How do you keep your Mechanic Happy?
 

As one who knows how to diagnose and probably fix the majority of issues with his car, I do have a shop that when needed, I patronize.

Now I realize that this puts me in a category of "occasional" customer therefore there are things I do several times a year that takes me out of that category

About every so often I'll swing by the shop in the morning with a dozen donuts or bagles or breakfast sandwiches. Or...send over a pizza during lunch.

For Christmas, I always drop off several bottles of wine as a gift even if I have not had the car in their shop for the entire year.

I refer others to their shop when the opportunity arises.

All this in efforts to remain on the "preferred" list of customers and avoid the "I'll get to your car when I can" response.

What prompted this is a recent thread I read where a fellow pelicanite broke down on the 5/24 and as of 6/04 has yet to get attention from the shop. No-dis on the shop of course but hey...

Well....the local shop I use, to get parts and occassionally have him do a carb rebuild or something....has a 2 month wait list for oil changes.....and since he's pretty much the ONLY game in town.....

I drop him off a bottle of Gentleman Jack at Christmas......

I gave Tab Tanner from Autobahn Garage in Findlay, OH a case of Warsteiner and a very good cigar after he fixed Helga last year. He drove all the way up to Waterford and trailered my car back to his shop, then found the problem, fixed it and was 100% honest and knowledgeable. This summer, Beth and I will take Tab and his wife out to dinner at Steinkeller in Oxford, OH during the "Porsches to Oxford" event.

Pay in cash. Shops lose about 5% on credit card purchases. The shop I use always gives me a "cash discount".

I bring Krispy Creames to my favorite machine shop, they love it. When I am in a pinch they help me out.

I find good used parts for my shop, buy them and deliver or have shipped straight to the shop.

My favorite guy knows I've got parts cars. We take care of each other.

When I had my old E24, it broke down so often that I think I not only kept him happy by putting his kids through college, he probably had enough left over for a small yacht :)

In SoCal, business is all business. Taking care of the "mechanic" (thank you for not calling them a wrench) means to be polite, stay out of the shop and only ask needed questions. You will be rewarded. I'd take a dim view of any shop that put someone's work ahead of mine because I bribed them with goodies.

Now, an occasional gesture, or even a holiday card, would not be over the top by any means. I'm sure in other parts of the country things are on a more personal and familiar basis. Still, for me, the proper way to do business is first come, first served.

I guess it is a bit different in Calif.

I believe that there is a difference if a customer's (valued customer) car is completely down versus someone needing an oil change or tires balanced.

There have been many times where I though the car was running a bit rich/lean and I "pop" in to "ask" for a quick look by the Mechanic/Technician. Guess what? 9 times out 10 they'll grab the equipment and do a quick adjustment and say "adios"..

or several times they would say swing by 1st thing in morning or stop by after work.

I appreciate that and it by no means infrindged upon a previous customer.

I trust the Mechanic to know when I would be bumping someone out of service.

I will add; if I know I need service coming up, I'll definitely make an appointment.

Well I can give you the answer from the Mechanic's side.
Don't scedule your car in as a "waiter" unless it is something simple.
Don't cover your tires with tire shine. If you do don't get mad when I handle them with my dirty old leather gloves.
If you feel compelled to feed me, do it during the holidays, it is actually a disturbance when a customer changes up the scedule trying to be nice. We won't pass up free food, but we are creatures of habbit.
Simply stop by after we have finished your car and give us a wave and thanks. Believe it or not I will remember you then. I never remember the person who thinks I like to eat sweets.
We don't bite................unless you are good looking and we can get away with it. :)

Understand we are running a business, Don't show up with your own parts and oil and every other little part you think you need to fix the car. Unless you have asked us first, you don't go to a resturant with the food you plan to eat and ask them to cook it for you?? We are not your enemy if you car is broke down we are hear to help. Play nice and we will be nice. I have more people than I can count that have become very good friends because I repaired there car, I love what I do. I will include the customer in the repair every step of the way, and spend there money like it was mine own (VERY CARFULLY) There is no need to rip somone off. It says alot about a person who does. P.S. It's always nice to hear from a customer after we have repaired there car. I don't look at it like NO news is good news I want to hear how thing are going with the car and talk to them a little. Just be nice, pay your bill and be a good person is all I ask from my customers

While I have never done it as a bribe, I have dropped of a few sixers of beer (all at once, different brands etc.) or a couple of bottles of wine for a thank you.

When I was in Sunnyvale, RMG was my shop and those guys were GREAT! I felt it was more thank you than bribery, I hope they did too :)

-Chris

The title is "How do you keep your mechanic Happy" I would say in many cases it would be to have no knowledge of your car or interest in what the mechanics do and when they complete a job ask no question regarding the bill and services rendered, essentially be stupid.

I don't think walking in backwards, with the pants down, and wallet in the air is how to keep a mechanic happy, Now with an attorney you may be on to somthing

I keep my mechanic happy by letting him sleep with my wife.

As a bonus he also gets to take my kids to school, take out the garbage and coach baseball.

He's so appreciative that he will often pay my Mastercard bill and file my taxes.

Lucky bastard gets to drive my car everyday!

And he even lets me watch him service the vehicle (right in my own garage) and doesn't mind if I swear at his stoopid mistakes.


:p

I keep mine friendly and happy by giving him bags of money to service my cars.

Works well.

I worked in a shop, the best customers were the ones who dropped the car off when it was broken or needed service, disappeared until the car was done, picked it up when called and paid the bill.

My thoughts exactly