Meeting people as a mechanic.

[Whiteboy]

Running jokes are usually funny around here, but you're justining this shit up.

He's a douche

[Gasser64]

Running jokes are usually funny around here, but you're justining this shit up.

How do you denny shit up? Ima go around doing that now.

[appelingogt]

Hey laser, do you get very many "please fix my shit for free because im a lazy dumb fuck who wants to spend my money on hookers and blow" calls? Anyways...Had another adventure today...This older fella drove his 95 Mitsubishi something or another thru the service lane straight into the shop and literally "super soaker" spraying oil out of the front main seal, spaying all over the floor and a/c flush machine...he FUCKING honks his motherfucking horn and waves me over to him. With a smile (im sub-consciously beating his ass), I ask can I help you??? His reply..no shit...."I need an inspection, AND IVE HEARD THEY ARE CHEAPER THIS YEAR, SO I DONT EXPECT TO GET RIPPED OFF!!!1" I say, sorry sir, it is 12 and I don't have anyone here for inspections at this time...plus you have a serious oil leak and you seriously need to change out those tires, I see chords showing and you're missing one of your wiper blades." He mumble and calls me a tree hugger...I hope he chokes on a stick of butter.

[JC316]

I impaled my finger on a screwdriver today thanks to some dipshit that used what I believe is PVC glue on the coil connector of a 4.6L COP. I broke all of the connector off and still can't get that damned thing to let go of the pins. Didn't know you could get that much blood out of a fingertip.

[LaserSVT]

Hey laser, do you get very many "please fix my shit for free because im a lazy dumb fuck who wants to spend my money on hookers and blow" calls? Anyways...Had another adventure today...This older fella drove his 95 Mitsubishi something or another thru the service lane straight into the shop and literally "super soaker" spraying oil out of the front main seal, spaying all over the floor and a/c flush machine...he FUCKING honks his motherfucking horn and waves me over to him. With a smile (im sub-consciously beating his ass), I ask can I help you??? His reply..no shit...."I need an inspection, AND IVE HEARD THEY ARE CHEAPER THIS YEAR, SO I DONT EXPECT TO GET RIPPED OFF!!!1" I say, sorry sir, it is 12 and I don't have anyone here for inspections at this time...plus you have a serious oil leak and you seriously need to change out those tires, I see chords showing and you're missing one of your wiper blades." He mumble and calls me a tree hugger...I hope he chokes on a stick of butter.

I actually do get those. Just yesterday as I was closing up and starting my truck an irate African American lady pulls in and stops in front of my bay doors and lays on her horn. I shut off the truck and ask if I may be of service. She said John sent her. Okay, I know like 40 Johns. Says she needs her window fixed and proceeds to hit the switch. Its a Pontiac and I know the problem. I tell her its just the regulator, no big deal and I can fix it in the morning. She gets upset and says why cant i do it right now? I inform her its 6:30 and I close at 5 and the parts guys dont deliver any more and I am tired but would be happy to do it n the morning and it wont take an hour. She angrily tells me about how busy she is and this and that but she will be here if she has to. No problem I tell her and the repair is about $180. SHE FLIPS OUT! "What you mean I have to pay!? John said it be free! You trying to rip me off!" Huh? Ahh........ and she speeds off. Well that left me scratching my head.


The one that gets me the most is the damn inspection station out front. Its been an inspection station for years. It has 9 huge signs on it. I have signs on my shop saying I am not the inspection station and they need to go to the front building where it says "State Inspections". People get pissed at me when they come in demanding an inspection and I point out its the front building that says "State Inspection".... see that huge sign above your car in the building that you are blocking? Yeah, go there.

