Meeting people as a mechanic.

[BP]

They do that because the real one he needed is probably at least $300

Throw a mil-spec on it and it's another $300

[helosailor]

Throw a mil-spec on it and it's another $300

Yep, and an "nsn" automatically triples the price.

[68RR]

Changed 3 parts on an A-300-600R.. 720K!!

[Super Cubano]

Had a guy come to my shop, with wife and new born. His concern was that his worn out early 90's Cavalier pulled to the left. The pull was too dangerous for his wife to drive it, was what he told me.

So I write him up and procede to go test drive the vehicle for alignment. It was raining and when I went to turn right, there were no brakes! Pedal to the floor with a street lamp coming quick. I pull the E brake and crawl it back to the shop. I inform the customer what happened and suggested we look at the brake issue instead of aligning it. He tells me its been like that for awhile and that he would rather fix the pull. I handed him the keys and told him to leave, then turned to his wife and told her not to put the baby in that car.
She looked at me like I was retarded.

Cant fix STUPID

[dee]

I'm glad I work in shop where I don't have to deal with the general public. Only downside is the money sometimes isn't as good but there is a constant check and decent benefits so it seems like a fair trade.

[Cooter]

I'm glad I work in shop where I don't have to deal with the general public. Only downside is the money sometimes isn't as good but there is a constant check and decent benefits so it seems like a fair trade.

retail often has potential to be shitty

I've gotten to the point where I try to only deal with shop owners and car dealers

[talisman]

retail often has potential to be shitty

I've gotten to the point where I try to only deal with shop owners and car dealers

lol, those guys can be even shittier man! But both have a large suck potential, especially when you combine them into running an auto parts store.

[LaserSVT]

Customer drops off a 1973 Mustang Vert with a Cleveland in it. Been sitting in a garage for 10 years. Wants it to be road worthy on his $1000 budget. I told him that $1000 will allow me to do the brakes and did he want me to make the car run as well. LOL.
He said it has a full tank of gas. I explained it has a full tank of paint thinner.

[LaserSVT]

Forgot about this thread.

Had a dude come in saying he needed a tune up on his car because the engine has to come out. Its a rare car with a 400HP V6.
Interesting, I must see this car and I go out to look at it. Imagine my surprise when I see a 2001 Mercury Sable sitting there.....?
"Yup, they only made 3. 400HP doodle over heard cans (I shit you not) V6." I am about to tell him what he really has when he goes off on a story. Here is the condensed version:
"My uncle bought a cop car. Ol innercper. Was a Chevy Maurauder made by Pontiac. Had a 700 inch engine with a Ford 14" rear end. Had this big ol special electronic fuel pump that you cant buy and it put a bunch of fuel in the motor. I think it put more gas in it than a supercharger. This here Sable is faster though."

Uhhhhhhhh, yeah. Um, so, that tune-up is $163 and I can fix that vac leak that is making the car run like crap. LOL

[Baron Von Crowder]

I had a guy roll up last night at 830, walks right into the glass door, then starts telling me that they had a bad spare tire, blah blah blah. I walked out to the car, its got the space saver spare on the left front, tire is toast, and the edge of the steel wheel is ground down from driving on the wheel. I told them I didnt have a way to help them, other than to call a tow truck, so they got in the car and drove off.

[Chili]

I had a guy roll up last night at 830, walks right into the glass door, then starts telling me that they had a bad spare tire, blah blah blah. I walked out to the car, its got the space saver spare on the left front, tire is toast, and the edge of the steel wheel is ground down from driving on the wheel. I told them I didnt have a way to help them, other than to call a tow truck, so they got in the car and drove off.

I still don't know how you don't just shoo drive-ups away asap.

[Baron Von Crowder]

I still don't know how you don't just shoo drive-ups away asap.

You'd be surprised at how many of those folks that stop by for something BS and we politely dismiss them have either sent people or bought cars from Jason. Any given weekend day 4-5 cars that he sold will drive by and honk. We have a bit of a reputation for being good guys, so people try to watch the shop, cars, etc for us. Even as crappy as it is, there is the small town mentality going on.

[Chili]

You'd be surprised at how many of those folks that stop by for something BS and we politely dismiss them have either sent people or bought cars from Jason. Any given weekend day 4-5 cars that he sold will drive by and honk. We have a bit of a reputation for being good guys, so people try to watch the shop, cars, etc for us. Even as crappy as it is, there is the small town mentality going on.

Huh.. That's cool, and makes sense.

[BP]

If you are ever welding anything at night make for darned sure the arc isn't visible from the street or you'll have every painter and lawn care guy in a 20 mile radius stopping by wanting you to fix their trailer.

[LaserSVT]

So today I had one of those I wanted to kick in the teeth. I have a 2001 Continental for sale and this dude calls me up wanting to look at it. I say sure and he shows up 15 minutes latter with his "mechanic". So I go over the car with him and he loves it then mr "mechanic" tries to look under the hood. Yells out "Hood release don't work!" I tell him to stop pulling on the parking brake release and pull the hood release. He does then rushes to the front to pop the hood. I waited two full minutes as he fumbled for the hood latch until I stepped in. The second the hood went up he says "Nope! Stay away from that engine! Its no good!" I am puzzled by this because the engine is dead silent, not a single vibration, no smoke and does not leak a drop. So I ask this obviously superior specimen as to why the motor is junk. He says "Those Yamaha motors are no good and break cranks." .... *tries to be patient* .... "Sir, the Yahmaha V8 was in the Taurus SHO and is considerably smaller than this one. This is whats known as a Teksid block DOHC V8 from Fords Modular line. It shares not a single bolt with the Yamaha V8 and is known to be one of the strongest blocks Ford ever made. Further more it has C series heads so it has excellent power potential." He shouts that I am wrong and hes been a mechanic for some unbelievable number of years and knows these Town Cars inside in and out...... now I am even more confused.

So I bring him over to the shop Mark VIII and pop the hood. He responds like everyone else "Holy crap how did you fit that in there. Looks bad ass! That's a nice motor there." Thank you sir, happens to be THE EXACT SAME MOTOR AS THE ONE YOU JUST TRASHED!

Of course I am once again told I am misinformed. I tell the kid to go online and do research on the car. He will see the motor is bullet proof but the trans is not but I just put a new trans in it and it has warranty.