It was a typical day when my car broke down on the side of the road. I had no choice but to call a tow truck to the nearest mechanic, a small shop that seemed reputable. When I arrived, I was greeted by a mechanic named Dave, who immediately began inspecting the car. After a brief check, he claimed the problem was much worse than I had anticipated.
“Your engine’s shot,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “It’s going to cost at least $2,000 to fix.”
Something didn’t sit right with me. The car had been running fine just the day before, and I knew engines didn’t just “break” overnight. I was about to agree to the repair when I decided to call my cousin, who happened to be a mechanic, for a second opinion.
While I was on the phone, I overheard Dave whispering to another worker, “This lady’s clueless. She’ll pay anything. Let’s tell her it’s a major repair.”
That was the moment I knew I was being scammed. I smiled, thanked my cousin for the advice, and told Dave I’d be taking the car to another shop. But I didn’t leave just yet.
Instead, I went to the back of the garage and pulled out the diagnostic tool I kept in my trunk—something I had learned to use from watching my cousin. I quickly scanned the car, and surprise! The issue was nothing more than a loose wire.
I returned to Dave’s office and handed him the bill for my diagnostic tool and time. “Here’s your lesson,” I said, “next time, don’t underestimate your customers.”
His face turned crimson. I walked out knowing I’d just taught him a lesson he wouldn’t forget.