The conversations are always the same and its more annoying when its a person that i know I told last year and the year before.
I need an inspection.
Go to the front building.
You dont do it here?
No, I am not the inspection station. Front building.
So its up there?
Yes, the building that says state inspection.
You cant do it here?
No. I am not the inspection station.
I had it done here last year!
No you didnt. I directed you to that building last year.
No! It was here. I remember you! You did it!
Um, no. Front building, see Al, same guy thats done it over a decade.
So i have to go over there.
Yes.
How much is it and do I have to have insurance?
I. Am. Not. The. Inspection. Guy. If you want me to inspect your car a 121 point inspection is $65.
For the inspection sticker!?

At this point I walk away. Sometimes I go up and visit Al and we joke about the few people that i have pissed off. But damn, I get that question 20 times a day and have to stop what i am doing to explain all of that. Worse is when hes closed because i cant see his door. So I go through the troule of directing them only for them to come back 2 minutes latter and grill me on what his hours are and where is he at and when will he be back and can I give them his cell number.
I dont fucking know! hes a different shop. he comes and go as he pleases. He has no set hours.

I hate sitting there doing paperwork and watch a person walk up to my door and read the sign (you know they are reading it because their lips are moving) that says "State Inspections done in front building" and then walk right in and say "I need an inspection." *bangs head on desk*

[LaserSVT]

Oh yeah, here was a funny inspection one. Its closing time and me, my techs and a couple friends are just hanging out having some beers and the identical twin to my truck pulls in and gets in line for an inspection. We are all looking at the truck commenting on it and the guy is staring back at all of us like we are crazy or something. Thats when I notice smoke starting to come out from the driver front wheel and point it out so we are all staring at that wheel and I notice a red glow and then POOF! flames start shooting out. Me and Cameron grab an extinguisher and run to the truck while everyone else is running over yelling at him to get himself and his kids out now. He jumps out like we are gonna brawl and then sees the flames. We get the fire out and push the truck to my bay and get it in the air. Caliper locked and melted the brake line. The rotor was still just over 400* after we hit it with a full 20lb ABC extinguisher and the brake fluid was still trying to catch on fire. I quote him out for a new caliper, rotor, bearings, brake hose and pads. Single dad, wife just died, you can tell they are broke as hell. He wants us to just cap off that line. No sir, we dont do that. He aint got the $380 for the overhaul and its their only car. I told him its way too dangerous and he needs to protect his kids. I have to say his kids were just the sweetest things, melted my heart. He had $150 on him. I have a soft spot for situations like that so I told him give me $50 and then I went and picked up all the parts. Noticed the passenger side caliper and line were not in great shape so we just redid the whole setup. I hear the kids grumbling because they hadnt eaten all day and it was almost 8PM. I ordered in some pizza and wings and man did they do some damage! LOL
I wasnt expecting it but that man practically drags people to my shop any time he knows anyone with car problems. The kids granparents stop by all the time with food. The grandmother makes these brisket tacos........ oh man are they killer. Two almost put me in a coma. She uses corn tortillas that are like burrito size and they meat just melts in your mouth. Woman needs to open a restaurant. LOL

[4king]

The one I get all the time is "a new battery is how much!!? Last time it was only $80 you're trying to rip me off!"

I will tell you this, new batteries are cheapest at walmart, but the average consumer doesn't know how to install one that is why they come to autozone. I may cost a little more but I install it and I'm open 7am-10pm 7 days a week.

Man when I was running the plano store I use to get people at least once a day asking for an oil change, I'd ring them up and they would say ok do I just need to pull around back now or how long is the wait. What do you mean you don't do oil changes? Why would anyone else change the oil themselves??

Or better yet pull a misfire code for a Chinese guy and tell him it needs a tune up spark plugs and wires he begs and pleads us to do it for him, sorry we don't do the, the next thing I know he is walking around to random people in the store asking them to change his spark plugs.

I have gone out of my way for customers before, taking a phone payment for a battery and going to a local house to install it for a customer, the last person I did never said thank you once. It was two lesion chicks and the butch one kept saying she could have done this if she had her tools the whole time. Then I had a Hispanic woman who could barely speak English with a taurus with front end damage, her headlight was out and she needed help, I change the bulb and she tries to slide me some money and I refuse, she stuffs it in my shirt pocket and I thank her many times. When I finally check my pocket it was a $100 bill with a hand written thank you note on it about how every shop in town tried to charge her for a new headlight housing and she came here expecting the same thing.

