Specialists - Would You Charge a Customer
23 August 2009, 10:46 PM
#61
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Boro - no need to take that tone with me ......
Lisa - understand what you are saying, but - I requested advice and a 30 second Error Code reading .... with a view to getting them to rectify the fault and give guidance as to whether I should travel to Devon with the logged fault.
Just a bit of old fashioned, freely given, suggestions .....
The point some seem to be forgetting is that, after speaking to local Scooby Owners, this outfit were recommended ...... the truth is, I was led to believe that they would give help freely and do the work required (to be paid for, of course) and do that work to a high standard. They came recommended .... that's the disappointing part of it all.
Lisa - understand what you are saying, but - I requested advice and a 30 second Error Code reading .... with a view to getting them to rectify the fault and give guidance as to whether I should travel to Devon with the logged fault.
Just a bit of old fashioned, freely given, suggestions .....
The point some seem to be forgetting is that, after speaking to local Scooby Owners, this outfit were recommended ...... the truth is, I was led to believe that they would give help freely and do the work required (to be paid for, of course) and do that work to a high standard. They came recommended .... that's the disappointing part of it all.
Last edited by SunnySideUp; 23 August 2009 at 10:50 PM.
24 August 2009, 07:01 PM
#62
mate they came recomended as the people who use them would prob get it done FOC
i use one garage to store my impreza in,,,, he never asks for money but i pay him anyway and i use a garage behind my home with free use of there ramps AND i take there techs of jobs at times to give me a hand,,,, he wont even take money off me !!!,,,,, theres a tyre place with a GREAT old boy, i mean he is a proper diamond and such a nice chap and i got him to fit tyres and do a wheel balance,,, not only did he refuse the cash but he also served up some of hes wifes cooking for me whilst i was waiting due to him being busy !!!
NOW,, should i expect all garages i know to do that for me,,, as thats good customer service,,,,, well it is for me, BUT,,,,,,, these garages even though i have never spent a penny with them i talk to them EVERY DAY,,,, ive moved to other companys and ive arranged there good discounts so they have got better off by me moving about and i deal with all there problems based on how THEY are as a business and generally do warranty stuff that might not be warranty due to them not doing many returns
i now work in a seperate department, i still deal with these garages aswell when i dont need to as i dont do sales anymore but i enjoy talking to them and im not as busy as i used to be
NOW ive recomened mates to these garages and they have complained about there labour charges, prices of parts and saying they aint that welcoming,,,, now i find that hard to belive as one guy i went to hes 60th birthday party with my partner and my child,,one place collects my parcels aswell so,,,,, how can this be ?
its down to having a relationship with the people,,,i agree sometimes people just dont like the look of others aswell but thats just life
hell i even offered to sort you out a battery i remember and get it delivered for you and i dont know you but i have a sort of " relationship" based on us sharing the same interest even though i aint met you
hope that explains a little and may help you sleep at night
D:
i use one garage to store my impreza in,,,, he never asks for money but i pay him anyway and i use a garage behind my home with free use of there ramps AND i take there techs of jobs at times to give me a hand,,,, he wont even take money off me !!!,,,,, theres a tyre place with a GREAT old boy, i mean he is a proper diamond and such a nice chap and i got him to fit tyres and do a wheel balance,,, not only did he refuse the cash but he also served up some of hes wifes cooking for me whilst i was waiting due to him being busy !!!
NOW,, should i expect all garages i know to do that for me,,, as thats good customer service,,,,, well it is for me, BUT,,,,,,, these garages even though i have never spent a penny with them i talk to them EVERY DAY,,,, ive moved to other companys and ive arranged there good discounts so they have got better off by me moving about and i deal with all there problems based on how THEY are as a business and generally do warranty stuff that might not be warranty due to them not doing many returns
i now work in a seperate department, i still deal with these garages aswell when i dont need to as i dont do sales anymore but i enjoy talking to them and im not as busy as i used to be
NOW ive recomened mates to these garages and they have complained about there labour charges, prices of parts and saying they aint that welcoming,,,, now i find that hard to belive as one guy i went to hes 60th birthday party with my partner and my child,,one place collects my parcels aswell so,,,,, how can this be ?
its down to having a relationship with the people,,,i agree sometimes people just dont like the look of others aswell but thats just life
hell i even offered to sort you out a battery i remember and get it delivered for you and i dont know you but i have a sort of " relationship" based on us sharing the same interest even though i aint met you
hope that explains a little and may help you sleep at night
D:
24 August 2009, 07:18 PM
#63
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I sleep just fine, I am not the loser in this - obviously - the Specialist concerned is.
