Psychos in the Auto-Repair Business

[Peter B - CV8]

Originally Posted by Chapter Four

I asked our local guy, who I'd used a couple of times for odd jobs that I couldn't be bothered doing, to fit a tranmission cooler to my BF wagon.
I emailed what I wanted done - fit a Furious Performance cooler kit, gave him the part number and contact details. Then rang to confirm and book in 1 week later, all good.
I drop the car off, all good he says.
He rings me later and says he can't finish as he doesn't have all the parts ????
I tell him to ring Furious and find out what happened, it should be plug and play essentially. He admits he didn't get the Furious kit and got a generic Repco one.
So I told him to remove it all and I picked up the car and fitted the Furious kit myself.
Seriously, is it that hard to do as asked??

Probably better off actually buying the part yourself & have it ready in the car when you drop it off at the mechanics. Saves them having to ring up/order/wait for delivery & just leaves them having to just do the installation.

[TICKFORD220]

Its perth in a nutshell,bunch of rip off no brain clowns is who you deal with,the greedy bastards want to bend you over fully and when youve found out they did a rubbish job they get nasty,typical perth tradesmen.....
They prey on unknowing women and old people and fleece them for their cash all the while doing a dodgy job fixing their cars.
Alot of them are hooked on crack,watch them try and find their jaw when you speak to them face to face,then you walk away and never go back.
If you find a good mechanic stick with him/her,they are rare as rockinghorse poop.

[TICKFORD220]

Originally Posted by Peter B - CV8

Probably better off actually buying the part yourself & have it ready in the car when you drop it off at the mechanics. Saves them having to ring up/order/wait for delivery & just leaves them having to just do the installation.

They get their nose out of joint and jack up the price because they cant rape you on them supplying the parts,been there before.

[fnp]

Well I'm in Perth and I have a great mechanic. They're not the cheapest going but they're honest and do a good job and I trust the car with them. Nice little family business too.

[stock1991]

Recently had a head gasket replaced, it wasn't all about the price, I wanted the job done properly. I ended up walking in to a machine shop with a good reputation and asking them for a referral

[TICKFORD220]

Originally Posted by fnp

Well I'm in Perth and I have a great mechanic. They're not the cheapest going but they're honest and do a good job and I trust the car with them. Nice little family business too.

Dont be shy then,let us know who he is,i dont know of any good mechanics in perth that i would recommend.

[flightstrike]

Originally Posted by fnp

Well I'm in Perth and I have a great mechanic. They're not the cheapest going but they're honest and do a good job and I trust the car with them. Nice little family business too.

Any chance you could send me a message with their details?

[fnp]

Originally Posted by flightstrike

Any chance you could send me a message with their details?

PM sent.

[Crazy Dazz]

I am so sick of lazy pricks who just want to make money conning gormless people.

There is a particular mob that holds themselves out to be transmission specialists. Like any such place they're capable of doing basic repairs on your old Trimatic, but otherwise they subsist on overcharged "servicing". And read the facebook and google reviews, they've got everyone fooled. "Oh he was so helpful doing the service on my Hyundai."
But anything that requires actual knowledge, expertise, or work, and they're just not interested. Just get a bunch of bs excuses about why they can't do the job.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

I am so sick of lazy pricks who just want to make money conning gormless people.

There is a particular mob that holds themselves out to be transmission specialists. Like any such place they're capable of doing basic repairs on your old Trimatic, but otherwise they subsist on overcharged "servicing". And read the facebook and google reviews, they've got everyone fooled. "Oh he was so helpful doing the service on my Hyundai."
But anything that requires actual knowledge, expertise, or work, and they're just not interested. Just get a bunch of bs excuses about why they can't do the job.

They're not in Wangara are they?

[falcon_bandit]

I've come to the conclusion that ALOT of mechanics have no fing idea what theyre doing, and just wing it one nut & bolt at a time until the jobs completed. I'm not talking about the specialist performance mobs who cater for specific upgrades, but the "once was a fuel servo 20 years ago turned into a mechanic shop" places that usually have 20 pieces of crap boxes sitting out front of the large concrete slab waiting to be picked up by customers usually funded by centrelink or the elderly on the pension. Some of these 'reputable' mechanics have flash modern decor which tries to give confidence to an unwitting customer

[Big_Daz]

Not a mechanic but had a Mobile Dent Doctor crack it at me when I was looking at getting a small dent out of the rear qtr of my SSVR... Wanted mobile because it was a small job, didnt need paint and It was when I had lost my license so couldnt get it to my normal repairer... Did A "Contact me" on the website for my local franchisee to contact me to organise a time to come and quote/do it... Bloke calls me wanting to send him a bunch of pics which I send him. Then asks me to bring it in to his panel shop to quote... Then called me all sorts of names because I was "wasting his time" and being "a tyre kicker" because I pointed out the whole idea of me using a mobile service was because I couldnt get it to a shop and wifey cant drive manual....