It's the little stuff that keeps you going, 1 out of ten customers is generally grateful and it does keep you going

[LaserSVT]

That is true. I do sell a lot of the new batteries you guys do through dealers like myself. The battery isnt any more expensive but people love that it comes with a warranty that includes free jump service and if the battery fails and you are away from home and the Autozones are closed that they will reimburse you up to $200 for hotel and food. Thats a hell of a warranty.
I also started buying alternators and starters from you guys due to that 24 hour labor reimbusment if the part fails. i hate putting in a labor claim with oreillys and wait for 6 months to get 20 cents on the dollar. Autozone gives me what i charge and does it within a day! Now thats service.


Few weeks ago we had our first Prius that needed new headlights. It was the HID version. I looked it up and it was supposed to be $1000. I couldnt believe it. The customer said yeah, its $1000 at the Toyota dealer. $300 per bulb and $400 to install. I saw i had to remove the front bumper but that takes 20 minutes. I also saw i could get the bulbs for $45 each. So I figured hour labor and two bulbs, $160 plus tax. When i gave her that price she almost left because she figured we had no idea what we were doing. I did have other customers in the shop and they both said "You can trust these guys" so she let us do it. After we were done she was actually crying saying shes never been to an honest shop before. I was kinda sad that thats how most people view shops. Crooks or incompetent.

Right after he though we had an impala come in needing a bulb. They do have to remove the bumper too but its a lot easier. I told the lady its $35 to replace those bulbs and she started to swear at me! Called me all kinds of names. She left but came back the next day and said the other shops wouldnt do it or wanted $100 to do it and that she will LET me do it now. I laughed and gave her directions to the Chevy dealer. LOL
Its good to be the boss.

[4king]

Haha. BMW headlights are the dickens, my first one the chick was rude as hell and texting on her phone next to me the whole time asking if all headlights took this long. Again no thank yous, no gratuity, just ungrateful.

I'm positive BTW the pre 2015 impala headlights are held in with a sliding clip and one bolt.

Yeah our Comercial is trying to really grab oreilleys business in commercial. On average most AZ stores do 1/3 the shop business of oreilleys.

We are good about shop referrals, believe it or not we actually refer a lot of business with those free check engine lights. Same thing as your customers applies stop by the store once or twice a week and you'll get at least 2-3 referrals a day from us. Oreilleys could care less, their diy and customer service is crap because they use all their labor to deliver parts

I will say a lot of mobile mechanics take advantage of our lifetime warranty.......

[dsrtuckteezy]

if only autozone sold wix.

[4king]

if only autozone sold wix.

A $2 filter is a $2 filter.

[dsrtuckteezy]

theyre better than stp. where can i get them for $2 a pop?

[4king]

http://www.austincc.edu/wkibbe/oilfilterstudy.htm

Stp = autolite
Motorcraft = autolite


It's up to personal preference, anything but Fram or base filters.

[LaserSVT]

Haha. BMW headlights are the dickens, my first one the chick was rude as hell and texting on her phone next to me the whole time asking if all headlights took this long. Again no thank yous, no gratuity, just ungrateful.

I'm positive BTW the pre 2015 impala headlights are held in with a sliding clip and one bolt.

Yeah our Comercial is trying to really grab oreilleys business in commercial. On average most AZ stores do 1/3 the shop business of oreilleys.

We are good about shop referrals, believe it or not we actually refer a lot of business with those free check engine lights. Same thing as your customers applies stop by the store once or twice a week and you'll get at least 2-3 referrals a day from us. Oreilleys could care less, their diy and customer service is crap because they use all their labor to deliver parts

I will say a lot of mobile mechanics take advantage of our lifetime warranty.......