Now, if I am asked about this place I will simply tell the truth, "If you want a simple bit of help they will do it - at a very high price ... don't expect them to go out of their way unless you pass their palms with silver"
I can take my money to where I believe I will get outstanding Service - or where they have helped me in the past.
A Tyre, Battery and Exhaust place near me helped me out when I broke down outside their premises 25 years ago ... they came out and gave me a battery to 'get home' ... I have never forgotten that act of kindness, he was very busy but came to help - he gets my business whenever I need his services (that's 25 years of business from one act of free help!). Damned wise business decision ....
A Petrol Station by me, 20 years ago, drove me home when I snapped my key off in the petrol cap - I fill my tank there whenever I can (even though he is expensive!). Damned fine decision for them to help me all those years ago ....
Helping people, without looking for reward is reward in itself ..... PLUS, as can be shown above - it can be a very wise business move.
Or maybe times have moved on and generosity has disappeared? I hope not and I shall believe not .....
Now, if I am asked about this place I will simply tell the truth, "If you want a simple bit of help they will do it - at a very high price ... don't expect them to go out of their way unless you pass their palms with silver"
I can take my money to where I believe I will get outstanding Service - or where they have helped me in the past.
A Tyre, Battery and Exhaust place near me helped me out when I broke down outside their premises 25 years ago ... they came out and gave me a battery to 'get home' ... I have never forgotten that act of kindness, he was very busy but came to help - he gets my business whenever I need his services (that's 25 years of business from one act of free help!). Damned wise business decision ....
A Petrol Station by me, 20 years ago, drove me home when I snapped my key off in the petrol cap - I fill my tank there whenever I can (even though he is expensive!). Damned fine decision for them to help me all those years ago ....
Helping people, without looking for reward is reward in itself ..... PLUS, as can be shown above - it can be a very wise business move.
Or maybe times have moved on and generosity has disappeared? I hope not and I shall believe not .....
29 August 2009, 09:39 PM
#64
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My local Motor Factors gave me a fan belt today, to let me take home and 'try' ..... pay him if it fits - glad he wasn't just interested in grabbing money!
My faith has been restored ......
My faith has been restored ......
29 August 2009, 10:50 PM
#65
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can see sunnysideups point of view.
However has have already been said garages are there to make money at the end of the day,
My mechanic is a class guy, he reads the faults off my cars for nothing, explains how to replace parts if i aint 100%, but he knows for a fact that if i aint sure HE and only HE gets the work, not only that i take my Mrs car to him for everything. Plus a few times have driven his rcovery truck to get him out of a bind.
Loyalty works both ways as does respect. This garage should have been abit more long sighted BUT then again EVERYONE is suffering with the way things are at the moment.
However has have already been said garages are there to make money at the end of the day,
My mechanic is a class guy, he reads the faults off my cars for nothing, explains how to replace parts if i aint 100%, but he knows for a fact that if i aint sure HE and only HE gets the work, not only that i take my Mrs car to him for everything. Plus a few times have driven his rcovery truck to get him out of a bind.
Loyalty works both ways as does respect. This garage should have been abit more long sighted BUT then again EVERYONE is suffering with the way things are at the moment.
30 August 2009, 12:22 AM
#67
can see sunnysideups point of view.
However has have already been said garages are there to make money at the end of the day,
My mechanic is a class guy, he reads the faults off my cars for nothing, explains how to replace parts if i aint 100%, but he knows for a fact that if i aint sure HE and only HE gets the work, not only that i take my Mrs car to him for everything. Plus a few times have driven his rcovery truck to get him out of a bind.
Loyalty works both ways as does respect. This garage should have been abit more long sighted BUT then again EVERYONE is suffering with the way things are at the moment.
However has have already been said garages are there to make money at the end of the day,
My mechanic is a class guy, he reads the faults off my cars for nothing, explains how to replace parts if i aint 100%, but he knows for a fact that if i aint sure HE and only HE gets the work, not only that i take my Mrs car to him for everything. Plus a few times have driven his rcovery truck to get him out of a bind.
