MEET THE TEAM: Our North Lakes Service Advisor, Michelle Pink

June 14, 2021

Can you stand on your head and paint a pet portrait? Okay, maybe not at the same time, but our Service Advisor, Pinky can do both – because she’s quirky like that!  And that’s one of the many reasons we love her!

Michelle “Pinky” Pink is one of the smiling faces who greets our servicing guests and making them feel welcome is what she does best. (Umm, did we just rhyme?)

The other thing Pinky’s great at, is educating our guests on how to extend the life of their car. From sand removal to deterring rats, she’s got all the tips that actually WORK, so we asked for her advice, and to tell us a little more about what she does here at Torque.

Let’s hear what she said…

Thanks for catching up with us, Pinky! Now, tell us – What does a day in the life of a Torque Toyota Service Advisor look like?

Michelle: I arrive at 7am to open up, grab a coffee, boot up the computer, and turn on some music. Our doors open at 7:15am and I always like to start the day with a big ‘Good Morning!!’ when we step outside to greet everyone waiting with their vehicles on the driveway.

Once we meet and greet our first guests for the day, we dress up the vehicles in their ‘surgical gowns and slippers’ (aka Seat cover and floor mat), park them around the back, hand in the keys, and race back out to do it all again with the next guest. Each Service Advisor does this around 15 times per day, so it’s lucky I don’t wear high heels!

I also help arrange loan cars for guests, organise shuttle services, or a piggyback ride around the block (okay, I made that last part up!). Making people feel welcome and comfortable is what I like to do best.

Ha! We’ll take a piggyback, thanks. So, what do you enjoy the most about your job?

Michelle: It’s all about the people. I love my team. We have a laugh every day and get along so well. I also love meeting new faces and getting a smile out of everyone I meet.

What are your top tips on how to increase the longevity of a vehicle? 

Michelle:

• Monitor your tyres – 40 PSI air pressure all round and check it once a month. Do a wheel alignment every 20,000kms, you’ll prolong the tyre wear.
• Save up for your services and be prepared for safety items that need replacement such as brakes. Don’t cut corners on safety!
• Wintertime is when rodents search for warm engines to nestle into. Put traps in your garage, or pieces of snakeskin in your engine bay, to deter them. These nasty critters can chew your vehicle’s wiring and cause big bills in repairs!
• After driving on the beach, the best way to wash off the sand and salt underneath is with a garden sprinkler, letting it run for 20 mins. Using a gurney will only blast the sand up deeper into every crack and crevice.
• Add a bottle of Toyota fuel injector cleaner to your fuel tank once a year. There’s a lot of dodgy fuel around.
• Service by your log book – saves getting a massive list of repairs that all need urgent attention and headache.

Great tips! Now, we want to learn more about you. How long have you been at Torque?

Michelle: 6.5 years.

Where were you working prior to that?

City Subaru

What was your first job?

Michelle: Working at a BP Truck stop on the Bruce Highway, Maryborough.

What was your first car?

Michelle: A 1979 Datsun 200B.

What car do you drive now?

Michelle: A Toyota FJ Cruiser. I love this car to bits. It’s quirky like me!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Michelle: Four-wheel driving around the countryside and beach. Camping under the stars on a full moon – I just love our great outdoors.

 Any feel-good stories where you feel like you’ve truly helped a guest?

Michelle: I remember a lovely gentleman brought in his Prado with a rattle in the tailgate that a few service centres just couldn’t rectify, and it was very frustrating for him. After asking many questions and getting our foreman to road test with him – we found the root of the concern, fixed it, and since then he always comes in and asks for me. I even get a lovely Christmas card from him every year. What a lovely guy! It’s moments like these that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

 Tell us about some of the fun you have here with your team… aside from working hard of course.

Michelle: One thing that makes me laugh every time is seeing our Senior Service Advisor Sean Hutton skip around the office as he likes to do, singing aloud in his deep, head-turning voice that sounds just like Barry White! Often, he even sings into the phone when it rings – haha!

Do you have a secret talent?

Michelle: I love painting landscapes and pet portraits with acrylics… Oh and I can stand on my head for a long time too. Hehe.

As you can see, there’s never a dull moment when our loveable Pinky’s around. Look out for her and the rest of our friendly Servicing team next time you’re in – they’d love to say hi, and assist you with all your vehicle needs!