I ment Malibu. I always confuse those two POS cars. Impala is duck soup. One bolt and that plastic slider.

As for AZ, I hated them for years but as of late the parts got better. A/C, starters and alternators (Duralast) have gotten way better. When it comes to Honda wheel bearings I only use Duralast now as they are better than the Timkins and Nationals. Did an Odesey with Duralast in the back and Timkin out front. The Timkins made noise two weeks latter. Evryone was out so I switched to Duralast. Shes put 32k on it since and they are still quiet. Ive used them since then.

As for recommendations, well the workers at our AZ are pretty brain damaged but the commercial guy is good but gruff and dont recommend anyone for shit. The local Oreillys opened up the first day we did and since then i have trained 5 of their managers. They gave us great service since i spend 6k a month there and do stuff like not charge me to turn rotors/drums and are great at getting me stuff right away. I would get at least 2 customers a day saying "Such and such from Oreillys sent me here". Then they got a female manager from another store and she was a bitch. She hired on a full female crew and not a one knew ANYTHING about cars or car parts. Unlike previous managers, if they didnt have the part they would make a run to the store that did, she would make me wait for a next day store transfer. I took away my account and gave it to the other Oreillys and they give me great service usually. Lately though I have been using Advance auto parts. i like their radiators and AC compressors the best plus I get a good discount. I managed to get the workers I liked from oreillys a job at Advance instead and they like it much better. A couple send me people all the time. One got in trouble for it by an assistant manager saying it will piss off other shops and yada yada yada. I mentioned it to the store manager and after the GM visited me and said I spend more there than any other shop in town that there will be no issues sending customers my way. LOL
I didnt realize I was spending that much with them alone as i try to use everyone so my discount stays on the top tier but I still spend close to $6000 a month there.


Now our NAPA store I dont do a lot of buisiness with but thats because they are small and expensive. That being said when it comes to a GM power steering pump, they are the only place I will buy from. Yes they are tripple the cost but NOBODY else makes a good GM PS pump and i am sick of going through 4 on every install until I find one that works. And even though it works its loud. Every time I buy a NAPA pump it slips right in and instantly has boost, almost no froth even on first fill and they are dead silent. It took four GM trucks and one Cavalier with a combined 14 pumps for me to learn that lesson. Fucking wasted $600 in labor over those. Plus you look like a dumb ass to the customer when you tell them they will have the car back by lunch and you end up keeping it to closing the following day because the damn "new" pump isnt making boost until 2000 RPM or is whining like a hole saw going through a 6x6.

[LaserSVT]

http://www.austincc.edu/wkibbe/oilfilterstudy.htm

Stp = autolite
Motorcraft = autolite


It's up to personal preference, anything but Fram or base filters.

For oil filters i keep it simple. Anything Ford gets a Motorcraft. Most GMs get an AC Delco and everything else gets a Wix. Wix filters rock. Its all I run on my truck and at 4000 miles my oil is still honey color.


I do have customers that INSIST on Fram filters and I have stopped trying to talk them out of it. I have one customer that only lets me use 20W50 oil in his Dakota. Why I have no idea.

I am also an Amsoil distributor but never push it due to cost and the fact I dont stock it so it all has to be ordered. The Amsoil rep has several customers that he sends me regularly. He gets the oil for them and sends them my way. Two are traveling sales women and they both put 25k miles a year on their cars. They have had them since new and from day one used the Amsoil 25k oil with the 15k oil filter. I thought it was BS but after two years I am a believer. They show up 5-7 moths latter with 14-18k on the oil to have me swap the filter. The cars are usually only 1/2-1 quart low so i swap the filter and top them off. I dump the filter and the oil is still remarkably clean coming out. Even the oil I spill looks nice. 5-7 months latter they come in for the oil/filter change and the oil that comes out looks like any other oil at 4k miles. Both these cars are 3 years old and both are pushing 140k miles and run like brand new. They both have magnetic drain plugs and i never see anything on them. Always impresses me.