Female Consumers in the Automotive Market: Are Their Voices Being Heard?

The automotive market has long been seen as a male dominated industry. Men design the vehicles, produce and drive them. For many years little thought has been put into the idea of how this affects women and whether it matters. However, with more women in the work force, not only do they have the money to purchase their own vehicles, they are becoming a large portion of consumers of which should not be ignored. Women have long been alienated by the automotive industry and only in recent years have studies been done to assess how much.

                                              

Over the years one thing remains clear, women are not taught about maintaining their vehicles like men are. If we go back to the days when women attended home economic classes while men had shop and automotive, it is clear that the intentions were that car maintenance was men’s work. There are even some who believe that women do not have the capability to learn this technology. The unfortunate problem with this belief is that women drive cars, cars break down and they need to understand at least a little bit about them. Everyone needs to at least have an understanding of the language and how to communicate as an informed consumer about their vehicle, yet we continue to teach the boys and not the girls.

The automotive industry has largely been catering to a male audience with little to no acknowledgment that women today have much more buying influence. While some progress has been made to include women, there is still a long way to go. The automotive shops need to be a place where women can feel comfortable to come in, ask questions and be treated with respect no matter what their knowledge base. Until this happens, the automotive industry will continue to alienate a large group of the consumer population. Why should this matter to them? Because women purchase over 50% of all new cars and 48% of used cars, and they influence 80% of all auto purchases and repair decisions (Road & Travel Magazine).

Women really just want to be heard and taken seriously. They are just as concerned as the men are about what type of work needs to be done to their vehicles and why it is important. My goal, when I started Ladies, Start Your Engines, was to give women a safe place to learn and ask questions about their vehicles. It also offers a chance for the shops that hire me to show that they are concerned with what women want and that they are interested in offering them this type of service. It is not easy to win women over. It will take some work, because they want their questions answered in a way that makes them feel comfortable. They want to understand why the work is being done and not given the line “it’s too technical for you to understand”.

Ladies, Start Your Engines is a light maintenance class for women, taught by a woman. In 2 hours I try to give them the basic understanding of how their vehicle operates, the importance of proper maintenance and the language they need to understand so that they know what their service person is trying to tell them. I want to create a confidence in them to ask questions and not to think that any question is dumb. I explain to them that there are just as many men who do not know about their vehicles, they just act like they do or they ask questions.

So what can your shop or dealership do to attract more female customers and keep the ones you do have.

1. Take a look at your waiting area. Is it clean? Are the chairs comfortable to sit in for more than 5 minutes? Do you offer free WiFi and coffee?

These might seem like simple things to you, but put yourself in the place of the customer. Women are not going to sit in a dirty area where they can overhear the technicians talking and laughing out in the shop. They may even have to bring a child with them, do you have something to attract their attention? I’m not saying that you have to spend thousands of dollars to fix up your waiting area, but make it a place that you would want to sit for at least a half hour. If you have a TV, it is best to have the volume turned off and run closed captioning on the screen. People who read or bring work to do will not want to have to listen to a loud television playing in the background.

2. Stick your head in the women’s bathroom. This is something else that women complain about in service waiting areas. You should keep this bathroom spotless. Make sure that all the dispensers are full, trash cans are emptied every night and that you offer some type of changing area for babies. More and more men’s rooms have these as well. Many times you may have customers come in for a quick oil change and then they head off to work. They want to stay clean and they expect your bathrooms to be clean as well.

3. Is there signage that directs people where to go when they come in for service? If women are already apprehensive about coming to your shop, not knowing what to do or where to go may just make them keep driving by. It is always best to acknowledge the customers when they come in so that they know you have seen them. Even a simple “Good Morning” let’s them know that you know they’re there and you’ll get to them as soon as you can. Remember, the customer in front of you is your most important client. If the phones are busy in the morning, have someone who is not working the desk answer them. The customer in front of you is already there and willing to spend money, make sure you are courteous and listen to their needs. Women especially want to make sure that you understand what they need and expect an explanation of what is being done. Just telling them it is time for a 30,000 mile service is not enough. They want to understand what is involved in this type of service. It is never a bad idea to do a quick walk around with each customer to make sure you understand their concerns. If you think you do not have time for this, think about how much more time you will have when they do not come back.