Loyalty works both ways as does respect. This garage should have been abit more long sighted BUT then again EVERYONE is suffering with the way things are at the moment.
In Petes case, he went somewhere, totally unknown to them, and they didn't just give him a freebie. While it may have been especially nice if they had done it for free, I can't see it as a really bad thing that they didn't. Yes, ultimately they are a business, and I am fairly sure, if he was a regular, this may have been a very different story. As it is, why do people expect to be sorted free of charge, who have never even been somewhere before? They can't be expected to know a stranger will in fact use them for any work required as a result of the read, nor can they know if a person is impressed with the treatment that they will give them future business of any kind. I'd guess if garages operated in that way with any unknown that walked through the door, they'd be doing a hell of a lot of work for nothing in return.
Like it or not, there are a hell of alot of people out there who just want to look out for themselves, who will take the ****, probably far more than the genuine people who would come back with repeat custom.
30 August 2009, 01:34 AM
#68
Our family business charges to read fault codes on any car: £25 is quite cheap: We charge £35. Stops the smartarses coming in, getting the codes read and buggering off somewhere else for them to be fixed.
Afterall, there is a hell of alot of overhead involved in aquiring all the equipment and software that we have to cover most makes of cars, not to mention the ****-raping subscription charges to keep some up to date (or functioning), then for it to suddenly become "obselete" when some new cars start rolling in.
Anyhoo, we'll waive the charge if we carry out any follow-up repairs. And loyal long standing customers usually get it done for free anyway.
Afterall, there is a hell of alot of overhead involved in aquiring all the equipment and software that we have to cover most makes of cars, not to mention the ****-raping subscription charges to keep some up to date (or functioning), then for it to suddenly become "obselete" when some new cars start rolling in.
Anyhoo, we'll waive the charge if we carry out any follow-up repairs. And loyal long standing customers usually get it done for free anyway.
30 August 2009, 01:46 AM
#70
Scooby Regular
Ok, so this is a garage you are known at, that you give business to, not only from yourself, but your wife to. You have also helped him out in the past. I should hope he would be decent and see you alright. Plus, even if you only knew him as a customer, you are still an existing one, not a stranger on the doorstep.
In Petes case, he went somewhere, totally unknown to them, and they didn't just give him a freebie. While it may have been especially nice if they had done it for free, I can't see it as a really bad thing that they didn't. Yes, ultimately they are a business, and I am fairly sure, if he was a regular, this may have been a very different story. As it is, why do people expect to be sorted free of charge, who have never even been somewhere before? They can't be expected to know a stranger will in fact use them for any work required as a result of the read, nor can they know if a person is impressed with the treatment that they will give them future business of any kind. I'd guess if garages operated in that way with any unknown that walked through the door, they'd be doing a hell of a lot of work for nothing in return.
Like it or not, there are a hell of alot of people out there who just want to look out for themselves, who will take the ****, probably far more than the genuine people who would come back with repeat custom.
In Petes case, he went somewhere, totally unknown to them, and they didn't just give him a freebie. While it may have been especially nice if they had done it for free, I can't see it as a really bad thing that they didn't. Yes, ultimately they are a business, and I am fairly sure, if he was a regular, this may have been a very different story. As it is, why do people expect to be sorted free of charge, who have never even been somewhere before? They can't be expected to know a stranger will in fact use them for any work required as a result of the read, nor can they know if a person is impressed with the treatment that they will give them future business of any kind. I'd guess if garages operated in that way with any unknown that walked through the door, they'd be doing a hell of a lot of work for nothing in return.
Like it or not, there are a hell of alot of people out there who just want to look out for themselves, who will take the ****, probably far more than the genuine people who would come back with repeat custom.
When i first started using the garage i did have to pay etc, after something like the first 2 years we had become friends and theres give and take, all relationships have to start somewhere.
02 September 2009, 08:33 PM
#72
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SunnySideUP - If you want things to be fixed or diagnosed for free, you do it yourself.
If you want things to be done properly or you dont know how to it yourself, you go to a professional who does not work for free. And by the way, It applies to every part of our capitalist society.
I cant believe that a man your age missed that part of "how the world works" series.
If you want things to be done properly or you dont know how to it yourself, you go to a professional who does not work for free. And by the way, It applies to every part of our capitalist society.
I cant believe that a man your age missed that part of "how the world works" series.
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