Meeting people as a mechanic.

[Gasser64]

I always figured the dealers service department was only there to make you realize how much your car is going to cost for top dollar work

The dealership is definitely NOT top quality work...

Then I get to see the joy to which I get to spend several hours in. Yes those are vice grips holding the fan switch in place.

I know don't know a whole lot about your industry, so I have to ask. Why do you take stuff like that? I think if it were me, and I saw anything like that ranger, I'd just be like "no". No thank you. Please leave the premises in the same manner in which you arrived. Do you have to take jobs like that? If you turned away some of those laughing stocks like that ranger, would you be hurting for customers?

Shit like that passes inspection but heaven forbid your tint is 20%. I wish Texas would wake up and eliminate inspection like Florida (and others).

Think of all that money they'd lose! They have to have that!! Its for the schools! Its for the children!

[AnthonyS]

When I was in the Navy I used to do mechanic work on the side for others. I did head gaskets on a 3.8 t bird once and got screwed with a $50 payment and McDonald's lunch. That's when I started saying NO. I even had a machine shop I did lots of work with surface the heads for me while I waited (had the entire job done in one day). I then got pickier and started just doing what I wanted to do. Now I do very little.... very little. But knowing what I'm talking about and what I want done saves me a fortune when I need to have something done.

I am going to be doing a head gasket, timing belt, and some other odds and ends on what is going to become my son's first car soon though. He is going to do lots of the labor and I will help him though. You want to get your mechanic chops in order, go to work on the German stuff. It's so over engineered; it's a total fuck the mechanic world. It makes you really good. I've done Audi 2.7t timing belts, and even did a 1.8t timing belt and water pump on the side of the road once..... never again. I'm glad I can afford to pay others to do the work I can't and don't want to do anymore.

[LaserSVT]

I take stuff like that in because nobody else will. I have gotten a reputation in town for fixing the unfixable. Mostly its due to them wearing me down. The majority are previous customers or friends/family of previous customers and they will beg me to work on their car. The Focus is a prime example. I told him I wouldn't work on it unless I am allowed to fix the OBVIOUS things I can see first. He asks again for me to please check it out. I tell him yet again and then add if I have to track down the issue without fixing the obvious stuff that I will charge him an hourly rate for every minute I am near the car. He then says "Bill, I am begging you. Please work on the car." and then I cave in and work on it.

So from time to time I have to work on these wonderful cars but its not all the time. I just give you guys the highlight reels. Nobody wants to hear about the 100 starters or water pumps or tune ups that went smoothly, they want the poo. The nasty stuff that was "fixed" by hacks before.

[EW]

You are not charging enough to do a radio install.

[LaserSVT]

You are not charging enough to do a radio install.

That is not my normal rate. He is the son of a good friend that just passed away last month. He was always worried about his family and I always said that I will keep an eye on them and help out when I can. Just keeping my word.

[line-em-up]

Can't blame a guy for trying, right?

[appelingogt]

The dealership is definitely NOT top quality work...

Who the fuck is this guy?



Edit: I can agree to some extent, I've seen shoddy work from dealers...but you sir can shut your whore mouth.

[Forever_frost]

This reminds me of my Mustang. The wiring under the dash was extension cords. If you wanted turn signals, you unplugged the headlights and plugged in the turn signal. I think it was Blake that redid the wiring on that car.

[4king]

Who the fuck is this guy?



Edit: I can agree to some extent, I've seen shoddy work from dealers...but you sir can shut your whore mouth.

A dealer doesn't have to do great work they just need to charge more than an average shop so they can justify why a customer should check out a great new vehicle with less problems.

I had a customer come in today and demand I look at her ac because it started blowing hot and it's probably something simple. I explained 3 times that I would gladly look however it probably wasn't something simple and it needed to be seen by a mechanic the car was a suzuki esteem. She told me I didn't know shit anyways and stormed off.

When a customer comes in and genuinely knows they are in a rough spot and are humble about it, it is really enjoyable to help them as much as I can if not more than I usually do, but being arrogant and acting like I'm really not doing shit to help you its impossible to help them. Their shit attitude towards you won't go away even if you waved your magic wand and fixed everything a second later.