4. Call your customers. Women want to know the status on their vehicles. Guessing that the work is finished at the end of the day and finding out it is not, will only create an angry customer. Remember that many women are working moms who have very busy schedules. They would rather know up front if you need the vehicle longer than to find out once they arrive at your shop.

5. Show them what needs to be done. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case it solidifies with your customers what you are telling them. I cannot tell you how many women have told me that they are not taken out to see their vehicles because they are told that customers are not allowed in the shop. Be forewarned, that I am telling them this is not true. I took customers in the shop all the time. What better way to explain why the brakes need to be replaced than by showing them. I always tell women that if the service writer will not show you what you want to see on your vehicle, take it someplace else. You may only have to take them out into the shop a few times and then they will begin to trust you to do the work according to what you say is the problem. Many women feel they are being lied to when no one is willing to explain why a service needs to be done, do not let yourself fall into that trap.

From my experience as a technician, a service manager and a female, I can tell you that one of the biggest obstacles you will face is gaining their trust. Once you do though, they will be your most loyal customers. They will talk to their friends and recommend you. If you treat them poorly, they will not return and they will tell more people about their experience. One of the reasons I chose this profession was for the opportunities that would always be available. People will always drive cars and they will always need someone to fix them. In many ways, those who do not know much about their vehicles are at the mercy of the service shops. With more and more choices of where to go, women are asking their friends and choosing places where they feel comfortable and feel they are being treated fairly.

I always tell the women to read their owners manual, understand their maintenance schedule and to not be afraid to check their fuses or change a bulb. This simple encouragement empowers them to be more pro-active with their vehicles. Having brochures about your different services allows them to read about the service long before they need it and to formulate questions they may not think to ask when the service is being written up. It is also not a bad idea to have women working in your service or parts departments. This often makes women feel more welcome in your shop. When I was a service manager, many of the female customers would come to me to ask simple questions that they did not feel comfortable asking the men. Many times I would go with them to their service writers and make sure that they were comfortable working together and then they would no longer need me as much.

I cannot stress enough how important the first impression of your shop is to most female consumers. If the place is dirty, technicians are fooling around at the desk, the bathrooms are not clean and no one acknowledges them when they first come in, it will probably be their last visit to your facility. I have found that women are eager to learn about their vehicles if they are just given a chance. You can try offering an information session just for women at your own shop. Ask your female customers to bring their friends, let everyone know that you are female friendly and that you are willing to go that extra mile to produce a happy customer. For many of us, at the end of the day it is not just about the work, but about the people we help. If you were not interested in working with people, you would not be in this business. I remember when I was a technician, going home at the end of the day feeling a sense of accomplishment. I get that now every time I teach a class. I enjoy being able to give back and often times get hugs from the women who take my classes. I cannot think of a better way to judge my success than that! 

Lori

How to Jump Your Battery

One of the big questions I always get asked by women in my classes is how to jump their battery. Which cable do I connect first, does it matter? There really is a fear of shocking themselves. I think this is a healthy fear because a battery can be dangerous, but not if you know what you're doing. Watch my quick tip video on how to jump your battery and get back on the road.

How to jump a battery

I would suggest that you pay at least $50 for a jump box, which you can find at most stores that sell automotive products, and keep it in your truck. Don't forget to keep it charged. It won't do you any good if it's dead.

This is a safe and easy way for anyone to jump their vehicle and a great gift idea for someone you care about.

Radical Wrencher

To Hybrid or Not

If you're like me and you find yourself recycling, composting, buying green products and figuring out ways to use our energy more wisely, then you've probably thought about a hybrid vehicle. While more and more manufacturers are making hybrid vehicles....unfortunately it's going to be a while before they replace our gas driven motors. I guess the question is, are the hybrids that are available now really saving us money and the environment....or not.