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Fiji

I actually feel for the repairers.

Plenty People bring in their rough as guts cars they have tried to bodgy up 3-4 times and don't tell the repairers the whole problem, then want a firm quote to repair.

The repairers don't want to inherit the problem, so they just say they don't want the job .

People ask for one thing to be fixed but then complain about other issues and try rope the repairer in for the blame.

Ie ask for a tune and then expect the leaky injectors to be fixed.

That's also endemic in the industry - we call them the 'ever since you' crew

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by TICKFORD220

They get their nose out of joint and jack up the price because they cant rape you on them supplying the parts,been there before.

Yeah I had a local mechanical shop reject my job because I was supplying parts

I've still got trade accounts with a few auto resellers so I can source some stuff cheap.

I understand how it is though I tried to run my business ethically by not charging over supplier RRP and just working on a certain markup, so passing my savings onto my customers.

Which is why I work for someone else now

There's not much in it for a trade workshop and RRP these days on parts with a lot of stuff, particularly Burson and Repco and they'll all sell to your customers.

[MercuryT]

Just had my R36 bumper fixed.

LONG story as minor damage (plastic all cracked on top of bumper) but mate hit it so was happy to pay excess etc.

Company quoted 4K plus but due to demand wanted it for 15 days "or so".

Not happening as I didn't have rental car cover, so investigated my options.

Turns out the insurer of the "at fault driver" helped me out massively and car done in less than 3 days at 3rd of price. Extremely happy with quality and result as same work done. They just paid me out instead.

The first company blatantly ripping off the system for $$$, and its not good enough.

[Tonz]

names of insurance companies, like to support those who help out the client

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by Fiji

I actually feel for the repairers.

Plenty People bring in their rough as guts cars they have tried to bodgy up 3-4 times and don't tell the repairers the whole problem, then want a firm quote to repair.

Nope.

I once had a problem with my XF transmission. I spoke to the guy at the specialists and described the symptoms. He said bring it in, and I'll test drive it to confirm, but I think the problem is this...
Took it in, he tested it and said yep, your band is so worn that the actuating cylinder is actually popping out, so it loses pressure and the band slips till it gets pressure again, etc, and that's why you get that shuddering.
He said I can fix that just by external adjustment, but that may not completely fix the problem because when they do that they usually stuff the o-ring. To fix that, I need to take the pan off, so you're up for a new gasket and fluid. He basically priced the whole job right there.
THAT is what a "Transmission Specialist" does.

Any grease-monkey can do a "service" that consists of nothing more than changing out fluid, gasket, and filter. In fact yes, if that's all I wanted, I'd do that myself.

A "Specialist" is supposed to have more knowledge than the owner, that's what you're paying for.

[El Venom]

I am lucky. I try to do most of my work myself but sometimes I can't and have a great shop that's a 1 man show. Ask for a quote, I get it. Need parts, he will get them for me even if he's not doing the work. If my misses is out and about and has an issue with the car, he will take her seriously. He has even gone as far as saying that he prefers certain parts from certain suppliers but if we can afford those parts he will look at parts that suit our budget and even going as far as checking out ebay parts I have found.

We can supply parts no issues. Have supplied tyres and he has fitted no issues and when he has done work on any of our vehicles and has found extra stuff requiring attention he calls us and will even take the time to put the vehicle back on the hoist to show us so we know. He has gone as far as keeping basic service parts in stock for our vehicles even though one of our vehicles is the only one he works on just because he knows that I get them

The shop though does specialise in certain vehicles and doesn't do much in the way of mechanical work but he does recommend another shop who treats customers the same way and being in a rural area both shops recommend each other and don't step on each other toes so to speak when it comes to work.

I do agree that there are too many dodgy shops around and it's part of the reason I got out of the industry. I like driving and tinkering with cars but when you're working in the industry dealing with idiot shops 6 days a week it was painful. Seems too many are after the quick buck and finding professionals that still have the passion is getting harder and it's not just the industry itself but the customers as well

[roKWiz]

I can see both sides of the fence.

I don't know how common this is but lately it seems workshops are being passed down into the family, operating under the original owners licence. Some good, some terrible.

I know of at least 2 workshops locally where the son has taken over the shop and trading under the family name with crap results.
Some of these shops were so knowledgeable at doing just about everything on site once.
Now the (usually half qualified) son takes over, does a lot of guessing and misdiagnosing stuff at the cost of the client. Usually likes farming everything out cause he hasn't a clue or relying on his second rate mechanics he underpays to fix stuff they are not really interested in.

I know with older cars most couldn't be bothered as the time diagnosing stuff without computers takes so much of their time let alone chasing obsolete parts that are slow to turn up taking up valuable limited space.

I guess, these days it wouldn't be easy running a workshop, trying to keep up with the technology and I understand the poor mechanic is expected to know everything about everything in a blink of an eye.
Just dealing with govco paper work and EPA laws would be the tipping point, let alone angry customers waiting on their cars to be done.

