Featuring a woman in this advertisement is wise since the magazines Chevy Truck Deal readership is almost entirely women. The women who read this magazine attempt to accomplish tasks by themselves and possess a fondness for gardening and landscaping.

Also during the test drive, go up hills and in curves see if it has enough power in the motor to get you around. Don't turn on the radio; you need it to be quiet to see if there are any strange noises from the motor. Make sure the car handles well and does not need to be lined up. Make sure any dealer oral promises are written down and signed for so they have to back up their promises.

Realize the bidders for Saturn could care less about the Vue, the Sky or any other GM vehicle. They want to tap into the proven way of gaining customers who would never darken a GM dealer's door. Furthermore, they will win over new customers besides those that already have shown disdain for stepping into a chevy trucks deal, no matter how good the commercials or the cars become.

In those days, I knew a young man, older than me, who drove a white 1957 Chevrolet that had power-pack heads with a four barrel carburetor, dual exhausts, and automatic, all housed in a four door hardtop body painted white. If I remember correctly, his name was Kenneth King.

On Part 4 of our series of articles about truck restorations I will talk about more lessons learned the hard way during the restoration of my 1954 Chevy truck.