Brandy Schaffels, a contributing writer for Ask Patty wrote this article to answer some of your questions.

What you always wanted to know about hybrid vehicles

This article on How Stuff Works talks about 5 reasons not to buy hybrid.

I like to weigh my options. While I'd like to 'Go Green', it comes with a cost. Sometimes it's more than what you can afford. I would say that if you are contemplating buying a hybrid vehicle...do your research. Make sure you weigh cost, economy, practicability and even how driving where you live will play into it. It's a tough decision...trying to decide what is the right thing for you and the environment. That's when I get on my motorcycle and ride.  Good luck!

Radical Wrencher

Taking Care of Your Battery

Remember the days when you had to add water to your battery? And not just any water, but distilled. Now our batteries are "maintenance free".....well, for the most part. They still require a little tender love and care if you want to get the maximum life out of them however.

When was the last time you opened up your hood and took a look at your battery? Okay, it may not always be under your hood, check your owner's manual to see if it might be in the trunk or under a seat. Most likely if it's under the hood it's going to get dirtier and should be checked.

What are you looking for? White powder that's caked up around the terminals. It's fairly easy to clean this off by using a simple household product of baking soda and water. All you need is an old toothbrush and a 50/50 mix of the water and baking soda.

Better yet, watch my quick tip video on how to do this yourself. It's easy and a great way to save you money.
Remember, to disconnect the battery you want the key to be off, remove the negative side first and then the positive. When you re-attach the cables you do the opposite, positive first and then the negative.

Battery Cleaning Video

As I always say, don't be afraid to get your hands dirty...it's a great way to learn.

Radical Wrencher

What is Proper Tire Pressure for My Vehicle?

One of the most common mistakes in checking tire pressure is thinking that the correct pressure for your vehicle is posted on the tire. I get this answer a lot when I teach my classes. Many people assume that this is where it would be printed.

What you have to remember is that tires are made by the manufacturer for many different types of vehicles. Car manufacturers pay engineers a lot of money to figure out how the weight of a vehicle affects fuel economy and many other factors. Tire pressure plays into this factor. So, depending on the weight, size and other important information, tire pressure is determined by each different vehicle.

Therefore you will always find the tire pressure for your vehicle located on your vehicle or in your owner's manual. Usually there will be a label located on the inside of the driver's door giving you this information. I've also seen them inside the glove box, on the inside of the gas door or center console. Look around, it's there somewhere.

Proper tire inflation not only affects fuel economy, but also helps prevent uneven or early tire wear. There's also a safety concern if the tire pressure is too low. If you look at a tire you'll see that there are a lot of numbers and letters posted on the side wall. All of these numbers mean something. While you don't need to memorize them, it's a good idea to know what they mean. Here are a couple sites that will help explain more about all of those numbers. How Stuff Works is a great website with a lot of vehicle information. I caution you not to read this at work, it's hard to get off this site, it's so interesting.

Another great site is Tire Rack, not only can you get some great information about tires, but you can purchase them at pretty good prices. They even work with installers in your area so that if you need new tires they send them directly to the shop.

One of the things I teach in my class is how to use a tire pressure gauge. I think it's important for everyone to keep one of these in their vehicle. If you're not sure how to use it, ask someone to show you. It's not hard and will help you keep your tires in good shape for a long and healthy life.

As we say in the motorcycle world, keep the rubber side down and be pro-active in learning about the things you can do on your vehicle and do them yourself. It's a great way to understand your vehicle.

Radical Wrencher

How Much Did You Say?

The other day while I was driving I heard an ad on the radio for a brake job. It was a male salesman telling a woman that she could get a brake job done and only pay half for the brake pads. I actually started to laugh.

The woman in the ad was excited and couldn't wait to bring her vehicle in. The problem with this ad, in my opinion, is that the brake pads are not the expensive part...it's the labor. This is the kind of thing that you have to be careful with when getting your vehicle serviced.