I love to help those who need it, but if you act like I'm not really doing shit for you and it's 110 degrees outside and I'm in a Polo shirt and black pants? Yeah let me just let you scream at me inside rather than waste 20 minutes trying to tell you why I can't fix it for free

And I always Laugh when some one pulls up in a 2013 or newer car asking about adding freon. Black interior? Yep, no window tint? Yep, sir your ac vents are at about 130 degrees and by the time the cold air comes out of them they aren't cold anymore. Do you have a sun shade?

I really haven't had any crazy ones lately, they are doing construction in front of my store and it really cuts down. On my check engine light and stupid customers. My Custer satisfaction numbers are very high, my customer count is down, and my sales are up 5%. The construction is helping business really

[JC316]

Who the fuck is this guy?



Edit: I can agree to some extent, I've seen shoddy work from dealers...but you sir can shut your whore mouth.

My brother in law's 2013 F250 6.7L shit the bed on him. I towed it to the service department of the local ford house. First thing, they tried like hell to get him out of there without actually taking the truck. "Oh we can't get to it for at least three days", "Oh we only have one diesel tech and he isn't going to be here".

Next up, he guy working the counter and vaguely pointed toward the shop and told me to drop it off back there. I went out and looked for a tech to ask him where he wanted it. Every bay was full, there was a coyote motor sitting on an engine stand, fans going, radio blaring, and not a tech in sight. This is 9AM on a monday...

Finally found a guy and he told me to park the truck back with some other dead vehicles. He asked me my opinion of what happened, I explained it and told him it was likely the PCM (which it was by the way). We left, then about an hour later, a tech called asking for the keyless entry code because he locked the key in the truck...

Two days later, my BIL went up to see if they got to it yet, and saw his back glass was busted out. Went to the service department and they didn't even know. Come to find out, this same thing happened three weeks ago and they did nothing about it. They apologized, put it in the shop and said they would fix it. Bout 3 hours later they call to inform him that the key was left in the truck and is now missing after the break in. Now they need to fix the glass, change all of the key cylinders, and reprogram new keys.

Now they're waiting on the back glass, and they're also claiming that the batteries that worked fine last week aren't holding a charge and he is going to need new ones... This is far from top quality work.

[Cooter]

That's what I think of when I think of dealer service...

That's why any swingin' dick mouth-breather can open a diesel shop down where I am and thrive even if they don't know shit about shit

[Gasser64]

Who the fuck is this guy?



Edit: I can agree to some extent, I've seen shoddy work from dealers...but you sir can shut your whore mouth.

Looks like you got your answer. Once they break off parts of your vehicle, then leave them in your passenger seat, and tell you they're finished, you might change your tune.

Once they can't diagnose a bad coil pack to save their lives, you'll know its the truth.

[YALE]

My brother in law's 2013 F250 6.7L shit the bed on him. I towed it to the service department of the local ford house. First thing, they tried like hell to get him out of there without actually taking the truck. "Oh we can't get to it for at least three days", "Oh we only have one diesel tech and he isn't going to be here".

Next up, he guy working the counter and vaguely pointed toward the shop and told me to drop it off back there. I went out and looked for a tech to ask him where he wanted it. Every bay was full, there was a coyote motor sitting on an engine stand, fans going, radio blaring, and not a tech in sight. This is 9AM on a monday...

Finally found a guy and he told me to park the truck back with some other dead vehicles. He asked me my opinion of what happened, I explained it and told him it was likely the PCM (which it was by the way). We left, then about an hour later, a tech called asking for the keyless entry code because he locked the key in the truck...

Two days later, my BIL went up to see if they got to it yet, and saw his back glass was busted out. Went to the service department and they didn't even know. Come to find out, this same thing happened three weeks ago and they did nothing about it. They apologized, put it in the shop and said they would fix it. Bout 3 hours later they call to inform him that the key was left in the truck and is now missing after the break in. Now they need to fix the glass, change all of the key cylinders, and reprogram new keys.

Now they're waiting on the back glass, and they're also claiming that the batteries that worked fine last week aren't holding a charge and he is going to need new ones... This is far from top quality work.

