ATA Professional Ethics & Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A customer asks you to install a draw-weight mod that exceeds the bow manufacturer's published maximum. What is the ethically correct response?
- Install it if the customer signs a waiver
- Refuse the modification and explain why it voids the manufacturer warranty and creates safety risk (Correct answer)
- Install it only if the bow is older than five years
- Charge a premium and proceed without documentation
Correct answer: Refuse the modification and explain why it voids the manufacturer warranty and creates safety risk
Installing components beyond manufacturer specifications creates a safety hazard and violates ATA ethical standards, regardless of customer consent.
Question 2: Under ATA standards, when should a bow technician document a repair in writing?
- Only when the repair costs more than $100
- Only for warranty repairs
- For every service interaction, regardless of scope (Correct answer)
- Only when the customer requests documentation
Correct answer: For every service interaction, regardless of scope
ATA best practices require written documentation of all service work to maintain accountability and protect both technician and customer.
Question 3: A competitor's customer comes in claiming your shop did a bad tune job — but the bow was never in your shop. How should you respond?
- Agree to fix it for free to win the customer
- Deny responsibility and send the customer away
- Politely clarify you have no record of the bow, then offer to assess its current condition professionally (Correct answer)
- Publicly dispute the claim on social media
Correct answer: Politely clarify you have no record of the bow, then offer to assess its current condition professionally
Professional ethics require honesty about your shop's work history while still offering helpful service to the customer.
Question 4: Which practice best demonstrates commitment to continuing education as an ATA-certified technician?
- Attending ATA trade shows and manufacturer training seminars annually (Correct answer)
- Relying solely on experience gained on the shop floor
- Reading online forums as the primary knowledge source
- Asking customers what they have learned about new products
Correct answer: Attending ATA trade shows and manufacturer training seminars annually
ATA encourages technicians to pursue formal manufacturer and industry training to stay current with evolving bow technology.
Question 5: A technician notices a hairline crack in a riser during a routine string change. The customer says 'just put the string on, it's fine.' What should the technician do?
- Honor the customer's request and install the string
- Refuse to service the bow and clearly inform the customer of the safety defect in writing (Correct answer)
- Install the string but say nothing to avoid conflict
- Replace the riser without telling the customer
Correct answer: Refuse to service the bow and clearly inform the customer of the safety defect in writing
A structurally compromised bow presents a serious injury risk; ethical duty requires the technician to refuse unsafe service and document the finding.
Question 6: When quoting a repair estimate, ATA ethical standards require that you:
- Quote low to win business and adjust the final price later
- Provide an honest written estimate before beginning work (Correct answer)
- Quote verbally to keep the process informal
- Only quote after the repair is completed
Correct answer: Provide an honest written estimate before beginning work
Transparent pre-service estimates protect the customer from surprise charges and reflect the professional integrity expected of certified technicians.
Question 7: An employee asks you (the shop owner/senior tech) to backdate a warranty claim so it falls within the coverage window. You should:
- Allow it if the damage clearly existed before the warranty expired
- Refuse, as falsifying dates constitutes fraud regardless of the circumstances (Correct answer)
- Allow it once as a goodwill gesture to the employee
- Ask the manufacturer first and follow whatever they say
Correct answer: Refuse, as falsifying dates constitutes fraud regardless of the circumstances
Backdating a warranty claim is fraud — it violates ATA ethical standards and potentially federal law.
ATA Professional Ethics & Standards 2
A customer asks you to install a draw-weight mod that exceeds the bow manufacturer's published maximum.
What is the ethically correct response?