The ad makes it sound like such a good deal, but you should ask how much it will cost and how much of a discount that is off of the regular price. Later that night I was having dinner with a group of women friends. We meet monthly and the conversation is all over the map. Many of us have known each other for 10 years or more. I told them about the ad and asked what they thought. They said that one of their complaints is not knowing what it "should" cost to have work done.

Great point. So what do you do when you need work done and the shop quotes you a price? Here are a couple of sites you can check out. One that I like is called repair pal. You put in your vehicle, your zip code and pick the type of work you need to have done and they give you an estimate for parts and labor for your area. It's a great resource to at least get an idea of the amount you might be expected to pay. Now remember, shops can charge whatever they want. If you don't like their price, shop around.

If you just want to see what parts cost I would recommend looking at Rockauto. I buy a lot of parts from them. You put in your vehicle and then look up the parts. This will give you an idea of whether the shop is making too much money on the parts they're selling you.

I don't know about you, but for me money is tight. I want the work done on my vehicle to be the best deal I can get without compromising quality and workmanship. So the next time someone tries to sell you a good deal, check it out, it may not be such a bargain.

www.ladiesstartyourengines.com

Back In the Driver's Seat!

Okay, it's been way too long since my last post...but putting your house on the market, selling it and moving can take up your time so easily! Now that I'm all settled in, it's time to get back to giving you what you want, some good advice.

I'll start with a story about yet another woman agreeing to work she probably didn't need. For those of you who live in states where you have to get your vehicle inspected yearly, you know that this can sometimes be a hassle. We take our vehicle in and then we feel like we're at the mercy of the technician to have it pass inspection.

Let me start by saying that if you feel that work they recommend to pass inspection seems unwarranted, you do have recourse. First, ask them to show you the items that are bad, preferably on the vehicle. If they come out with a part in their hand, you don't know where it came from. If what they are describing doesn't seem right to you then ask more questions or call someone you know to help you make your decision.

If you feel you're being taken, you can contact your state DMV and ask that a representative come and look at the failable item and tell you if it truly is bad. Most people don't know that they have this option. I've heard of shops backing down when the customer wants to call in a representative because they know they're wrong.

Any good shop should be willing to show and explain why the part has failed and help you understand this. Not all shops are just trying to rip you off, but it's good to know that there is someone you can call if you need to. Don't feel like you have to replace a part if you don't think it's bad.

So back to my story. This woman takes her vehicle in and gets a call later telling her that she passed both State inspection and emissions but while doing a 33 point inspection they found some items that need to be addressed.

The oil change, air filter, coolant being low are all things that are regular maintenance items. Depending on when you did them last, it may be time to have these serviced. Now she's fortunate to have a son who can do this work so she declined. Some other things she agreed to. Rotation of the tires, balancing 2 of the tires and clean and adjust the brakes.

Here's where I tend to question work. It said that they removed all the wheels to check the brakes for inspection, so to simply rotate them while they're off is often a courtesy, she was charged $10. Another $15 to balance. Then there's the brake clean and adjust. My thought is that if they didn't fail inspection, which being out of adjustment can make you fail....why are they charging for this service? Another $14 for this. I'd love to know what they really did.

I'm not saying that all shops are looking for ways to make you spend money, but beware of shops that you don't know very well that try to sell you what I call "busy work", because it may be slow. We have to get our vehicles inspected, but try to have an idea of what else may need to be done before you take it in so you don't agree to unnecessary repairs.

Remember, knowledge is power....use it!

Lori

LSYE on What's Up With Missy 1340 AM

Listen to the interview I did with Missy on 1340 AM Philadelphia. Missy thought she had a great idea...and she did, it was my business! She thought it would be great to teach women about their vehicles so that they wouldn't feel like they're getting ripped off.

I contacted Missy and she was thrilled to have me on the show to give some advice to women. It was a great show and we had a lot of fun. Stay tuned...she may even have me back to take call-in questions. Thanks for having me Missy!