I wouldn't be shocked to learn one of the techs broke the window to get to the key they locked in there.

[JC316]

I wouldn't be shocked to learn one of the techs broke the window to get to the key they locked in there.

There was a big chain and a pair of socks that didn't belong to my BIL. The cops said that a bunch of F250's were stolen recently and the thieves likely took the key in hopes of stealing it once it was fixed. I wouldn't be shocked if it's an inside job.

[LaserSVT]

A dealer doesn't have to do great work they just need to charge more than an average shop so they can justify why a customer should check out a great new vehicle with less problems.

I had a customer come in today and demand I look at her ac because it started blowing hot and it's probably something simple. I explained 3 times that I would gladly look however it probably wasn't something simple and it needed to be seen by a mechanic the car was a suzuki esteem. She told me I didn't know shit anyways and stormed off.

When a customer comes in and genuinely knows they are in a rough spot and are humble about it, it is really enjoyable to help them as much as I can if not more than I usually do, but being arrogant and acting like I'm really not doing shit to help you its impossible to help them. Their shit attitude towards you won't go away even if you waved your magic wand and fixed everything a second later.

I love to help those who need it, but if you act like I'm not really doing shit for you and it's 110 degrees outside and I'm in a Polo shirt and black pants? Yeah let me just let you scream at me inside rather than waste 20 minutes trying to tell you why I can't fix it for free

And I always Laugh when some one pulls up in a 2013 or newer car asking about adding freon. Black interior? Yep, no window tint? Yep, sir your ac vents are at about 130 degrees and by the time the cold air comes out of them they aren't cold anymore. Do you have a sun shade?

I really haven't had any crazy ones lately, they are doing construction in front of my store and it really cuts down. On my check engine light and stupid customers. My Custer satisfaction numbers are very high, my customer count is down, and my sales are up 5%. The construction is helping business really

I hate those people that are rude and stupid. I am the same way, if you are polite and friendly I will do everything I can to help and will usually give a discount. If you are rude I will sell you the parts at list and you get full book rate plus any add ons I can find. I am not punishing those with an attitude, I just do not reward them like I do a nice customer.

Like todays AC job. I know the guys son and didnt know it was his sons truck. I like the father but the son not so much. So I priced it out as if it were the fathers truck. I charge $65 to do AC diagnostics and that includes up to 1lb of R134a. If you have me perform the repair than I wont charge for the EVAC/Recharge process and still include that 1st lb of refrigerant. So I replace his compressor, orifice tube and drier and get rid of the excess oil in the system. Father comes and gets it, loves the price, loves the speed of service and loves the cold air. Hour latter the son calls and is really pissy. Said he thought the recharge was free. I explained it to him and he shot back with "Well whats this $28 charge for!?" Well, sir, thats the charge to replace the drier. He shoots back with "No! The other $28!" Well, sir, thats for the orifice tube replacement. I then notice I forgot to charge him for the other 1.5lbs of refrigerant and mention that. "Shit! Sorry I even called." Yeah, me too.

Or yesterday when this kid pulls into one of my bays with his rat turd Caddy. Pops his hood like he works there and says he needs more Freeon. I politly told him sure, just give me 20 minutes and I can check it out. He can wait in the AC office if he wishes. "What? You cant take 5 minutes to charge it?" Yes. Yes I can.... AFTER I am done with this thermostat and coolant sensor in this V10 Dodge that i am under the hood of. 15-20 minutes. "You can stop that and charge my AC." I could, but I wont. Would you be happy if I was working on your car and someone else came in and demanded I stopped and worked on their car instead? Am I going to push back this $1200 job for your $65 job? Not a chance.
I didnt say those last two sentences but wanted to. He stormed off in a huff and tried to pull out rapidly but it was a 4.1HT Cadillac so there was no rapid anything happening. LOL

I did have a guy cuss me out today because I wouldnt go out and show him how to use his refrigerant suicide kit he just bought. I was really nice and explained in great detail why those kits are bad and show him why my refrigerant gauges were $310 and not free with a can of cold juice. He decided I had no idea what I was talking about and all the commercials show people just hooking the can up and then needing sweaters. *shock face* LMFAO!!!