If your happy with your mechanic, great otherwise we all need to get back to learning how to fix stuff ourselves.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Nope.

I once had a problem with my XF transmission. I spoke to the guy at the specialists and described the symptoms. He said bring it in, and I'll test drive it to confirm, but I think the problem is this...
Took it in, he tested it and said yep, your band is so worn that the actuating cylinder is actually popping out, so it loses pressure and the band slips till it gets pressure again, etc, and that's why you get that shuddering.
He said I can fix that just by external adjustment, but that may not completely fix the problem because when they do that they usually stuff the o-ring. To fix that, I need to take the pan off, so you're up for a new gasket and fluid. He basically priced the whole job right there.
THAT is what a "Transmission Specialist" does.

Any grease-monkey can do a "service" that consists of nothing more than changing out fluid, gasket, and filter. In fact yes, if that's all I wanted, I'd do that myself.

A "Specialist" is supposed to have more knowledge than the owner, that's what you're paying for.

If only auto trans problems were as easy to fix as the old BW35-40 reverse band wearing and letting the servo pop out past the O ring.Back then an overhaul kit for those trans was under $100

[ratter]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Yeah I had a local mechanical shop reject my job because I was supplying parts

That is becoming more common these days because of the responsibility the workshop has to wear if the part is faulty

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by ratter

That is becoming more common these days because of the responsibility the workshop has to wear if the part is faulty

You should see how nasty the warranty agreements are on suppliers to some of the heavy vehicle industry.

Labour claim payable and on top their full RRP to their customer of the part credited to them because they consider it a 'lost sale'.

[ratter]

I could imagine, but some workshops have had to burden the cost of warranty repairs for parts that they did not supply

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by ratter

I could imagine, but some workshops have had to burden the cost of warranty repairs for parts that they did not supply

That s exactly right.If a shop fits a customer supplied part there can be problems both in getting the faulty part replaced,but more importantly getting paid to do the job again through no fault of theirs.

[Pis-ton broke]

Originally Posted by Fiji

That's what I dont understand.

I would want the job from a to z done by the one workshop. They supply the parts, drive in and drive out scenario. So no finger pointing if it goes pear shaped

It seems people in this thread want to cut corners , save a buck buying questionable parts and then want the workshop to fit a square in a round hole and blame the workshop if it doesn't fit .

its a good point about the "drive in and drive out scenario"

but if someone has a part to put in , then a simple caveat on the receipt that says warranty void or some disclaimer, might work.

i knew a guy once that paid a mechanic to install a cam into his group a vk brock commodore, upon start up, the cam was ruined, the mechanic would not take any responsibility.

[ratter]

Consumer Affairs says mechanics are not liable if a supplied part fails, which does make sense, however several have been ruled against which is why many are now refusing to fit owner supplied parts

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Fiji

That's what I dont understand.

I would want the job from a to z done by the one workshop. They supply the parts, drive in and drive out scenario. So no finger pointing if it goes pear shaped

It seems people in this thread want to cut corners , save a buck buying questionable parts and then want the workshop to fit a square in a round hole and blame the workshop if it doesn't fit .

Ive spoken to workshops and they tell me all the time people bring their problems in, want to pay for one part of the problem to be fixed but expect everything to be perfect as they drive out. Ie a tune to fix their low compression engine with a miss. Ridiculous isn't it

Had a similiar situation a few years back when I supplied and sometimes fitted exhaust systems.Had an old customer who I know didn’t have much cash to splash,wanted me to fit a muffler to his Valiant.Think at the time the muffler was maybe just over $60 so I said, oh probably $70 all up.So he turns up next week to get it fitted and hands me $8 and then tells me I got a muffler at the cheap place down the road for say $50,so I just need you to fit it.FFS what could I say,just smile and spend 15-20 minutes cutting the old off and fitting the new.



go

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Had a similiar situation a few years back when I supplied and sometimes fitted exhaust systems.Had an old customer whoI know didn’t have much cash to splash,wanted me to fit a muffler to his Valiant.Think at the time the muffler was maybe just over $60,so I said oh probably $70 all up.So he turns up next week to get it fitted and hands me $8 or so and then tells me I got a muffler at the cheap place down the road for say $50,so I just need you to fit it.FFS what could I say,just smile and spend 15-20 minutes cutting the old off and fitting the new.



go

Not worth putting it on the hoist for $8.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Not worth putting it on the hoist for $8.

You are dead right there roKWiz but my fault I suppose,but he was a good old bloke and kept coming back for different jobs for years afterwards,so I suppose it paid off.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

You are dead right there roKWiz but my fault I suppose,but he was a good old bloke and kept coming back for different jobs for years afterwards,so I suppose it paid off.

I took a truck to an exhaust guy in Sydney twice before he would take any money off me.
Third time I had to force money into his hand, I think he just liked trucks.