Lori
Radical Wrencher

Girl Scouts and the Car Sense Badge

Scheduling a class in November for outside can be a little risky in Pennsylvania, but I'm happy to say that November 8th was a balmy 65 degrees with full sun. Thank goodness, because I was teaching the Car Sense badge to 81 girl scouts and their 30 troop leaders.

As interesting as I think my lecture is, I knew that the girls wanted to get outside and get their hands dirty. So, we spent a half hour going over the different components the girls would be checking and then headed out into the warm weather.

While it was a little crazy with about 15 vehicles being worked on, the worksheet was pretty easy to follow and I found myself answering questions about what some of the things were under the hood and if it was a problem if there was no oil on the dipstick....Yikes!

The girls checked oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering and washer fluid levels. They learned how to check tire pressure and where to find the proper reading on the vehicle and in the owner's manual. From there they had to look up different things in their owner's manual so that I knew that they could find it.

Overall it was a great day. Of course I need to thank Theresa for coming with me and being a trooper  answering questions and helping with the groups, it made my job a lot easier with so many girls.

Everyone had a good time and learned about important things that anyone can check on their vehicles. Thanks again to the Eastern Region of Pennsylvania Girl Scouts and Linda Delenick for putting this program together and working with LSYE so that girls can see that women do these jobs too!

Lori

Women and Parking Lots

I was recently at the grocery store when I noticed a woman standing near her vehicle with the hood opened. She was alone and attempting to contact someone on the phone. Whenever I see women alone with a broken down vehicle I try to stop and at least offer some assistance.

Women can feel vulnerable when their vehicle breaks down for a couple reasons. 1. They may not know what's wrong and how to fix it. 2. Men who are strangers may stop to help and this may not be safe.

I have actually felt like the women I've helped were relieved that a woman stopped to help them. I don't treat them like they don't know what they're doing and I try to help them understand what went wrong if I can.

The woman in the grocery store lot seemed to have everything under control. She had contacted the lot security who was on the way with a jump. I stayed to help out. The young man had a jump box with a broken clamp and I wondered how he intended to get it to work.

I stood back for a moment and let him do his job. When the vehicle wouldn't start I had to step in :) I was able to get a good contact and get the vehicle started. I also talked to the woman about what her options were for her battery problem. She was very grateful for the help and thanked me for the information.

I couldn't help but wonder what the security guard would have done if he couldn't get the vehicle started...he probably would have told her to get a tow. I think it's important for women to look out for each other. If you see a woman broken down and you can stop, even if you only have moral support to offer, it could still mean a great deal. Staying with her until the vehicle is taken care of and you know she's safe is just as important as offering car advice.

I enjoy helping people in general, but am especially happy to be able to help women with a broken down vehicle feel a little safer.

Lori

Radical Wrencher, GM and the Twin Cities

Just back from a whirlwind tour of Minneapolis/St. Paul teaching classes for GM, I'm hunkering in for a lazy Sunday afternoon. I like the traveling thing...don't get me wrong, but it's good to be home.

I hit the ground running in Minneapolis. I had about an hour once I reached the hotel before Jennie and Kelly from GM showed up in the new 2010 Equinox to take me to a TV interview with KARE channel 11. The host's of the show, Diana and Pat were fun and I think I even taught them something they didn't know in my 2 minutes of fame. :)

From there we headed over to Merit Chevrolet to a full class of women, a quick bite to eat and back to the hotel by 9:30 pm. I was in bed by 10 pm so that I could get up early, picked up at 5:30 am, to get to Rosedale Chevrolet and do the FOX channel 9 morning show with M.A. Rosko. We did four 2-3 minute segments for live TV...I had a blast and M.A. now knows how to change a tire!

Our class that night was full again and we even had a couple bloggers to help showcase what LSYE and GM are trying to do...which is to empower women and let them know that GM is interested in their female customer's safety and making them feel comfortable with coming into their dealerships.

