Things customers say .
 

" If you want to come in on your off hours so that you do not have to charge me shop rate, that would be fine. I can wait a few extra days "

Isn't that at least time-and-a-half, if not more?

My cousin that owns a diesel shop has been known to add a DH charge to bills for people like this.


This customer deserves at least $200 in dickhead charges...

Seriously, I try to let a mechanic know what my schedule is, too. If I don't need the car for a bit, then I don't mind if the mechanic takes more time. Not because I'm looking for a lower bill, but because the mechanic may have other customers where time is more pressing.

We have had potential clients ask if we might photograph their property as a test or "just while we are out flying" other projects.

We always told them we don't do aerial photography for practice or as a hobby. It is how we earn a living, and we know how to do the project, and the cost is the same for everyone.

Trust fund kid to boot. Spent more money on his cars this year, than I earned

Well....that's a perfect example of why retirement will mean so much more to you, Fred.

When I say retirement, it doesn't mean you stop working all together. You just cut out all the customers who "compete" with you instead of "collaborating".

See: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1000764-no-more-freebies-bending-over-backwards-thats.html

LOL....I love these "Fred Threads"!

LOL, that would be great. Guy comes to pick up car and bill is 1.5x more than the agreed price/estimate.

Customer: Hey, what's this? Fred: Well, I only worked on it on my "off hours" like you suggested, which are billed at 1.5x the shop rate. :D

DH for certain.

I bet that trust won't go another generation.

Similar is tenants. They think every dime of rent goes in the landlord's pocket.

"Do you mind if I bring my own parts to you to save some money?"

Not disagreeing.

FWIW...my mechanic has asked me to bring parts to him on occasion. We don't discuss anything about the possibility of saving of money.

I let him call the shots and I always take care of him. I like to think we have a good relationship. Based on respect.

my toyota mechanic is an angel. i once took it in for some work. he saw parts in my truck i was going to install later, and just put them in for me. blew me away.

i remember! i had wiper blades in my truck, that i bought from Costco and i he had my truck to flush the transmission. it was a very kind gesture.

he lives 1.5 hours away, and on big jobs..i still go to him. drives my wife nuts.

oh, i kept my old dentist too. :)

I get some that just say "I'll bring the parts"

Here's some choice ones:

"Guy at Auto Zone says I need these inside the steering wheel horn contacts replaced to fix the problem." Was not the problem but it was the end of our business relationship as he did not pay because I did not fix the problem. And I also did not care to fix the problem with his brashness.

I say "I'm not working on other cars until this old truck is finished being painted" Response "But it's just my rear brake shoes". Next day he texts me and asks if I can "walk him through" how to put R-134 in.

"I'm working on this old truck, I don't have time right now. It will take weeks." "Well, if you get a break, give me a call"

8:30PM beer buzz on. Incoming text. "What compressor should I buy at Harbor Freight? "Buy the $359 dollar one that has a motor separate from the compressor and is belt driven." "But I only want to spend $250."

"I got a clunk-clunk noise in the front. What do you think it is and how much will you charge for that?"

I need a starter in my 20XX Accord. I look it up. "That's about a $225 job." "I can do $180."

On the other hand I have some wonderful customers. "It was a PITA but I found the problem. It was just the frammitz valve reed coupler that needed bent back into place, $125. "Bulls*it, you don't charge enough, here's $200."

Hey Bob.....

To sum it up....you have two categories of customer.

1) the competitor
2) the collaborator

That's a simplified way to look at the big picture anyway......

I am not paying travel time. That was always one of my favorites when I was on call.
OK, bring your piece of equipment over to the house and I will have a look at it....
I am not paying you to go get parts was a close second.
OK, you go get the parts for me and I will hang out here...
I am not paying all that labour.
OK, that is what is on the work order and what I am getting for hours. You can take it up with management.
Otoh, I just had the rear seal and rotors done on the gmc. The guy charged me fifteen bucks more than I could get them for and the pads were about the same price. I have no issue with a business making some money from me.

HAHAHAH. Yeah, Fred, just do a little work off the books, buddy. Whatever you do, don't tell the boss!

That one's in MENSA for sure!

+1

You passed over fool/weirdo.

Guy comes to shop on weekend and wants to check his brakes on his own. Dad of a dude in the complex. I set him up with jack stands, etc. Slams lugs back on at level three with my new HF Earthquake 1/2 drive impact. Calls and says "This car is shaking really bad" on his way home.

Lady in the nice hood I lived in back when I had a real job wants me to do some work on her old Accord. The entire cul-de-sac are customers but she's new to the hood. Brakes, oil change, trans fluid refresh. Nothing special. Couple hundred bucks. I meet her husband on the car drop off. The most milque toast dude I have ever suffered.

I have rented my shop space from his neighbor, an educated man that has worked side by side with me for eight years. Three kids through Ohio State. Just older than me and not employable in the mainstream. Milque toast guy asks my landlord at a Memorial Day gathering if I am trustworthy.

I rarely have reason to visit a fix-it shop...but in the last year I've had to bring my Honda Fit in twice for work at an independent shop. (a/c work)
Both times, work was done to my satisfaction....the next week I brought in doughnuts each time for the work crew.
Keep them happy..they will do you good. :)

"I'm not gonna go anywhere that people wear masks."
-a recent laryngeal cancer patient.

Im pretty lucky actually, I have a decent clientele. I would say that 95% or better of them are really friendly and great to work for. Of course there are a few in the bunch, there always are.
This guy is even a pretty cool guy . I just thought it funny .
If any of you ever need advice on how to work free, cheap, or for no profit, hit me up, Ill share all my secrets.