Re: Buying, Selling and trading???

Posted by wisbaker on October 21, 2015 at 18:56:19 from (173.26.84.185):

In Reply to: Buying, Selling and trading??? posted by JD Seller on October 20, 2015 at 21:36:12:

Part of it is the quality of the "mechanics" we have now a days. Kids don't grow up fixing things, those who want to be mechanics often start out to late. But on the other hand look at what many of these mega dealers are paying for "mechanics". I was between jobs and applied to a lawn & garden dealer, heck it had been about 20 years since I wrenched on lawn equipment, I could of went to work in 2004 for $2.00 more than I was earning in 1983.

Part of it is business ethics or even to be kinder business models. I was royally upset about 6 months ago, one of our cars is a 1991 Honda Accord, being a 1991 it has the passive restraint system, or the motorized seat belts that move from the front of the door by the "A" pillar back to the "B" pillar. When I mentioned that that looked like trouble on the hoof and maybe I'd look elsewhere for a car the dealer assured me they were lifetime guaranteed, showed me in the owner's manual. Well to make a long story short about 6 months ago the warning system decided I wasn't wearing my seatbelt and would chime a very annoying chime about anytime it felt like. Yes I was wearing my lap belt and the automatic belt was returning all the way to the home position. I tried disconnecting the warning device, the only way to get the light and chime to stop also stopped the belts from working, hey I wanted to wear my belt. I took to to our local dealer, yup there's a warranty and if you give us $100 to "Diagnose" it we'll tell you if it's covered, AND while we have it in our service bay we'll go over it from stem to stern and tell you about the lights not working and the hoses and belts we think should be replaced and tell you how dirty the coolant is and how you need a radiator flush and a transmission flush, a tune up and a timing belt and on and on. Of course if I don't buy the transmission flush and the coolant flush (by the way the coolant is about 2 years old with maybe 15,000 miles on it) and all the other stuff I don't need the seat belts won't be covered under warranty, in effect they would of collected $100 to prepare an estimate for work I didn't need and the hope of not having to listen to the chime might make me do it. I declined, I figured it would end up costing me more than the car was worth and it probably still wouldn't be fixed. I'm not sure what I did but I got the chime and light to stop, the belts still work as does the warning light and chime should you not buckle up.

I guess what I'm saying is folks scream when you charge them to diagnose stuff. Used to be the diagnostic was built in to the price or at least the shop rate. But taking care of customers sure cuts into the bottom line. I think it's partially a carry over from the new car business where it's about sales and making you numbers and not so much what the customer wants or needs, I think it's partially an effect from all the big box store units that many of these dealers end up repairing units for little or no profit as a requisite for them to keep their franchise. I also suppose equipment is more complex, our current education system pushes about anyone with talent or intelligence away from the trades and flat rate is a way of paying your employees that also tends to reduce their incentive to take care of the customer. And I suppose some of it's is price your work high especially when guessing, if the customer agrees you'll make money, should you find out you where wrong and it was cheaper most folks don't complain to hard when you charge them less.

As for what to do, you've always seemed to be a stand up guy in business, I'm sure you'll do what's right. If you halfway know the widow I'd nonchalantly mention to her you have her mower and ask her what was wrong with it that she parted with it. Feel it out, it may of been a decision she was pressured into, maybe not. If it appears that the dealer took advantage of her without blaming the dealer you might recommend to her she go elsewhere for service. Whether you give her her mower back or split the profits or give her what it really was worth before repair is up to you. As I've said before you seem to be an honorable man, if you feel good about doing it it's probably the right thing to do.

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