So this trip was great fun and another opportunity to work with GM. Thanks again to Jennie and Kelly...and to Amanda, their PR person, for making everything happen and making it look so smooth!

Cheers,
Lori

Women and Driving from the Radical Wrencher

The other day I was talking to a woman about my classes and she was telling me how she'd like to take it, but she didn't have a car. I hear this a lot because I live in the city, but to be honest...I don't understand it. Most people at some time in their life will own a vehicle and we all ride in them. Why not learn what we can about them?

I think that women often rely on men to repair and take care of their vehicles. Older women tell me they don't need the class because their husbands "do all that". Maybe it's just one more thing that women don't want to have to take on if they don't have to, but I think it's important to at least know enough about your vehicle to make educated decisions about repairs.

I thought for sure that when I started teaching these classes that I would get young women, just out of college, wanting to learn about how to maintain their vehicles. What I've found is that I have a lot of women 50 or older that no longer have a man in their life and want to know how to do things themselves.

Women are still taught very little about their vehicles and expected to call "dad" if there's a problem. Unfortunately "dad" can't help you if you're 500 miles from home. I think it's especially important for women to understand their vehicles from a safety perspective. You never know what that 'Good Samaritan' is going to do when they stop to help.

Bottom line, it doesn't matter if you own a vehicle or not. You probably will one day and I'm sure you ride in them. As a woman you owe it to yourself to take advantage of any knowledge you can learn to empower yourself. Let's not fool ourselves....understanding your vehicle is no more a man's place than cooking in the kitchen is a woman's!

P.S. My dad does all the cooking :)

Lori

Filming with the Radical Wrencher

So last Sunday I packed up some bottled water and snacks and headed out for a day of video shooting. I have to tell you that I have a whole new respect for actors. I don't know how they do it. What seems like such a fun and glamorous job to me is tedious and exhausting at best.

Teaching a class to a group of women wins hands down as opposed to trying to give that same information to a camera lens. Words get jumbled, eyes wander and don't seem to look at the camera, thoughts of how to get my point across in a minute means I forget important points...it's all a huge learning curve.

The funny thing is that I end up loving the end product and the idea that women who can't take my class get a visual of how to do things, like changing a headlight bulb. I'm sure I'll get better at it and maybe even one day I won't dread "shoot day"!

Everyone on the shoot is very encouraging and tells me how good everything looks, but inside I'm thinking I just want this to be over :)

So where can you see these videos you're probably asking? Well, I'm doing them for a new website that will launch in just a couple weeks called www.galtime.com. It's a great new website that will offer women access to information on health, finance, family, career, cooking, relationships, beauty/fashion, entertainment, DIY and more.

You'll be able to watch my videos, read informative articles from Bogi and ask us all of your car questions. I'm pretty excited for the launch, but you don't have to wait, go visit the site and sign up. There's already a free give-away!

Lori

Favorite Things...from the Radical Wrencher

The other day I was talking with someone about jumping their vehicle and we got on the topic of a battery jump box. It was amazing to me that they had never heard of it. Maybe because I'm involved in the car industry I hear more about these things...so I thought I'd write about it.

First of all, a jump box is what you would use to jump a dead battery. There are several reasons why I like them. One, they're easy to use. Two, it's hard to really cause damage even if you aren't sure what you're doing. Three, and most important...you don't need anyone else to help you, you can jump yourself.

When you use battery jumper cables you must rely on someone else's vehicle to jump your vehicle. You need to make sure that both of you are very sure of what you're doing, and there is always a possibility that you could cause damage to electrical components on the vehicle that is doing the jumping.

If you have a service like AAA, you'll notice that they don't even use jumper cables anymore....they come with a jump box. This decreases their liability of damaging your vehicle. I highly recommend the jump box for women just on the safety factor alone. As long as you have it with you and you keep it charged, you can jump your own vehicle without having to rely on anyone else.

You can purchase these jump boxes at many automotive stores or places that sell automotive supplies. You'll probably have to spend at least $50 or more for a good quality jump box, but then you will always have peace of mind in case you should ever find yourself in a situation where you need a jump.

Lori

The Radical Wrencher, San Diego and GM

First of all I cannot believe that it’s Thursday already….where did this week go? I had every intention of writing about the San Diego trip as soon as I got back, but time just slipped away.

Oh well, let me back up some and catch you up. Last weekend I flew out Friday night from Philadelphia to San Diego. When I went through security in Philly my bag was pulled aside to be checked. I wasn’t really surprised, I was carrying a bunch of promotional screwdrivers. You’d have to stab someone with a lot of them to do any damage and they must have realized that, because they didn’t seem too concerned. What they did ask me was if I was carrying a brake pad.

I laughed and said I was. I had wanted to bring a worn pad to show what it looked like. I am always unsure what to bring when I travel. When I teach the class in my area I have a whole bunch of things I take with me, many of which would not do well in my luggage. Anyway, the young male security checker seemed excited because apparently he had guessed right from the x-ray. They re-ran my bag and I was on my way….with everything I came with!

Once I got to San Diego I had about an hour wait to meet up with Bogi (wrench wench) who was coming in from Phoenix. This was the first time we were actually meeting even though we’ve been talking for a while. We checked into the hotel, had dinner with Diedra from GM and by 10:30 pm I was dead to the world….only to find myself wide awake at 4:30 am. I forced myself to stay in bed until a friend from back home called around 6 am not realizing where I was.

We headed over to the Marvin K. Brown Dealership where LSYE taught 2 classes for GM. All of the participants had a great time and Bogi and I realized just how compatible we really are. We had the rest of the afternoon to chat, make our business plans and compare notes.

I will only say that there are some big things in the works for Bogi and I with LSYE. It’s exciting to work with someone who has the same vision about educating women about their vehicles. I think we’re going to make a great team by combining our efforts with all of the skills that we both bring to the table. So stay tuned and we will fill you in on what we have planned as the year progresses. Click and Clack….here we come!

Gardening with the Radical Wrencher

On Saturday I spent some time in the afternoon with a neighbor who is home-bound with pneumonia. We are both part of the garden club for the park that is across the street from me. She had mentioned that she needed some help re-potting some seedlings that she had grown, so I volunteered.

I have always loved gardening. There's something satisfying about planting seeds and taking care of them until they produce food that you can eat. I am still amazed every year when this happens, and I've been growing vegetables since I was a kid.

But I think for me it's also about the tranquility of being outside, putting my hands in the soil and feeling a connection to nature. It's relaxing and peaceful...no cell phone ringing, no real sense of time passing...just a quiet time for me to regenerate.

As we sat out on Vicki's front porch and planted, many neighbors stopped by to say hi. Each time Vicki introduced me and told them that I work on cars. She seemed so proud to know a woman who does this, it just made me smile.

I realized as I sat there with my hands in the dirt, that I just love working with my hands. There is such a satisfaction for me to be able to fix things, plant things and just generally work with my hands. It seems that I'm always finding something to do that gets my hands dirty. I think it makes me feel alive and there's nothing like getting in there and giving it a good effort.

I know I've said this a thousand times, but don't ever be afraid to try something new...you just might find out that you love it and that you're good at it.

And never be afraid to get your hands dirty! :)


Lori

Reality from the Radical Wrencher

It was a rainy day yesterday and like most people I don't always think about my wiper blades until it's raining and they don't clear the windshield like they should. It makes me laugh sometimes that I spend so much time giving this advice and then don't have time to listen to it myself.

Unlike most people however, I carry extra blades in my truck. I'm not really sure where they came from. They are probably from a purchase I made once when I was in an automotive store and it struck me that I probably need them.

It was easy enough to just replace the offending wiper and go on my way. So don't wait, like me, until it's really annoying to see out your windshield...check your wiper blades about every 6 months and replace them once a year or more often if need be.

Now I'm hoping that I remember to throw that bad blade away so I don't reach for it next time! ha

Lori

Thoughts from the Radical Wrencher

So for the last week and a half I've been helping Dan pack up his wood shop to move to a new location. For the most part it's just been the two of us. This week we had to load his storage pod and that meant that we needed some burly men to lift the heavy equipment out of the basement and carry it to the pod.

I've gotten very comfortable working with Dan. He respects what I do for a living and thinks it's great. He tells everyone he introduces me to what I do. The two movers came and apparently Dan told them what I do too. They not only think it's cool, but one even asks me a question right away about a problem he's having with his truck.

I found myself feeling like I was back in the shop again. It was so easy to be with these guys. We talk cars, Harleys and even an occasional bad joke slips out. I think it's funny how after just a few hours there seems to be no distinctions between all of us.

We've had some candid conversations, and while we may not all agree, there is mutual respect. I find this refreshing. It's nice when I can be around men who are not afraid to admit that they know nothing about cars and to hear about how they often feel pressured to act like they do.

After 20 years of working with men, I have to say I know a lot about them. Because I work right along side them there are often no pretenses as to how they should act around me. Don't get me wrong, I'm quick to tell them if I find something they say or do to be offensive, but for the most part we've developed a great camaraderie.

Many times I think I'm lucky to have been able to get away from all the stereotypes and just work and have conversations from one human being to another. I think I'm going to miss working with the guys next week.

Lori

Musings from the Radical Wrencher....

Saturday I was teaching a class and we were going over fluid levels and how to check them. After we talked about everything, one of the women said "this is what they charge $40 for?". She was referring to some of the ads that have people come to their shops to check and top off fluids.

I guess I don't really think about it because I have always taken care of my own vehicle, but she made a great point. She realized that after I showed them everything, it was a less daunting task than they had thought. I think that there is merit in offering a service like this to people who don't have time or interest in checking it themselves, but in today's economy, a little knowledge can save you some money.

I always encourage the women to get under their hood and familiarize themselves with where everything is located on their vehicle. I tell them that if it explains how to check it or replace it in the owner's manual, then it's something they can do.

Obviously there are some jobs best left to a trained technician, but the simple every day walk-around maintenance items can often be done by the owner of the vehicle. It's also an opportunity to catch things before they become serious problems by simply knowing what you're looking at.

It was great knowing that I was able to de-mystify some of the automotive jargon for this group of women. By giving them confidence to explore their vehicle on their own and know how easy it can be to maintain it, they can now be educated consumers and that their automobile may not be so mysterious after all!

Lori

For the last couple days I've been working with someone who does woodwork. We've been breaking down the shop in his home to move it to his new work space. My initial reason for helping was to make some extra money. Once I got there, my whole perspective changed.

First of all you need to understand that I'm a huge fan of power tools. While hand held ones are what I usually use, I'm always fascinated by larger equipment. Well he has it. Routers, saws...things I've never heard of that do really cool things to wood. We hit it off right away.

He laughed the first day when he told me that my eyes where huge looking at all of the equipment. I think for most people that like to work with their hands, no matter what it is....it's easy to be pulled into other interests like plumbing, electrical and wood workeven if you don't do a lot of it.

For me it's all about building something, or understanding how something works and then making it work for you. I have to laugh though, because again I've been sucked into something that few women do...again. Almost as rare as working on cars, women in woodworking is also something more men tend to do.

And why is that? Because we wouldn't want the little women to get hurt using this dangerous equipment! :) He's already asked me to come help him set up the new shop with him....which of course I'm all over. I have a great old desk at home I'm hoping to take to his shop once he's set up and learn all about refinishing it. Of course I'm also itching to get on that band saw!

I cannot stress enough to women, if there is something that you love to do, but have been afraid to try because someone has told you it's too dangerous, or women don't do that....stop and think to yourself...why not? and give it a try. I am most happy when I have a project to work on that doesn't involve sitting at this computer all day! Which I have to tell you I've already had to remove the keyboard to fix..yet another "hands on project"

Get out there and play...the world is a big place and there's lots of fun things to try and learn!

Lori